Evening star., 1932-02-27

(Contlnued from F1rSk Fdse.l
and 1905 is still too fresh in mind.
The attempt of Gar Nicholas to fight
5000 miles from home with single
track railway as the only means OF
communication cost him his absolutlst
rule and eventually the throne.
The Trans Siberian Railway Is little
better today than it was then. 1t is
double-tracked only in limited sections,
and Soviet rolling stock, especially To-
comotives, Is mostly old and In poor re-
pair. Even limited passenger trains DO
not average more than 20 miles an hour
on the 6,0OO-mile run from Vladivosrok
to Moscow. Soviet authorities frankly
admit their railways are the weakest
link in the ive-year plan.
Heavy Losses Recalled.
In killed, wounded and captured Rus
sia lost over 388 900 men in its war to
dominate Manchuria, while the Japa-
nese losses were only about 10000. In
the 27 intervening years, Japan has
made remarkable advances as a mill
tary and naval power.
The Chinese Eastern Railway, about
900 miles long, which the Chinese and
Russians own Jointly, is the center
about which Russia's present difncul-
ties with Japan turn.
1t is an essential link in Moscow's
communications with the Pacific at
Vladivostok, the only really frSt-class
port Siberia has.
Soviet Russia has asked Japan TO ex-
plain what the nature Of the new Gov
ernment set-up at Mukden is, and has
expressed to the japanese Ambassador
at Moscow its displeasure over the ac-
tivities of White Russians along the
Chinese Eastern Railway, who are re-
ported cooperating with the japanese.
Japan Using Road.
japan is using the railway East Of
Harbin for extensive transportation Of
troops. The Russians insist protection
of japanese living along the line does
not Justify the movement all the way
to the Siberian border.
For years Japan and Russia have
been engaged in struggle for control
Of the freight on the Chinese Eastern.
Russia has tried to divert everything
possible to Vladivostok, and Japan has
struggled for Dairen. terminus of the
Japanese se-owned South Manchuria Rail-
way. The latter, formerly part Of the
Chinese Eastern System. was awarded
to Japan at the end of the Russo
Japanese war. This railway quarrel
between Japan and Russia has been ac-
centuated in recent years by China's
construction of railways paralleling the
South Manchuria line, diverting freight
to Chinese-controlled ports.
Treaty Violation Charged.
Japan insists these Chinese railways
have been constructed and are operated
in violation of treaties. The Chinese
maintain these treaties were obtained
by duress and are not valid.
Japan's war with China in 1895 was
really war to gain the right to build
railways and develop Manchuria. Rus
sia, with the support Of Germany and
France, forced Japan to content herself
with Korea.
Japan never forgave Russia and
gained in 1905 what Russia took from
It 10 years earlier, although President
Roosevelt's intervention was always be-
lieved by the Japanese to have pre-
vented it from getting full fruits from
its victory.
TOXIC STRIKES IN MANCHURIA.
CHANGCHUN, Manchuria, February
81 R.-Japanese Manchurian forces
struck a sharp blow in defense Of the
new northeastern federated state to-
day by attacking and defeating force
VI Sl4A1OoO SOAAND AAANSA N'~@~' 'N~--6
The BATH took place rs miles north
west of TIL hua after the burning of
bridge on the Kirin-Tunhua Railway
by the Chinese.
Reports from the area about Tunhua
said, however, that the insurgent threat
against the new state was becoming
more and more serious and that bands
of Wang Teh-Lin's followers we're con-
centrating northeast and northwest of
the city.
Lieut.. Gen. Rem Mori, commanding
the Japanese forces, considered the in
creasing danger so serious that he be-
gan the formation Of permanent rail-
way guard along the Kirin- Tunhua line
and moved his headquarters from Kung-
chulin.
Communication between Changchun
and Tunhua was interrupted by the
Chinese, who cut telegraph wires along
the line.
Reports from Harbin said Gen. Jiro
lannon's Japanese division was still
held up there because of the refusal
Of the Russian management Of the
Chinese Eastern Railway to permit the
use of the road for troop transporta-
ton. Gen. lannon's division is waiting
to proceed northward into the Imienpo
district to put down Chinese insurgents
there.
along this line has shifted to Moscow
and was the subject of a recent con-
versation between L. NJ Karakhan,
acting Soviet foreign commissar, and
Koh Hirota, Japanese Ambassador.
The Ambassador referred M Kara
khan's queries TO the foreign ofice ut
Toxic foC Q reply.