The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-02
Soviet Planes Cross Border

Tokyo, Aug. 2-(UP)-Soviet war
planes crossed the Korean border
flying in formation tonight, lowered
over Kopjo and dropped bombs, a
Korean army communique said.
1t was the third time in history
that Japanese soil has been at
tackled from the air. The other oc-
casions were the bombing of Kojo
yesterday and the Chinese attack
on Formosa last winter.
The Japanese islands proper have
never been attacked, although Chi
nese planes flew over them early
this year, dropping leaflets but not
bombs.
The Domei Japanese news agency,
which carried the Korean COM
munique, had no information on
the extent of damage or casualties
Sharpened Tension
The raids sharpened the tension
between Soviet Russia and Japan
over their border dispute In the
Vladivostok region of eastern ST.
IBERIA, along the ill-def1ned frontiers
Of Siberia, Korea and Manchukuo
The Korean command in an ear
lier communique said Russian in
fantry and tanks attacked Japanese
Manchukuan troops in the disputed
Changkufeng hill sector.
1t was added that the infantry
attack had been preceded by two
airplane bombing attacks on the
Japanese anchukuan lines.
A foreign Office informant an
nounced receipt of information that
three Russian bombing planes at.
tackled in the Changkufeng area al
a. m. and bombed and machine
gunned japanese troop positions.
Later the Korea army headquar-
tiers at Seoul CKeijo) announced in
a communicate transmitted by the
Domei agency that 10 Russian air
planes in formation bombed the
area at 7:30 a. m. The communicate
said that the japanese did not re-
taliate.
Assisted by Tanks
A second communique asserted
that battlaion of Russian troops
supported by nine tanks attacked
the Japanese at 9 a. m.
1t was asserted that the japanese
repulsed the attackers and that the
Russians abandoned three tanks
while others were seriously dam
aged.
Shangfukeng Is the area in
which Russians recently occupied a
hill claimed by Japan. Japanese
troops recaptured the hill. Today
In communicate issued before the
time OF the alleged new Russian
attack, the Russians asserted that
they sad stormed and retaken the
hill. This the Japanese deny.
Reports OF todays fighting ar
rived at time when Japanese
leaders already were considering
deliberately and with evident anx-
iety whether the country faced a
new test Of strength, with hundreds
OF thousands of their men fighting
on hills and in valleys, and in the
broad plains of sprawling China.
1t was emphasized in official
quarters that Japan's diplomatic
officials were seeking peaceable
settlement.
War Like Threats
Moscow, August 2 -- CUP War.
like threats were voiced today al
demonstrations of Russian worker.
over new clashes between Soviet
troops and Japanese ManchukuC
forces which were reported from
The Siberian frontier.
Workers gathered In the meeting
halls of various factories to expires!
support OF the government and In.
dignation over new, insolent provo.
cation by japanese militarists." The
official attitude, however, was de-
scribed as calm and collected"
The Tass News Agency distrib.
uted communique which said thai
Russian troops had stormed anc
recaptured a hill from which they
had been driven by superior Japa-
r1ese forces along the Siberia Man.
chukuo-Korea border.
Frontier guards at Karelia adopt
ed this resolution:
THE red army will give such O
lesson To the Japanese bandits, who
have gone so far, that they will no,
be able to come to their senses for
a time. We always are in a
st mobilization and will carry
o. order OF our government