The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-26
800 RUSSIANS
REFUSED BY
MANCHUKUANS
Is Second Serious Border
Clash; Intimate Battle
on Bigger Scale
FOLLOWS CONFERENCE
BY ONLY FEW HOURS
By II. q. THOMPSON

by II. ~. lnOMFSON
TOKYO, July &c. (UP)-Jap-
anese newspaper and news agency
dispatches from Manchukuo re-
ported serious clashes between
Russian and Japanese-Manchu-
kukuan forces on the Siberian
frontier today near the scene Of
last weeks dangerous dispute.
The newspaper Nichi Nichi, in
a special dispatch from Mutan-
kiang, Manchukuo, asserted that
300 Russian soldiers crossed the
frontier and were thrown back by
Manchukuan troops after q five
hour fight.
Previously the Domei news
agency had reported that 80 Rus
sian infantrymen and 80 cavalry
men crossed the frontier and were
thrown back by frontier guards.
The Domei dispatch said that
the Russians crossed the frontier
at an unspecified point, and pene~
trated into Manchukuo for a dis
lance Of 10 yards before they
were repulsed.
But the Nichi Nichi dispatch
gave details Of what, if they were
correctly reported, was a fight on
ilgger scale.
The dispatch said that 800 Rus
SLAMS crossed the Ussuri river III
four gunboats, seized the town Of
YaolintZe on the Manchukuau
side and burned houses.
Manchukuan border guards
fired on the Russians and there
was severe fighting until the Rus
slams retreated after five hours,
it was said
Neither dispatch mentioned cas-
ualties.
The scene of both OF the re-
ported clashes was IN northeastern
Manchukuo, IN the vicinity OF
Hunchun.
Hunchun is near the hill which
was the cause of an angry eX
change between Japan and Rus
STA last week. Russians occupied
the hill. Japan. claiming the ter
ritory for Manchukuo, demanded
that Russians occupying it, evac-
uate. Russia CURLY refused and
cited maps in support Of its az
sertion to sovereignty. Japan cit
ed other maps as proving that the
territory was Manchukan.
The report Of a new clash OH
the frontier came at moment
when it looked as if the hill incl
dent not only might be liquidated
but might lead to sober effort
to prevent such incidents III fu.
ture.
Only few hours before its dis
patch reporting the new clash,
Domei had reported that group
of Japanese soldiers, sent to ne
gotiate with commanders of the
Russian troops on the disputed
hill, had returned safely to the
Manchukuan lines. The
had been absent for
nearly a week and occasional ref
erences to them in dispatches
from the front had contained 4
note of anxity.
Previous press dispatches re-
porting the prospective return Of
the messengers had forecast that
they would bring with them de.
tailed proposals worked out with
the Russian commanders at the
disputed hill position.
This forecast led to hope that
the incident might be settled with
little difficulty, because it was ex
pected that any proposals which
the messengers brought, would b.
the subject of direct diplomatic
between the foreign
office here and the Russian am
bassador, Mihail Slavoutsky.
That the frontier situation as Il
while, however, was still danger
Gus had been made apparent III
dispatches which reported that
while the Russians might evacu-
ate the hill after negotiations.
there was little likelihood - in
the japanese mind - that Rus
sian forces now massed near the
frontier would be removed.
1t had been reported also that
FL Russian warships were in Pos
siet bay, on the coast opposite the
hill area.