Evening star., 1941-08-05
Recent Minor Clash
OF japanese and
Russians Reported
Spokesman for Tokio's
Forces Says Few Men
Entered Brief Fight
~ ths Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, Aug. Sit. Col.
Kunio Akiyama. official spokesman
for the Japanese forces in China,
said today a minor clash of japanese
and Soviet border troops occurred
near Manchuli about two weeks ago.
Manchuli is just inside extreme
Western Manchukuo on a railway
TO Siberia.
CUnconfirmed reports OF Jap
aneSe Russian border clashes had
circulated from time TO time
since Germany invaded Russiao
His disclosure came al a time
when Japan was reported moving
forces northward to reinforce troops
along the Siberian border,
Authoritative quarters In Lon
don said the japanese had rein
forced their Manchukuo garrison
of a quarter million men sub
stantially.D
Akiyama said one japanese was
wounded and Soviet casualties were
not known. A few Soviet troops
crossed into Manchukuo, he said.
and exchanged shots with Japanese.
ONLY a few were said to have par
ticipated on either side and the
skirmish was described as short
lived
The frontier remained unchanged,
Akivama said. and neither govern
ment protested regarding the Incl
dent.
The Japanese spokesman empha-
sized there had been frequent un-
- important skirmishes along the from
tier in recent years which both sides
had minimized by tacit agreement.
He added that there had been no
clashes since the one two weeks ago.
Daren. Just north of Port Arthur
on the Yellow Sea, virtually Is an
armed camp, with japanese troops.
heavy artillery and large quantities
of munitions and other supplies
constantly moving along the streets,
foreigners arriving here reported.
Horses Moved In.
They said they took it for granted
these japanese forces and equipment
were to be moved into Manchukuo
to reinforce troops along the ST.
berian border.
The foreigners noted particularly
that thousands of horses were moved
Into hurriedly- constructed stables
on the outskirts of Dairen, which is
Japan's port of entry to Manchukuo.
Frequent blackouts have been held
at the port, it was said, and the
movements of foreigners have been
controlled strictly. Those who left
Dairen did so with special permits.
Foreigners still in Dairen and re-
siding in houses facing the harbor
have been ordered to paint their
windows black and to hang shades,
1t was reported.
A Japanese Embassy spokesman
said issuance of travel permits to
foreigners seeking to go into North
China had been suspended tenn
porarily. He said he was not in
formed of the reasons, but expected
restrictions would be lifted before
long.
When asked if the restrictions
were in retaliation for the British
American freezing of japanese as
sets. he said he did not think so.
A japanese Navy spokesman SAID
he lacked confirmation of report
that a British battleship was sighted
in the Gulf of Siam at the head OF
q flotilla of warships.
(The British battleshlp WAR;
spite was said in reports yeSer-
day from Saigon to have been
seen recently in the gulf
The spokesman said the Socony
Oil Co.'S small river tanker Melyo.
detained by Japanese-controlleo
customs authorities on the Whang.
BOO River, was held because 1t calleo
ut a Yangtze River port for whicn
1t lacked a permit. He added ne
hoped for speedy settlement OF tne
matter since japanese authorizes
had mo intention OF dehberateiy
OBTAINING the boat except penolne
completion of an investigation.