Page:League of Nations-Appeal by the Chinese Government.pdf/78

 entrenched position along the southern boundary of the city. The 2nd Division began to advance against this position on the same day, reaching the Weitangkou (Nanchengtze) River, about 20 miles north of Shuangcheng, on the night of February 3rd–4th. Fighting commenced on the following morning. On the evening of the 4th, the Chinese position was partly taken by the Japanese troops, and by noon of the 5th a final decision was reached. Harbin was occupied on the afternoon of the same day, and the Chinese withdrew in the direction of Sanhsing.

The successful attack of the 2nd Division brought the town of Harbin into the hands of the Japanese authorities, but, as it was not immediately followed by any pursuit of the retiring Chinese forces, little change was produced on the situation in Northern Manchuria as a whole. The railways north and east of Harbin and the important waterway of the Sungari River still remained under the control of the anti-Kirin troops and those of Ma Chan-shan. The arrival of further reinforcements, repeated expeditions to the east and north and six months of fighting took place before the occupied area was extended as far as Hailun in the north and the districts of Fangchung and Hailin in the east. According to Japanese official statements, the antiKirin troops, with those of General Ma Chan-shan, were completely routed, but, according to official Chinese sources, they are still in existence. Although reduced in their fighting strength, they continually hamper the Japanese forces, at the same time avoiding actual encounters in the open field. According to newspaper information, both the eastern and western branches of the Chinese Eastern Railway are still being attacked and damaged at different places between Harbin and Hailin.

The Japanese operations since the beginning of February may be summarised as follows:

Towards the end of March, the main part of the 2nd Division left Harbin in the direction of Fangcheng in order to suppress the anti-Kirin troops of Generals Ting Chao and Li Tu. The Division advanced as far as the region of Sanhsing and returned to Harbin in the earlier part of April. By that time, the 10th Division had arrived at Harbin and took over the sector from the 2nd Division. This unit was engaged for about a month in constant fighting against the anti-Kirin troops with the greater part of its forces in the district near Sanhsing and with a minor detachment along the eastern branch of the Chinese Eastern Railway, in the direction of Hailin.

In the earlier part of May, the Japanese forces in the north of Manchuria were further reinforced by the 14th Division. A detachment of this unit took part in the fighting against the anti-Kirin forces and advanced as far as the valley of Mutan River, south of Sanhsing, forcing the opposing troops to withdraw to the most eastern corner of Kirin Province. But the main operations of the 14th Division, which began in the latter part of May, took place in the region north of Harbin and were directed against the troops of General Ma Chan-shan. The 14th Division carried out its main attack to the north of Harbin, along the Hulan-Hailun Railway, and, with minor forces to the east of Koshan, the proposed terminus of the Tsitsihar-Koshan Railway. The Japanese claim that, during the earlier part of August, the troops of General Ma Chan-shan were again effectively routed and that they have strong evidence that the General himself was killed. The Chinese assert that the General is still alive. In this action, cavalry newly arrived from Japan likewise took part.

During the month of August, several minor engagements took place on the borders of Fengtien and Jehol Provinces, mainly near the Chinchow-Peipiao branch line (of the Peiping-Mukden Railway), which is the only means of access to Jehol by railway. There are widespread fears in China that these events are only a prelude to larger military operations at an early date, aimed at the occupation of Jehol by the Japanese. The main lines