Dlukden, Aug. 19.
Taking advantage of the present supposed weakness of the Man-chanan Government, the Outer Mongolian Soviet Republic, probably with the foreknowledge and approval of Soviet Russia, is plotting to detach the Hulubor (Pacerhu) district of western-most Heilungkiang from Manchuria and incorporate it with Outer Mongolia, thus extenting the territory of the latter across the western branch of the Chinese Eastern Railway. The district was, in 1911, granted autonomy by the new Republican Government of China; but this was revoked by Presidential decree in 1917, and the territory, while being allowed to yetain its Mongol officials, was incorporated with Manchuria.
The territory is vast, comprising an area of about 62,000 square miles, but it is only thinly populated, the number of inhabitants being only about 50,000, consisting of various tribes, such as Orockous, Buriats, Solons and Tabolis. There are also about 280 Japanese settlers the district.
The principal occupation of the inhabitants is live-stock, farming; but there are also considerable in which the South Manchuria Rail way Ca. is heavily interested. Thi company alone controls a forest area as large as the whole of Kwantung Leased Territory. Fish abounds in the lakes and rivers considerable coal mining is carried fon at the vast lignite field of Chalainor; and salt and soda Produced from saline lakes, Prince Kuifu, the present bend, having been assured of military assistance by the Hailar authorities, rejected the- ultimatum presented by the Outer Mongolian Kulua (Hacrha) district authorities, with the result that the latter opened military operations against Hulubor, invading the territory on August 13.
On August 16 six stations east of Manchouli, of the Chinese Eastern Railway, were occupied, the railway track was torn up in several places and the telegraphic communications were cut.
Fighting ie reported in progress between Manchurian and Mongol troops, the former receiving rein. forcements from Tsitsihar and Mukden, The Mongolian troops, said to consist of a motley crowd of Mongols, Boriats and Russ.ans, having raided the stations as stated forestry enterprises, the largest of above, retreated on the 17th, partly which is the Chamien Lumber Ca.,' under pressure of the Chinese troops and the work of restoring the railway and telegraphic communications has-been started. tary operations are directed Military Commander, General Wa Fo-lin, by order of Marshal Chang manchurian Alertness Aug. 28.
Aizhough the. Outer Mongolian plat to detach the Bara (Hulunbor) territory "from Manchuria seems doonied to failure owing to the resolute action of the Manchurian authorities in despatching adequate numbers of troops to oust the invaders and suppress the insurgent", the incident is none the less of rave importance, both because of origin, which is still largely shrouded in mystery, and of the far-reaching consequences it may have on the status of North Manchuria in gen-feral and the Chinese Ezstern Reilway in particular, In regard to the origin of the conspiracy, it is remarkable that, while the Harbin Soviet press i placing the blame at the doors of Tapanece intrigues, alleging not only Japanere fore-knowledge of the scheme, bot also actual participation and assistance by arms supplies, the Japanese press claims that Soviet institution is responsible for the trouble. They assert that the Soviet-Russian Vice-President of the Chinese Eastern Railway, Lashevitch, while staying at the Arshan hot-spring health resort, ostensibly for recreation, secretly plotted with Outer Mongolian emissaries and Hulunbor insurgents, handing them Roubles 2,000,000 Having returned finding himself under the Chinese authorities, he is reported as having planned to abscond to Vladivostok, but was prevented by the latter, who now keep hin under surveillance in his Harbin home.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.