Japanese Battalion Wiped Out; Manchuria'
Claimed Japanese Advance Base Against Soviet Moscow, July 23.
SOVIET troops southwest of Nomonhan on the' Manchoukuo-Outer Mongolian frontier completely annihilated a Japanese infantry battalion the night of July 12, an official Soviet communique issued here last night said. The communique, issued through Tass News Agency, said the Japanese detachment, supported by artillery, attempted to wedge its way into the Mongol-Soviet line but was surrounded and wiped out, At least 100 Japanese bodies were found on the battle-field later and four 3-inch guns, eight anti-tank guns, 500 shells and five heavy machine-guns were captured, the communique said. Soviet-Mongolian losses were said to have been "insignificant"
The communique also reported that on July 21, 120 Japanese planes elashfed with 100 Soviet planes over Outer Mongolia ina one hour aerial battle which resulted in 14 Japanese planes being shot down and three Soviet planes lost. Two Japanese airmen were sold fo have." been captured 'The communique added that "rumours circulated in. Kwantung alleging that' Mongol-Soviet planes bombed the station of Fulardi are a malicious fabrication—United Press,
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