Two War Lords

Fear lest Japan and Russia shoot it out over Manchuria focused the world's eye on Moscow one day last week. Mist shrouded the Red Square. Through wisps of white the pointed towers of the Kremlin looked down like medieval alchemists in tall, peaked hats; at one corner of the flat-topped red granite tomb of LENIN stood Dictator Joseph Stalin, the Red War Lord--if he should choose to declare war.

For five dramatic hours fully 1,000.000 Russians striding 75 abreast surged like a broad, human river past Stalin. Of the marchers 40,000 were picked Red Army troops. They marched and wheeled in perfect parade formation to a crunching accompaniment of fast Red Army caterpillar tanks, some mounting 2-in. guns. Leading the parade on a prancing cavalry charger rode red-faced, ham-fisted War Commissar Klimentiy ("Klim") Voroshilov, bowing and grinning, cheered as loudly on this day as the Red Dictator himself.

Marching workers carried papier-mache figures of "Japanese Imperialists" strangling "Chinese Comrades." In a military order of the day, Klim Voroshilov declared: "On this 14th anniversary of the Revolution we are ready to defend our-selves." To cheering throngs in the Red Square he roared: "Our workers and peasants have proved by their strenuous labor that they can win victory in war as in the peaceful battles of industrialization!" Meanwhile the famed Third International, Moscow's bureau of world propaganda, clarioned: "Japan's war against the working masses of China is a war against us and a step toward war against the Soviet Republic! Organize mass revolutionary barriers against that war for a united, independent Soviet China!"

"Not a Soldier, Not a Gun." So much for Red fireworks. But in his quiet office, seated behind his paper-strewn desk, Klim Voroshilov gave an interview, his first to the foreign Press.

"All reports of transfer of Red soldiers to the Manchurian border or to anywhere in Siberia are nonsense," said Klim. "Not a soldier, not a gun has been shifted to that region. Our future policy toward Japan will depend entirely upon the sincerity of Japan's desire to maintain neighborly relations with us."

In the Red Opera House, with Dictator Stalin silent as usual on the platform, Red Premier Vyacheslav Molotov cried: "Completion of the Five-Year Plan in four years comes before thoughts of war! The Plan is already 75% fulfilled."

In Doom, Holland, last week, Germany's whilom All Highest War Lord, Wilhelm II, spread staff maps of Manchuria on long tables and had fun sticking them with colored pushpins. It was like old times.

Sources close to the leading munition makers of Central Europe expressed conviction last week that Russia was not placing orders for munitions. Japan continued to buy cereals, began to buy nitrates in large quantities, and continued to build up her gold balance abroad (available for war purchases) by shipping a total of $22,500,000 in gold into the U. S. last week.

In Washington the President and Statesman Stimson talked Manchuria for a solid hour, after Japanese Ambassador Debuchi had explained to the State Department that last week's principal armed clash in Manchuria (a three-hour battle in which 135 were killed ) was due to a misunderstanding."

The Clash. Japanese investors, who hold what amounts to a mortgage on the Nonni River bridge near Tsitsihar in northwestern Manchuria, were sorely vexed some weeks ago when it was blown up.

The Japanese General Staff determined to repair the bridge. Last week a Japanese repair crew, guarded by 800 Japanese soldiers, went briskly to work. Near by were 2,500 Chinese troops under anti-Japanese General Ma Chan-shan. As to how the battle began there were indeed "misunderstandings." Each side charged the other with opening fire without provocation. For three hours there was a battle, but of the peculiar Manchurian kind. Only 15 Japanese were reported killed as their comrades slew 120 Chinese, advanced and drove General Ma's remaining troops flying before them toward Tsitsihar. Later General Ma returned to the attack with a much larger force, dislodged Japanese from their advance positions but did not recapture the bridge, which Japanese continued to repair.

Swelling with pride General Ma, who represents only his own army, next declared "war" on Japan "in the name of the Chinese people." When Wall Street heard Ma say "war" stocks rose in price an average of $3 each.

In Geneva pained League of Nations statesmen talked of invoking Article XV of the League Covenant, began a juridical investigation to see just what can be done under Article XV. Possibly League States can be asked to withdraw their Ambassadors and Ministers from Tokyo in a body, but Geneva was not sure.

Japanese occupation of Manchuria continued unchallenged by any Great Power. In Mukden, Capital of Manchuria, a puppet "Chinese Government" protected by Japan and headed by Chinese General Yuan Chin-kai last week proclaimed "severance of relations" between the three Manchurian provinces and the rest of China. Lest Japan set up the ex-Emperor of China as a puppet ruler of Manchuria, a Chinese patriot sent "Emperor" Henry Pu Yi a basket of fruit containing a bomb. Henry took the basket, thanked his Heavenly Ancestors for their protection when the bomb did not explode.

"Minor Disorders/' Manchuria lies outside China proper, outside the Great Wall. Last week Japan carried the rattle of her machine guns and the boom of her field pieces inside the Great Wall.

At Tientsin, second largest Chinese port, a Chinese mob of 2,000 clashed with Chinese police near the borderline between the Chinese City and the Japanese Concession. Arrested mobsmen swore later that they had been paid $40 Mex. ($10) each by Japanese agents provocateurs. However this might be the Japanese garrison commander repulsed rioters from the vicinity of the Japanese concession with a warning burst of machine gun fire, then unlimbered his field pieces and dropped 40 small explosive shells in the Chinese quarter of Tientsin.

In the Occidental quarter of Tientsin the U. S. business community was well guarded last week by 500 U. S. soldiers of the 15th Infantry. Their commander, Col. James D. Taylor, declared a War Department spokesman, "is a man of enough experience not to be upset by minor dis- orders."

From Washington to Tokyo a secret note was sent by Secretary of State Stimson. Japanese sent a secret reply, also charged publicly that a League of Nations representative in Shanghai has spent $120,000 Mex. ($30.000) in the past few weeks cabling the Chinese Government's point of view to the detriment of Japan.

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