Saturday, 30 November 1929

Berlin:  

As expected, the Reichstag rejects the Liberty Law*.  Nevertheless, German law requires that the measure also be submitted to a public referendum, which will be held December 22.  The Liberty Law didn’t even get the votes of all the members of the political parties that supported it.  The vote was actually conducted in sections, based on the provisions of the measure itself, but none of the votes was close, with the proposal failing by margins such as 318-82 and 312-80 (with some abstentions). 

Coblenz, Germany:  

Ten years after occupying it under the terms ending the World War, French forces complete their pullout from Coblenz, to great celebrations by the townspeople.  At the same time, in Aachen, Belgian troops that had been occupying that place since the World War evacuate.  

Friday, 29 November 1929

Berlin:  

Foreign Minister Julius Curtius takes the Reichstag floor to assail the Liberty Law* measure, saying the Young Plan (which the Liberty Law would refute) is Germany’s best hope of paying off war debt.  Curtius accuses the measure’s main supporter, nationalist politician Alfred Hugenberg, of “calculated tricks” in his attempts to get the German public to support the Liberty Law.  The Young Plan “is to bring an important amelioration of the burdens on Germany,” Curtius says.  Under German law, the Reichstag has no choice but to take up the Liberty Law measure, because 10% of German voters signed petitions asking for it (see November 2). 

“It is nonsense to determine by a plebiscite that a people doesn’t want to pay,” Curtius says.  “Of course it doesn’t want to pay.  The only question is whether it must pay or not.  A plebiscite on this question is sheer nonsense.  In comparison with the Dawes Plan, the Young Plan on a new political basis is to bring an important amelioration of the burdens on Germany.  German economy and the German people will be benefited by it.”

Nanking:  

The government of China finally agrees to peace terms with the Soviet Union (though practically speaking, it’s not clear it even matters anymore – Manchuria has unilaterally taken the lead).  Russian military actions in Manchuria are limited now to only a few air raids by bombers on selected sites in western Manchuria.  Russian troop withdrawals continue.  The United States and the other world powers, that were said to be contemplating some form of joint action against Russia, are now said to no longer see the need.

Thursday, 28 November 1929

Washington:  

The United States government is reportedly proposing some kind of joint action by world powers in the face of Russia’s invasion of Manchuria.  News reports from Tokyo say Japan has been contacted by the U.S., and other reports say Great Britain, Italy and France have been contacted as well.  British Foreign Secretary Arthur Henderson, speaking before the House of Commons, says Great Britain is prepared to participate in some form of joint action, but the nature of what that might be is unclear. 

Manchuria:  

However, Russia is beginning to withdraw its forces from Manchuria, having achieved its military objectives, although Russian warplanes are still conducting flyovers.  But there are conflicting reports about who has negotiated what with the Soviets.  Manchuria’s warlord ruler, Zhang Xueliang, is said to have negotiated peace unilaterally with Russia, allowing Russian workers and soldiers on the Chinese Eastern Railway to return.  But China’s government is reportedly seeking peace talks with Russia too.  Either way, Japanese reports out of Manchuria say the danger appears to be over.

Wednesday, 27 November 1929

Berlin:  More bad economic news: a report says unemployment in Germany has climbed over 1 million.

Tuesday, 26 November 1929: Soviet Union Claims Victory in Manchuria

Manchuria:  

China asks for the world’s help with the Russian invasion of Manchuria.  The government appeals both to the League of Nations and all the countries that signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact to come to China’s aid and punish the Soviet Union.  “Take appropriate steps to stop and punish this deliberate violation,” the statement says.  Chinese troops in Manchuria, still fleeing in disarray, are reported roaming through the countryside seeking food and water.  However, new reports say Hailar is not in fact occupied by Russian forces.

Meanwhile, Russia is already claiming victory in Manchuria.  Russia says fighting has stopped, with 12,000 Manchurian casualties to 280 Russian soldiers killed.  And Manchuria’s warlord Zhang Xueliang reportedly has opened his own negotiations with the Russians and is said to be agreeing to resume the status quo: allowing Russia to control the Chinese Eastern Railway.*  Press reports from Moscow say the Soviet Council of Defense has decided to reject any attempts by other nations to intervene on China’s behalf. 

Soviet soldiers with captured Kuomintang banners

(Note that dates and other information in Wikipedia article appear to be wrong.)

Monday, 25 November 1929: Hailar, Manchuria in flames under Soviet bombing

Manchuria:  

The town of Hailar is reported in flames under Russian bombing, with thousands of refugees streaming southward.  Some reports say the Russians forces, backed by tanks and artillery, have already occupied the city, with Chinese casualties as high as 12,000.  Russia claims 8,000 Chinese soldiers captured.  Soviet troops are in control of Misham, Muling, and Russian cavalry have appeared south of Ninguta.  Chinese resistance, such as it was, is melting fast.  Chinese forces are reportedly trying to establish a headquarters at Buchatu, 100 miles east of Hailar, but fleeing troops are pouring in at such a rate, and in such a state of panic, that it is questionable whether they will be able to organize.  The Chinese Eastern Railway is bringing in every available train and car to transport refugees away from battle fronts.  But there are too many, and civilians are camping by the tracks. 

China:  Meanwhile, the nationalist government’s forces, even with the Russian invasion of Manchuria, are still fighting the civil war, and report a decisive victory over rebels in Honan and Hupeh, in central China, with 40,000 rebel casualties to 8,000 for the government.  

Sunday, 24 November 1929

Manchuria:  

The Russian invasion continues.  Reports indicate that Chinese/Manchurian forces have given up any attempt to defend the Chinese Eastern Railway west of the Khingan Mountains.  They are retreating eastward, looting as they go.  The Soviets also reportedly control the towns of Hailar and Muling, and all the territory west of the Khingan Mountains.  Soviet warplanes are bombing Hailar, and their forces have broken through and are encircling the Chinese there.

Meanwhile China issues a statement denying Russia’s claim that its invasion was only in response to provocation.  “The soviets are the only ones guilty of provocative acts.  More than 30 towns along the border, and in Chinese territory, have been raided and looted by the Reds.”

Russia:  The communist government kills more of its citizens – 16 people are executed for alleged anti-government activities, and 23 others are jailed. 

Saturday, 23 November 1929

Vienna:  

In the crisis surrounding Chancellor Johann Schober’s proposal to change the Austrian constitution to reduce the autonomy of mostly socialist Vienna, Schober achieves a breakthrough.  He secures agreement from the socialists to the proposal; in exchange, the federal government will reduce Vienna’s taxes.  This crisis has been the source of much of the recent agitation by the nationalist Heimwehr paramilitary.  The Heimwehr has threatened to overthrow the government if the constitutional change isn’t approved. 

Friday, 22 November 1929

Manchuria:  

The Russian invasion continues.  The Tass news agency in Russia reports that more than 3,000 Chinese/Manchurian soldiers have been captured.  Refugees fleeing the fighting to Hailar say 1,000 Chinese/Manchurian troops and civilians taking cover from Russian bombing in a coal mine, were killed. 

Elsewhere:

Vienna:  The socialist newspaper Arbeiter Zeitung publishes copies of plans by the nationalist Heimwehr paramilitary to attack and capture Innsbruck, capitol of the Austrian province of Tyrol.  The plans called for using poison gas, mortars and machine guns. 

Warsaw:  Police raid 42 apartments and find enormous quantities of communist literature and money.  Fifty communists are arrested on suspicion of intent to destabilize the government. 

Cassel, Germany:  Nationalist political leader Alfred Hugenberg, in a speech, says his proposal to reject the Young Plan is the only way to stop the spread of communism across the world.  He says his aims in opposing the Young Plan are to free Germany from bondage to foreign nations, and that this can be achieved without bloodshed if only all Germans will stand together.  

Thursday, 21 November 1929

Manchuria:  

The Russian invasion continues.  Russian warplanes bomb the city of Hailar, 125 miles inside the Russia-Manchuria border.  Soviet forces reportedly control a swath of territory 38 miles deep into Manchuria.  Meanwhile, Manchurian warlord Zhang Xueliang, whose forces are also taking a beating at the hands of the soviets, is reportedly seeking to negotiate peace with the Soviets independently of the Chinese government. 

Paris: 

Negotiations get under way between Germany and France over the Saar.  The Saar is one of the regions of southwestern Germany occupied by France after the World War.  The treaties ending the war called for the Saar to be occupied until 1935.  France had wanted to annex the Saar completely; Germany is hoping to negotiate an earlier return.  The treaties also gave France control of the Saar’s rich coal industry.  France is therefore reluctant to give it up. 

Wednesday, 20 November 1929

Vienna:  

Coup fears rattle Austria.  The government receives reports that the nationalist Heimwehr paramilitary might attempt a coup.  A beefed-up police presence is deployed to guard key public facilities. 

Manchuria:  

Nationalist government head Chiang Kai-shek complains to the world that Russia has disregarded its international treaties by its invasion of Manchuria.  Meanwhile, the fighting in Manzhouli is reportedly winding down, with Chinese forces surrendering or fleeing, offering little to no resistance against the advancing Russians.  

Tuesday, 19 November 1929

Italy:  The fallout from the New York Stock Exchange crash continues: Banco Bombelli, a brokerage firm, is declared bankrupt after suffering huge losses in the crash.

Russia:  The soviet government sentences 10 more of its citizens to die -- kulaks given the sentence for opposing government collectivization of their lands. 

Monday, 18 November 1929: Soviet Forces Take Manzhouli

Manchuria:  

The Russian conquest of the town of Manzhouli is complete.  Some 2,000 Manchurian/Chinese soldiers are reported dead.  Mopup fighting continues, as well as pursuit of Manchurian forces that broke out of the Russian encirclement.  Meanwhile, soviet warplanes reportedly bomb Mutanchiang, destroying a Chinese depot where aircraft were stored.

Elsewhere:

Sofia:  A national demonstration is held against Bulgaria’s war debt requirements, which, like Germany’s, are terms from the World War.  A two-hour work stoppage is staged, and raucous crowds gather outside the French and British legations.

Cologne:  At a meeting of the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry, industrialists warn that Germany is courting disaster in this economic downturn, borrowing too much and consuming reserves.  They urge a complete economic overhaul and relief from direct taxation.

Prague:  Another anti-Semitic mob scene at a central Europe university – a gang of Czech fascists beats Jewish students at a tech school, then clashes with police.

Russia:  The government puts more of its citizens on death row – 10 Kulaks (rich peasants) are condemned to death for anti-soviet agitation, profiteering and opposing the government’s grain collection campaign.  Others received sentences of 3 to 10 years for the same activities.

Cherbourg, France:  The French navy launches the largest submarine ever built – the Surcouf.  The submarine is said to be the fastest and most powerful vessel of its kind in the world. 

China:  The nationalist government says its troops have taken Tengfeng from the rebels.  

Sunday, 17 November 1929

Manchuria:  

The Soviet invasion continues, with warplanes bombing trains and railroad stations near Manzhouli for 10 straight hours.  Manchurian forces trapped at Manzhouli attempt to break out – some succeed, but are harried by machine gun fire from Russian planes.  Russian aircraft also bomb Manchurian reserves at Tsagan and Nuanchun.  In eastern Manchuria, the Soviets have occupied Mishan, and Russian cavalry are reported roaming the vicinity. 

Red Army forces also launch an attack about 1 a.m. on entrenched Manchurian forces at Dalai Nor, about 30 miles east of Manzhouli.  At daybreak, warplanes join the effort, bombing the railway station, coal mines and workers’ houses.  Mongolian cavalry are said to be aiding the soviets.

 Sino-Soviet Border Clash of 1929

Berlin:  

The city holds elections for its municipal government posts today.  The polling is plagued by violence: in one place, communists beat a socialist to death, and more than 330 people are arrested city-wide for election–related violence.  Tonight, the election results start coming in.  With Germany's economic suffering worsening in the growing global economic downturn, the political parties that gain the most are those of the extremes.  The communists get 56 seats in the 225-seat Berlin Municipal Assembly, a gain of 13.  The nazis win 13 seats total – the first time they have held any seats in the Berlin assembly.  Joseph Goebbels becomes their floor leader.

Meanwhile, more bad economic news comes in: a report shows unemployment is higher by 200,000 than a year ago. 

China:  

In the civil war, nationalist government forces are reportedly repulsed at Tengfeng, while in Hupeh, seven garrisons of troops reportedly join the rebellion.  

Saturday, 16 November 1929: Soviet Russia Invades Manchuria

RUSSIA INVADES MANCHURIA

  

Three to four modern divisions of the Red Army cross the border into Manchuria at two points: one near the northwestern city of Manzhouli, where the Chinese Eastern Railway enters Manchuria from the west, and another near the northeastern town of Mishan, where the railway exits Manchuria on its eastward journey to Vladivostok, Russia.  Due to the remoteness of the locations, the severity of the offensive, and the fact that the soviets have cut communication lines, news agencies struggle to get reports on the battle.  But the Japanese news agency Rengo is reporting that heavy fighting has broken out at Manzhouli.  Additionally, 18 Soviet warplanes have reportedly been involved in bombing runs at Delainor, as well as on the rail line between Tsagan and Delainor. 

The soviet forces include infantry and cavalry backed by tanks, artillery, armored trains and air support.  China has tens of thousands of troops in the region, but many are untrained, undisciplined ex-bandits.  Russia has evidently decided to settle the railway issues once and for all.  By nightfall, the Russians have encircled Manzhouli.

Sino-Soviet Border Clash of 1929

Friday, 15 November 1929

Krakow:  Jewish and Polish students clash at a Krakow university.  The Minister of Education orders the school closed for six months to restore order.

China:  Communist rebel forces reportedly drive back nationalist government forces in Hupeh, in central China, with fighting also still raging in Tengfeng.

Thursday, 14 November 1929

Prague:  

Foreign Minister Edvard Benes rejects a demand from Hungary that a strip of Czechoslovakia containing 650,000 ethnic Hungarians be given to Hungary.  Such enclaves -- ethnically linked to one country but politically trapped inside another -- are not uncommon after the Allies drew new borders on the map of Europe to carve up the old Austria-Hungary Empire after the World War. 

In response to Hungary’s demand, Benes says that, instead, closer economic ties will make the border between Czechoslovakia and Hungary seem “practically invisible.”

 China:  Severe fighting in the civil war is reported at Tengfeng.

Wednesday, 13 November 1929

New York:  The stock market drops another 5.3%, to 198.  It’s down 48% from its September all-time high. 

Tuesday, 12 November 1929

New York:  The stock market falls another 4.8% to 210. 

Rome:  The economic downturn signaled by the U.S. stock market crash is growing: Italy announces it will refinance US$400 million in debt as a result of changing economic conditions.

Monday, 11 November 1929

Today is Armistice Day, commemorating the end of the World War.

New York:  The stock market drops again, 6.8%.  At 220, it’s lower than the lowest close of The Crash.

China:  Fighting continues in Honan in the civil war.

Saturday, 9 November 1929

Berlin:  More bad economic news: a second bank fails.  The Reichsbund’s collapse costs 4,000 civil employees their savings.  This comes barely more than a week after the Bank for Civil Employees failed, wiping out the savings of 5,000 civil employees.

Great Britain:  Bad economic news here too: unemployment is reported to be over 1.2 million. 

China:  Renewed heavy fighting is reported in Honan between rebels and nationalist government forces, with the government claiming victory and a “mountain high” pile of dead.

Friday, 8 November 1929

New York:  

A crowd of perhaps 200 anti-fascists holds a demonstration outside the Italian Consulate, waving banners that read “Down with Mussolini!” and “Down with fascism!”  When police attempt to confiscate their banners, the crowd rushes the building.  Outnumbered, the police call in reinforcements, who quickly restore order.  Eleven are arrested.

Vienna:  

The subcommittee in parliament that has been discussing Chancellor Johann Schober’s proposed constitutional amendments to reduce the autonomy of largely socialist Vienna, terminates its work.  It has not reached any agreement on the proposal, as the legislators with ties to the nationalist Heimwehr and those with ties to the socialist Schutzbund cannot agree on anything.  Next step: send the proposals to the full Constitutional Committee, to see if they can sort it out. 

Kyoto:

The Institute of Pacific Relations conference ends with historian James T. Shotwell urging all parties to pursue peace.  

James Shotwell, © German Federal Archives, Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-2004-0095 / CC-BY-SA.

 Used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Thursday, 7 November 1929

Paris:  

New Prime Minister Andre Tardieu outlines to Parliament his government’s priorities, and what they will cost.  Included in them are plans to fund the construction of a proposed line of fortifications in northern France to serve as a defensive protection against Germany.  In the debate, Henry Franklin-Bouillon, a radical socialist who opposes France’s planned early withdrawal from the Rhineland, says Germany still represents a military threat, and that German military appropriations are enough to give it an army five times as strong as France’s.  He says Germany has built high-quality roads to the French border, over which an army could move quickly if needed. 

On the same day, the new Minister of War in Tardieu’s cabinet, Andre Maginot, announces that France will suspend further troop withdrawals from the Rhineland if Germany does not ratify the Young Plan.

Elsewhere:

Vienna:  More anti-Semitic violence at Vienna University, as a group of nationalist Heimwehr students again attacks Jewish students (see Nov. 5).  The school’s deans say they will close the school to restore order.

Tokyo:  A gag order is lifted today on a “preliminary court” that has been processing the cases of accused communists who have been arrested over the past two years.  The public is at last able to get information on what the court has been doing.  In total, 825 people have been charged with plotting against the government.  The government began arresting and charging the communists in March 1928 after it discovered that 20 Japanese communists, trained in Moscow, had returned to the country and were organizing disruptive activities.

Wednesday, 6 November 1929

New York:  The stock market drops again, nearly 8%.  Hope for a quick rebound is dashed now – at 232, the market is only 2 points above its lowest close of The Crash. 

Tuesday, 5 November 1929

Vienna:  

A group of nationalist Heimwehr (“Home Guard”) students attack a group of Jewish Socialist students at Vienna University.  Police are called in to break up the assault.  Tensions in Austria have reached such heights that British Foreign Minister Arthur Henderson is publicly warning Austrians against coup attempts.  He says Great Britain is concerned that there may be a breakdown in parliamentary discussions on Prime Minister Johann Schober’s proposed constitutional changes to reduce the autonomy of largely socialist Vienna, and that non-legislative action might follow (e.g., coup attempts).  This, Henderson says, would threaten the stability of all of Europe.  Austrian officials are reportedly indignant over the comment, calling it an interference in Austria’s internal affairs. 

Elsewhere:

Kyoto:  Japan’s delegation at the Institute of Pacific Relations conference lashes out with a diatribe on Manchuria.  Japan claims that China entered into a secret agreement with Russia in 1904 to treat Japan as their common enemy, and had Japan known it, it would have annexed Manchuria right then.  Japan says this secret agreement cost Japan 100,000 lives fighting Russia, and the equivalent of $1 billion.  The Japanese say their interest today is for a populous and prosperous Manchuria to act as a buffer with Russia.

China:  With mutinies spreading, Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist government forces lose the towns of Yensih and Kunghsien to rebels, who now threaten the city of Hankow. 

Monday, 4 November 1929

Rome:  

In a speech marking the 11^th anniversary of Italy’s victory at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, Dictator Benito Mussolini is back to his belligerent talk.  “History teaches us when there are serious crises, it is arms and war which solve them.  If I had the terrible responsibility of governing a country in wartime, I would make a clean sweep of all powers of discord and defeatists.  I would impose stern discipline behind the war front.”  He added that he thought there was too much talk about peace and disarmament in the world.  Vittorio Veneto was the crucial battle in ending combat on the Italian Front in the World War, and a major factor in the end of the entire war two weeks later. 

Kyoto:  

At the Institute of Pacific Relations conference, the topic of Japan’s presence in Manchuria tops the agenda.  Japan maintains troops in Manchuria to protect its South Manchuria Railway concession, as other nations do in their concessions.  However, China alleges that Japanese troops are involved in acts of intimidation and terrorization of the population.  Japan, on the other hand, says its interests in Manchuria are comparable to Great Britain’s interests in Egypt, or the United States’ interests in Cuba.  A Japanese delegate says China, Japan and the rest of the world all really want the same thing in Manchuria.  “Japan is interested in the development of Manchuria so that she may draw on that country for raw materials which she may turn into manufactured products and which she may sell to the steadily increasing population of Manchuria.”  A delegate from Great Britain pays tribute to Japan for helping maintain peace in Manchuria when the rest of China is in turmoil. 

New York:  

The stock market drops 4.5%, reversing the brief rally that followed last week’s crash.

 

London:  

The government begins deliberations in parliament on plans to spend 42 million pounds on unemployment grants and railway and road improvements, in order to provide jobs to Britain’s unemployed, which now number more than 1 million.  Nevertheless, J.H. Thomas, Minister of Employment, is not optimistic that the “blight of unemployment” can be wiped out so easily.  “In some districts of the country there is no hope whatever of work for thousands and hundreds of thousands of our fellow men, no matter what is done.” 

Photo of J.H. Thomas

Sunday, 3 November 1929

Germany:  

Bad economic news: government reports say unemployment is 27% higher than same week last year.  Nearly 800,000 are out of work.  Bankruptcies year-to-date are also higher, up nearly 22% from last year. 

Manchuria:  

Russian forces withdraw from Fukdin, having destroyed or scattered the Manchurian forces there.

Washington:  

In the dustup over Italy’s alleged conscription of Italian-Americans for military duty (see October 26), the Italian Embassy releases an unofficial statement which appears to indicate that Italy will stop the practice.  Actually, it’s hard to tell what it says.  “The royal Italian government, upon examining the proportion between the results of the compulsory conscription and the actual military contingent approved by the financial laws, would have no interest to impose military duties in time of peace to citizens residing in far away countries, for instance, transoceanic countries, in place of citizen residents of nearer countries if not altogether residents of Italy, and therefore, under all circumstances which are not of war, Italian citizens residing on the other side of the ocean, notwithstanding the kind of passport which they might present in Italy, whether issued by Italian authorities or by the authorities of the foreign country where they were born, can not but be considered in excess of the necessity of Italian military service in time of peace, and therefore free from being molested in any way, as far as military service duties are concerned, even past duties, provided they have no reference to time of war.”

Elsewhere: 

Russia:  The soviet government sentences still more of its citizens to die.  Today, 24 people get the sentence, allegedly for agitating against the government’s attempts to impose a new grain tax.  That brings the total killed or to be killed by the government in the past two weeks or so, to 130. 

New York:  10,000 communists rally at Madison Square Garden observing the anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and supporting American communist political candidates.

 

Paris:  Andre Tardieu is named Prime Minister of France.

China:  Heavy fighting and a decisive rebel victory are reported in Hupeh and Honan in China’s northwest.  Ten thousand government troops reportedly desert, and casualties are high.

Saturday, 2 November 1929: Germany's Liberty Law Campaign Pulls a Surprise

Germany:  

Electorate surprise -- the Liberty Law* plebiscite passes the 10% mark needed to force it to the Reichstag.  Newspapers have been assuring readers for the last three days that the proposal wouldn’t pass.  But after the final votes are counted, the measure has squeaked by, reportedly by the razor-thin margin of 10.08%. 

The Reichstag is of course expected to reject the measure, which would call for Germany to abandon its debt reparation payments from the World War altogether.  But even if it does, German law still requires the measure be submitted to a public vote after that.  All of which means weeks’ more publicity for the nationalists, cranked out by the press controlled by Alfred Hugenberg, whose political coalition proposed the Liberty Law.  “The first battle is won,” says the nationalist newspaper Kreuzzeltung.  

The government is reportedly frustrated over the whole affair, including having to foot the bill for a nationwide referendum, probably early next year.  The government announces that it will heavily penalize any of its own officials who were found to have signed the Liberty Law petition.  The nationalists, meanwhile, claim the national government is trying to stifle freedom of expression over the measure. 

Reports from the countryside, especially places like Pomerania and East Prussia, hold that “junkers” – the old Prussian aristocracy, many of whom own vast estates with lots of workers – bullied their farm tenants into voting for the Liberty Law.  Sure enough, favorable votes in those places ran as high as 33% (Pomerania) and 25% (East Prussia). 

“Enemies abroad will be made aware that in Germany strong forces are alive which refuse to bend their backs under the yoke,” says Kreuzzeltung.

Manchuria:  

Civilians fleeing the Russian military actions at Fukdin report some 2,000 Soviet troops are involved, backed by warplanes.  They say Fukdin has been captured by the soviets, but that civilians are not being harmed.

Rome:  

Italy and France begin a round of preliminary discussions in advance of the London Naval Conference due to start early next year.  As the two perceived “great powers” on the Mediterranean, the nations’ naval rivalry is as intense as their political rivalry on the continent.  News reports state that Italian naval officers are already claiming that Italy’s navy must increase three-fold to give it parity with France and adequately protects its lengthy coastline.  France, on the other hand, is expected to counter that her far-flung empire demands a navy larger than any other country on the continent.  

Elsewhere: 

Russia:  The soviet government sentences more of its citizens to die.  This time 14 people get the sentence, most of them kulaks, but two priests and one a church warden.  The priests were sentenced for inciting others to set fire to a cooperative farm near Pekoff, Russia. 

China:  In the civil war, Shanghai has reportedly been put under martial law, and fighting has reportedly spread into Manchuria, where the Soviet offensive against Fukdin continues as well.  Heaving fighting continues in the Honan province as well. 

*See definitions page.

Friday, 1 November 1929: Soviet Forces in Action at Fukdin

Manchuria:  

Russian forces reportedly launch another offensive on the town of Fukdin, a center of military power for Manchurian warlord Zhang Xueliang, in the northeastern corner of Manchuria.  Objective is to reduce the Manchurian units they say are once again harassing Russian river traffic.  Some reports have the soviets briefly occupying Fukdin.  Many civilians are already fleeing parts of Manchuria, fearing a full-scale soviet invasion when the Amur River freezes, which will be in a matter of weeks.  At this point in the border conflict, virtually the entire Chinese river gunboat fleet has been wiped out. 

Kyoto:  

Japan and China continue to trade barbs at the Institute of Pacific Relations conference.  China says it intends to phase out “extraterritoriality” next year.  (Extraterritoriality is the policy of allowing citizens of other countries, including Japan, to be exempt from local courts.  Extraterritoriality has been in place for most foreigners in China since the 1800s).  Japan accuses China of boycotting Japanese products as a national policy to harm Japan.

Munich:  

Adolf Hitler, head of the national socialist (nazi) party, reportedly demands that Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria deny a report that he refused to sign his name to the Liberty Law plebiscite.*  Rupprecht replies that he will not be bullied into make any statement.

* See definitions page.