  The nature of the X-ray source RXJ0052.1-7319 is discussed from observational
data obtained from ROSAT observations performed in 1995 and 1996. An accurate
position is derived from ROSAT HRI observations performed in 1995. The 6" error
circle contains two OGLE microlensing optical variables of which one has
previously been identified with a 14.5 mag Be-type star in the Small Magellanic
Cloud. During the October 1996 observation RXJ0052.1-7319 was found to be
extremely bright (with a count rate of ~1.1+/-0.1 s^-1) and 15.3 second X-ray
pulsations have been discovered during this observation. This indicates for a
high-mass X-ray binary nature of the source. During the 1995 observation the
X-ray source detected at the position of RXJ0052.1-7319 was a factor 200
fainter. The corresponding luminosity has changed from 5.2x10^37 erg s^-1 to
2.6x10^35 erg s^-1 assuming SMC membership of the source. It is unclear whether
the so-far unidentified second optical variable contributes to the X-ray flux
of the source.
