NEW COMMANDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 45, 23 February 1938, Page 7

NEW COMMANDER.

General Matsui Returns to Tokio. | JAPS. CAPTURE HWAIKING. (Received II a.m.) SHANGHAI, February 22. General Matsui has departed for Tokyo by air. His successor will be General Sliunriitu Hata. with MajorGeneral Kawabe Chief of Staff. A message from Tokyo states that the Japanese have captured the walled city of Hwaiking, 10 miles north of the \ ellow River. The fate of the defender. General Sung Che-yuan, is not known.

The Japanese bombed from the air the city of Hengcliow, 300 miles north of Canton.

SOVIET STANDS OUT. Resolved Not to Fight Japan, Says " Pravda." « CHARGE AGAINST BRITAIN. MOSCOW, February 18. '"Pravda," the Russian Communist party's chief organ, makes it clear that the Soviet will not light Japan in exchange for any guarantees against European enemies. In a leading article, it charges the Press of the world—and particularly the British Press—with attempting to embroil Russia in the Sino-Japanese war. "The old bisons of British Imperialism, those old lovers of gain at the expense of clashes between foreigners, which spill only foreign blood—namelv, the extreme British Right—undoubtedlv inspired these latest Press calumnies and provocations regarding the Soviet's alleged preparations in the Far East," says "Pravda."' _ The article indicates an extreme dislike of references in the foreian Press to the strength of the Far Eastern Army.