RUSSIA IN FAR EAST

Evening Star, Issue 20317, 28 October 1929, Page 8

RUSSIA IN FAR EAST

THE MANCHURIAN DISPUTE SOVITT TROOPS CONCENTRATING, Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, SHANGHAI, October 37. (Received October 28, at 10.10 a.m.) The Nanking Government has received an urgent telegram from Chang Hsuoh-liang, the Manchuria war lord, stating that large bodies of Soviet troops are concentrating in the Blagovyosfchschenuk district, whore General Blucber, the Red commander, is establishing his headquarters. The message apparently confirms the recent report from Riga that Russia would shortly assume the offensive and seize the Chinese Eastern Railway.

IDENTITY OF NEW GENERAL

There is reason to believe (telegraphed the Shanghai correspondent of the London 'Times’) that Vasili Koustantinovitch Blucher, the newly-ap-pointed commander of all the Soviet forces in the Far East, is identical with General Galons, chief adviser to the Nationalist armies during 1926 and pa-t of 1927,' and who was the real author of their successful march from Canton towards Hankow. After the Nationalists broke off relations with the Soviet in 1927, General Galens returned to Moscow, where he remained some time before being appointed commander of the military district of the Ukraine. Here, apparently, he stayed until he received th» present commission. General Galens, who is believed to be a grandson of the Waterloo Blucher, is generally described as having exceptional personality and ability. His appointment to the Far Eastern command is something more than poetic irony, since he know* the Chinese army well, and lias been personally instrumental in training may of its newer units.