RUSSIA PREPARING.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 July 1938, Page 5

RUSSIA PREPARING.

WAR AGAINST JAPAN?

ALLEGED STATEMENT BY SOVIET OFFICIAL

(By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m. TOKIO, July 3. “I am a traitor to Stalin hut never to the Fatherland/’ said a Russian named Lushkov in an alleged signed statement to the Domei News Agency. The statement declares that Stalin was preparing war against Japan and had concentrated 400,000 men and 2000 warplanes east of Lake Baikal, also 90 submarines at Vladivostock. He added that Stalin was assisting China to engage Japan in a war of exhaustion' after which Russia would attack Japan. Lushkov admitted that he had been collaborating in Stalin’s terrorism, resulting in the massacre of thousands, but said he had repented. He alleged that Stalin had fabricated the intrigues featured in recent trials in order to liquidate rivals and undesirables. The accused were shockingly tortured until they deposed according to his requirements and dissatisfaction at Stalin’s activities was widespread.

HUGE GUERILLA FORCES WORRY JAPANESE.

SWATOW HEAVILY BOMBARDED

Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. SHANGHAI, July 2,

In addition to scores of Japanese bombers yesterday killing and injuring 400 at Swatow, Japanese warships have begun shelling the city. Thousands 'ire fleein ' to safety. Japanese motor-boats penetrated the Matang boom. The Chinese have laid another at Hukow, twenty miles below Kiukiang, but floob are minimi-in;., its effective:,-.s and simultaneously retarding Japanese attempts to travel upstream.

A Peking message states that the Japanese estimate that at present a quarter of a million guerilla troops are harrying them in Hopei, Shantung and Shansi. Provinces, being especially stubborn at Nankow Pass.