THRICE WOUNDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22954, 4 February 1938, Page 9

THRICE WOUNDED

GENERAL^MATSUI CONDITION SERIOUS ATTACK NEAR SHANGHAI ASSAILANT'S SUICIDE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright SYDNEY, Feb. 8 The Chinese Consul ate-General in Sydney has issued a statement to the effect that General Matsui, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army, was shot twice in one leg and once in an arm after reviewing troops at Hungjao, west of the International Settlement, Shanghai, where the Chinese aerodrome is situated. General Matsui's condition is reported to be serious. His assailant committed suicide immediately after firing at him.

General Matsui has spent 36 years as an officer in the Japanese Army. Born in 1878 in Aichi-ken, he graduated from tho Military Academy in 1892, taking part in the RussoJapanese War and in the occupation of Korea as a staff officer. Subsequently he distinguished himself in the Manchurian campaign and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General, being appointed Commander-in-Chief of tho Army in the island of Formosa. During the invasion of China last August, he was in charge of the .Japanese landing parties at Shanghai. General Matsui, who is the founder of the Greater Asia Society, possesses an intimate knowledge of China, where he has spent, in all, about 20 years.

BRITAIN AND AMERICA MR. EDEN'S STATEMENT NEW YORK PRESS COMMENT (Received February 3, 11.55 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 2 The New York Times vrefers to Mr. W. E. Borah's speech in the Senate yesterday, in which he inquired as to tho meaning behind the recent statement by the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, alleged to have implied a secret understanding between Britain and the United States. Tho paper remarks that Mr. Eden's speech on December 21 did not imply a secret understanding between Britain and America. Mr. Eden had said specifically, "there is not and cannot be any question of a treaty or of entanglements with the United States. "All Mr. Eden said," continues the paper, "was that the two Governments were in close consultation daily, which, by every rule of commonsense, should have been due to the Panay and Ladybird incidents. Further, he said there was a true community of outlook between Britain and America which could prove an invaluable asset for the maintenance of peace. "That is tho simple, statement of fact—that the two great democracies have a common interest in an orderly and stable world, making no secret of their desire that in such a world thev I can appropriately seek through parallel or similar action to achieve their common goal."

BUSINESSES IN CHINA PRIVATE ENTERPRISE RESTRICTION BY JAPAN (Received February 3, 6.5 p.in.) TOKIO. Feb. 2 The Budget Committee of the Diet was informed by the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hirota, to-day, that the only businesses in North-China not open to private enterprise would bo transport, communications, electricity and salt manufacture, all of which would be entrusted to special companies. Japan hoped that when rehabilitation and organisation were established all businesses in Shanghai would be reopened.

CHINESE CUSTOMS INTERESTS OF BRITAIN British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 2 The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, in the House of Commons to-day, said the British Ambassador to Japan, Sir Robert Craigie, had been instructed to impress on the Japanese Government the extreme importance the British Government attached to the maintenance and protection of its interests in Customs revenue. The Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr, K. Hirota, had given an assurance that duo consideration would be given to the views of foreign Powers.

RUMOURED MURDER HANGCHOW COMMANDER SHANGHAI, Feb. 2 It is reported that a Chinese civilian assassinated the Japanese commander at Hangchow.