CHINA CAMPAIGN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 14

CHINA CAMPAIGN

GENERAL RECALLED ; JAPANESE COMMANDER WALLED CITY CAPTURED BOMBING OF HENGCHOW By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ./ SHANGHAI. Feb. 22 J It is announced that the Japanese f commander, General Matsui, has left by air for Tokio. His successor Will be General Shunrutu Hata, with Major-General Kawabe as Chief-of-Staff. The Japanese have captured the walled city of Hwaiking, 10 miles north of the Yellow River. The fate of the defender, General Sung Cheyuan, is not known. Tho Japanese have bombod tho city of Hengchow, 300 miles north of Canton. GRUESOME "PRESENTS" PACKAGES FOR JOURNALISTS HUMAN HANDS ENCLOSED SHANGHAI. Feb. 22 The editor of tho Chinese nowspaper Hwameipao, Mr. Chu Tsitung, received a packago containing a human hand with a note demanding a cessation of anti-Japanese articles in the paper, in default of which "another present" would bo sent to him. Another journalist, Sam Chang, formerly Director of Publicity at Nanking, received a similar package. CHINESE RESISTANCE PROBLEM FOR JAPANESE WELL-EQUIPPED DIVISIONS LONDON, Feb. 17 Although tho Japanese believe that the second stage of the war in China is closing, they admit that the Chinese resistance is stiffening. The Peking correspondent of tho Tiroes says the Japanese recognise that they are now- confronted by three bettor-equipped Chinese Central Government divisions between themselves and the Yellow River, and that these are likely to offer determined opposi* tion. Reliable travellers from Schichinchwang indicate the seriousness of Chinese attacks on the Japanese communications. Communist troops descended from the hills, annihilated the small garrison at Simlo and carried off two Japanese officers. Chinese irregulars fired on a train, wounding many passengers, including several Japanese.

SOVIET ATTITUDE ► f ' .WILL NOT BE EMBROILED BRITISH PRESS ATTACKED 1 "MOSCOW, Feb. 17 The Russian Communist Party's chiqf organ, Pravda, makes it clear that the Soviet will not fight Japan in exchange for any guarantees against European enemies. In a leading article the newspaper charges ' the press of the world —and particularly the British press—with attempting to embroil Russia in the SinoJapanese war. "The old bisons of British Imperialism, those old lovers of gain at the expense of clashes between foreigners, which spill only foreign blood —namely, the extreme British Right—undoubtedly inspired those latest press calumnies and provocations regarding the Soviet's alleged preparations in the Far East. ' says the Pravda. The article indicates an extreme dislike of references in the foreign press to the strength of the Far Eastern Army.