JAPANESE RECALL ARMY LEADERS

Southland Times, Issue 23443, 25 February 1938, Page 7

JAPANESE RECALL ARMY LEADERS

BLAME FOR EXCESSES AT NANKING CHINESE RAID FORMOSA IN RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 24, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, Februaiy 23. It is officially announced from Tokyo that the Emperor’s uncle, LieutenantGeneral Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, and Lieutenant-General Yanagawa have been recalled from Shanghai. General Hata has replaced General Iwane Matsui, former Commander-in-Chief in the Shanghai area, who has departed for Tokyo. No reasons are given. The Conservatives had long advocated the recall of Lieutenant-General Prince Asaka, whom they blamed for the Japanese excesses at Nanking. The Tokyo newspapers hail the trio as heroes. An Imperial dinner is being arranged in their honour. The Tokyo correspondent of The Times says that the recall of General Matsui and his principal division commanders is partly the result of incidents which have embroiled Japan with foreign Powers and stained the Army’s record abroad. Imperial Headquarters regrets the effect of it on world opinion, although the incidents are still not disclosed to the Japanese public. The Tokyo correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that General Matsui was recalled because the War Office objected to his demand to formulate an independent policy. Meanwhile the Japanese drive on the north bank of the Yellow river continues. Tsiyuan and Tungliu have both been captured. Seven Chinese aeroplanes carried the war into Japanese territory by raiding Formosa. They dropped 10 bombs on the aerodrome at Taihoku, the island’s capital. The Japanese admit that their property suffered considerably. The Shanghai correspondent of Tnt Times says that the Chinese air raid on Formosa was carried out by 12 Russian aeroplanes. This indicates the development of the Chinese air force, the significance of which is not lost on the Japanese. It is reported from Tokyo . that 10 persons were killed and 30 injured in an air raid on Taihoku (Formosa). BRITISH FIRM COMPLAINS TO CONSULATE RANSACKING OF PREMISES BY JAPANESE ALLEGED SHANGHAI, February 23. A complaint has been lodged with the British Consulate by. the British firm of Heaths Limited. It alleges that Japanese marines ransacked the premises, opened safes and departed with a quantity of steel and general merchandise. Sub-Lieutenant Kushige, commanding the party, informed the police that he was acting under instructions. Heaths Limited says that he was told that the premises were British and tha( this was the third time property had been removed. RUSSIAN SHIP ARRESTED BY JAPANESE PENALTY FOR ANCHORING IN FORTIFIED ZONE TOKYO, February 23. The Japanese arrested the Russian freighter Kuznetskstnoi for anchoring in a blizzard in the fortified zone at Hakodate. The Russians’ version is that they came for bunker coal. The Soviet Consul protested against the seizure, but he was not allowed to go aboard.