Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-20
Gen. Ma Comes Back.

From Moscow comes news that Gen.
Ma, who mounted into international
fame as the hero Of Nonni River
Bridge" at the outset Of the Man
churian War, has dramatically ap-
peared in the Soviet capital. Long
lost to sight and repeatedly reported
dead, the Chinese guerrilla leader, whose
full name is Ma Chan-Shan, hobs up
not only serenely, but belligerently, and
proclaims his intention to return to
China, by Shanghai, to resume warfare
against the Japanese invader.
II am going back" said Gen. Ma at
Moscow, Ito continue to my last day
the battle against my country's foe
to resume the fight I began at Nonni
River. In Manchuria We have proved
to the world that the Chinese can
fight. Three thousand of my men are
now on their way from Tomsk Isl
beria), where they were interned with
me, to the province of Sinkiang. in the
Japanese-occupied North of Man
churia."
Accompanying Gen. Ma out Of Rus
STA are his chief lieutenant Gen. Su
Ping-Wen, and sixty-four others Of his
officers and members Of their families,
who likewise were interned in Siberia,
following the flight Of the Ma forces
into Russian territory. It will be re-
called that after the japanese swept
across Manchuria and the setting UP
of the independent" state Of Man.
chukuo, Gen. Ma accepted Japans in
vitation to become minister Of war for
Manchukuo Widely interpreted at the
time as a gross act Of treason toward
China, Ma now describes it as
strategic move" on his part, and de-
clares that he utilized his Manchukuan
office for the purpose Of laying plans
ito continue the struggle against the
aggressor." Later Gen. Ma proclaimed
his rebellion against Manchukuo and,
to the extent his resources permitted.
carried on guerrilla warfare against the
Japanese until he was compelled to
retreat westward toward the Soviet
frontier.
Undoubtedly the significance Of Gen.
Mas sudden recrudescence Is the fact
that 1t occurs under highly favoring
Russian auspices. Not only he. but
his considerable force Of followers. is
now released from internment on sup
posedly neutral Soviet soil and at lib
erty to renew operations against Japan.
That circumstance In itself probably
gives the Toxic military authorities no
cause for anxiety. But they would have
reason to be disturbed if the re-emer-
gence of Gen. Ma means a rapproche-
ment between Russia and China.
Signs are not lacking that this Is In
progress. American dispatches from
Moscow report definite stiffening in
the Soviet attitude toward Japan. The
recent policy of watchful waiting and
passive vigilance regarding events IN
Manchuria is now giving way to undis-
guised dissatisfaction, and even angry
resentment. The note delivered early
this week to the japanese Ambassador
at Moscow, emphasizing Japan's broken
promises to respect Russian interest in
the Chinese Eastern Railway, is an in
dication of the new Soviet attitude
toward the Organization Of the Chinese
territory athwart Siberia. In the same
note, Russia expressed its readiness to
sell her interest in the railway to the
Chinese, If the latter desire to pur-
chase 1t.
All In all, Gen. Mas back from
Elba" appearance on the international
scene may be an event of more i'm
portance than at once meets the eye.