Aces Shift

Japan last week recalled General Count Juichi Terauchi from command in North China and about 8,000,000 copper 1-sen pieces from circulation in Japan. General Terauchi will be replaced by General Gen Sugiyama, the copper coins probably by aluminum slugs. By the latter measure Japan hopes to save 900 tons of copper annually for her munitions industries. By the former measure she probably hopes to speed a decision regarding the personnel and character of the new central Chinese Government she proposes to establish.

The prestige of Terauchi's name (his father was Minister of War throughout the Russo-Japanese War), his own rank as one of Japan's full generals and a former War Minister, and his recent military achievements and experience in North China may enable him to smooth relations between the army's two China experts, Generals Doihara and Kita, who have rival plans for China's "final" Government. Doihara is reported to favor a government with wide powers headed by old Warlord Wu Pei-fu Kita to favor a government with severely limited powers suitable to a "puppet state" headed by Wang K'e-ming, present chairman of the North-China Provisional Government.

Generals Terauchi and Sugiyama are a hard team to beat, deal each other the aces regularly. When one is in power the other has a good job. In the past three years they have both been Inspector General of Military Training Department. Minister for War, and commander-in-chief of the Japanese Armies in North China.

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