Dec. 8.
On another page to-day will be found an impressi6nist sketch the work which the British —in cooperation with the Japanese, American, French snd Italian navies—is being called upon to perform in the discharge of its duty protector of British commerce afloat on the Yangtse It will readily be admitted that the extension of the normal functions of a naval force to cover the operations of gunboat: on China's principal waterway is mot selfishly exercised by the British authorities. The Navy's cares on the Yangtse are multifarious; they include the rescue of British and other nationals who, for the time being, may be in serious danger owing to the sudden intensification of banditry or other forms of lawlessness in the Interior. They do not leave out of aceouat the requirements of Chinese troops working under Government _direetion; they imply a general spirit of ce-operation in all forms of activity designed to preserve the Yangtse traffic in its proper state of fluidity. The manner in which the Yangtse Patrot devotes itself to these duties and, in 80 doing, manages to adjust the practical handling of any ssiven situation to the sometime procrustean frame of its official instructions should earn the conspicuous gratitude of the beneficiaries of all nationalities who come within its scope. The development of the bandit! menace on the Middle Yangtse during the last three months has once again made the journey of shipping up and down the river passage perilous. It will be! generally recognized—it knowe that their naval comrade: admiringly recognize—that the fearlessness and tenacity of the masters of the river steamers in carrying on in the face of this ever-present nightmare of guerulla warfare waged by an elusive and savage foe adds another laurel to the record of the Mercantile Marine. The demand made on the British Naval forces, exiguous as they fare, can be dimly. gauged by the' very facts of this gauntlet-running experience of the river's Certain conclusions seem to [be justified by the situation as now developed. The preoceupation of the Goverament during the summer and late autumn in dealing with the rebellion in the North involved a neglect of the duty of maintaining orde-the Yangtse Valley. Of this the Communists have taken very full advantage.
They have daringly established themselves on the river banks at many points of vantage and, although they are constantly being dislodged, they seem to have remarkable powers of recovery and return, The immunity which they have so lone enjoyed hes been" used by them to consolidate their grip. of the countryside, with the result that the operations now being inaugurated by General Chiang Kai-shek will tax all the military skill of the ablest' commander whom China to-day possesses. Indeed it is just because he recognizes the grave difficulties of the task that General Chiang Kai-shek has decided in person to direct the operations against the bandits. Apart altogether from the always difficult military problem involved in round: ing up guerrilla bands in a formidable country, the prestige of the Generalissimo alone is pro bably adequate to the task of inspiring the Government troops with the proper enthusiasm and coherent loyalty, after their more or less arduous eng: ments in. regular warfare el where. Progress has already been made in clearing the bank: of the river as far as Henli. Until reports show that the Government forces have been able to come to grips with the main and by this time, better-organized Communist armies, confidence in the early restoration of quietude in the Mid-Yangtse provinces cannot be firmly entertained.
In the meantime the Yangtse Patrol carries on. From Shanghai to Chungking it keeps up the line of communications on which depends not only the vital stream of commerce but also the preservation of touch with foreign nationals in faraway Szechuan. It would have been a calamity for China had not this duty been faithfully perform ed. Even now there can be no relaxation of vigilance and, the gunboats must continus their parental solicitude. The serious damage already dons to trade by the inroads of bandits is probably well appreciated. River towns which might be lively centres of commercial activity have perforce to be content with fitful trading operations. At Shasi, for example, an excellent road system capable of drawing traffic in merchandise from many districts of great potentiality, frequently languishes in idleness because of the stranglehold of the bandits on the port itself, The danger of further deterioration in the situation cannot be overlooked. Yet, if it can be averted and if, furthermore, progress can made in the restoration of normal conditions, a notable fillip will be given to the much desired movement for a trade revival in the river valley. It ill be observed that conditions pel consideration just now of) the proposal to adopt the convoy system on the river as opposed to the safe anchorage plan. There are good grounds for the belief that a solution embodying portions of both schemes will probably be adopted and put into force. It must, however, recognized that the Naval authorities are in fact engag fon much the same kind of pry: ble as that which confronts the soldiers on the roads which pierce the inhospitable mountains of the North-West Frontier of India. The strategic and tactic [cal considerations are strikingly similar. There must be economy of force to obtain the maximum result from the minimum effort It may be assumed that the conte panies will loyally and thankfully ce-operate with their "sure shield." It can also be asserted with no little conviction that the work of the gunboats and their Patrol has earned and will continue to earn the profound admiration and gratitude of the British merchant 2ad_ resident in China. In an adventure marked by extreme irksomeness constant hazard and precious Tittle compensating glory, the officers and men of the Yangtse Patrol are worthily maintaining the great traditions of the Senior Service. Their country-mer salute them accordingly.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.