is with regret that this journal publishes the news that Sir Hughe Knatehbull-Hugessen will not be returning to China, During his comparatively short term of office here, terminated so tragically shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, Sir Hughe impressed his fellow nationals with the sterling qualities of his character, and this journal has the pleasantest recollections of iis contact with him, It is pleasing to note the expression of complete confidence which the Government feels in Mr. R. G. Howe, Counsellor of Embassy, who has been in charge practically ever since Sir Hughe departed, with which, this journal is certain, the British community in China will heartily concur. But in view of the uncertainty as to when Sir Hughe would be able to resume his duties here, the decision of the Government to appoint a man of ambassadorial rank to take his place is, for many reasons a wise one, and one with which the British community will heartily agree, Sir Archibald John Kerr Clark Kerr, xeo.c,, the new Ambassador to China, entered the diplomatic service in 1906, serving at Berlin, Buenos Aires, Washington, Rome and Teheran, In the war he was a private in the Scots Guards, and following the conclusion of peace was appointed to "Tangier. In 1922 he went to Cairo, ud from 1023 to 1925 was Counsellor there. The latter year he was appointed Envoy Exiraor~ dinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Central American Republics, serving in Chile from 1928 to 1990, and from 1931 to 1935 to Sweden, going from there to Baghdad. He will find aby means easy situation in China, filled with all manner of difficulties, but the extent of his experience and the fact that the Government have. selected him for this important post justifies the belief that he wilt be able adequately to deal with the many problems with which he will be confronted, NANKING HORROR, The story of what happened in Nanking atter its fall into the hands of the Japanese forces now leaking out. The account published in this Journal to-day comes from a reliable source, It is written with very considerable restraint, but nevertheless, reading between the lines a pielure of the horrors which have been perpetrated there can be sketched in with terrible vividness, It cannot be believed for one moment that what transpired was done with the, consent of the Japanese high command, for it readily admitted that it consists of men of high character, faithful servants of a traditional honour, the requirements of which are as high as those of any other proud nation, Blood lust a terrible thing and has been recognized for what it is for centuries past. As long ayo as the Norman conquest of England, William 1, kept his army outside Winchester for a whole day in order that they should not perpetrate the iniquities which the heat of battle #0 often inspires, and Winchester was saved from sack. The conclusion to be drawn from this horrible story is that the troops for a time got out of hand. 'That does not relieve the offers commanding them of their responsibility, and. if every city which may be captured' by the Japanese is to be transformed into a bath of Blood the world will be repelled with horror and dismay, The chastisement of the Chinese Government, which Japanese authorities have 's0 frequently announced to be their sole object {ig being transformed into the slaughter of the people for whom great Japanese friendliness has been claimed. Words are again being completely belied by actions that the world will soon be wondering wherein lies the truth. What has been done has been done and the bad effect that this news must of necessity have on the world at large cannot be lightly discounted, The shooting of smarmed Chinese whether they had been soldiers or not cannot possibly be Justified unless these hostilities have degenerated Into a war with no quarter, which seems to be the case, It is the very negation of that chivalry which is still believed to be one of the Japanese characteristics, If, as it has Deen suggested, this and other recent incidents have occurred because a section of the troops got out of hand, then the sooner control is reasserted the better, punishment of those responsible can be meted out it should be done as soon as possible, for only by such action can this heavy blot upon fine national escutcheon, be removed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.