Those who appreciate the circumstances in which they were called upon to maintain order on December 3 in the Settlement where over one million Chinese citizens reside, will pay. unreserved tribute of gratitude and admiration the Police Force, Despite the heavy burden which its emeers and men have borne during the last four months, the organization smoothly functioned to deal with an event which took lace at short notice and which obviously demanded the exercise of considerable restraint, The precision of the arrangements was most noticeable and the swiftness with which, when the procession had passed, the normal trae of the city was resumed indicated elaborate care, unquestioning discipline and skilled experience direction, Major F, W. Gerrard, the Commissioner, here a great responsibility. His officers and men yave him splendid support and the result would have been creditable to any police force in the world. This is emphasized because, as was to be expected, In the peculiar circumstances, an attempt was made to distund the peace. The Instantaneity "of the action by which a Chinese constable of. the Municipal Police shot the unhappy man who threw a hand-grenade proved how alert and thorough was the provision for the public safety. That was the only casualty, except for minor wounds sustained by. three Japanese soldiers and three members of the Police Force and for more serious injury to a Japanese onlooker. Of the desirability of the process: sion there were and are grave doubts. It ig an open secret that during the last few Nays various foreign authorities—military and elvil—have en= deavoured to explain to the Japanese High Command the exact gravity of the strain which such a parade would throw on the police force, Pretend that in a city of this size any incident could be certainly prevented would be to fly in the face of the facts, As it was most people experienced in sich matters heaved a sigh of relief when, with the exception of the tragedy mentioned and one or two other minor affairs, including the dramatic suicide of a Chinese who threw himself down from a balcony at the comer of Vu Ya Ching Road and Avenue Edward VII, it was known that the city had maintained its general compost, The Japanese military authorities were apparently impelled to, take temporary action in Nanking Road-—a superfluous measure, it seemed, and likely to aggravate rather than allay feeling, especially as the Police whose arrangements it will be noted an oficial Japanese tribute has been paid—were for the time being prevented from functioning the area affected, This military intrusion irised considerable inconvenience and roused much resentment however, overcome and "by the end vis expected that the situation would be restored. The Shanghai Munieipa Police andi its Commissioner took the latirels day which will be looked back upon with equivocal feelings by the people of this city. Unfortunately it does not appear to be possible to explain certain elements of psychology. to the Japanese authorities. Exhortations in. the friendliest terms have been disregarded, otherwise the parade would not have been held. 1 certain, however, that that persistence how not produced' quite the effect it must be taken to have intended. The civic mind is apt to assess such demonstrations by its own clear=sighted notion of international. amenities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.