March 6, Dismay at the ease with which the Japanese forces have brushed aside the half-hearted opposition in Jehol will, perhaps, be tempered in responsible. Chinese minds with relief at the thought that much-needed money will not be in danger of diversion for support of a fruitless military adventure. The statements that, with the complete assertion of Manchukuo's de facto hold over jehol by grace of the Japanese General "Staff, extension hostilities beyond the Great Wall is not intended, bear every im press of sincerity. This is more confidently felt' because the swiftness of the debacle ought ta belief that the administration to be defended was worth defend-jing. Had those conditions pre-vaiied the Japanese troops would e- been compelled to rely solely on their own military skill fand courage for the successful accomplishment of a then most difficult" task. It were Ungracious, at this moment of defeat, to cavil at the frantic efforts made by representatives of the Chinese Government to galvanised the forces in the field into some appearance of unity land cohesion. They must have been aware of the slenderness of the hopes which they place? in the staunchness of certain Headers. They perhaps deceived themselves although it may be doubted whether they deceived many others. They may have gambled on some early miracle to tighten up the exceedingly slack bonds of association in a forlorn hope. From many points view they are to be con-Jgratulated on the rapidity of disillusionment. 'The seriousness of the problem facing Peking, now that large numbers of defeated soldiery have been driven over the Great Wall, will be recognised. It is no' new Problem; Peking is well-prepar-be. comforted. Comfort is not enough; it must be reinforced by measures which, while deny. ing their moral subsistence from achievement. 2 it, are of themselves potent in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.