The Generalissimo, after five years of strenuous activity, felt the heed of a complete rest, but in the elreumstances, when he saw the national government falling to pieces he submitted to the pressure then being exerted upon him, put aside his personal inclinations, and returned to the deserted capital "Thus, when the catastrophe began at Shanghai on the night of January 28, 1932, though the Generalissimo was in Nanking, he was out of off beret of power, and without any authority to issue orders to any Government troops. All he could do was to use his personal influence in a private capacity, but recognizing the terrible nature of the calamity facing China he endeavoured time and again to place his military experience and his knowledge the troops at. the disposal of the country, only to have it clearly intimated to him that was merely one of the members of the Military Council, Despite this rebuff he pleaded with the Govern ment and the generals at the front to allow him to go and stay at the front, saying that unless he went there personally it would, in the circumstances, be dificult for China. fo hold out for any length of time.
The leaders of the reactionary purty, prompted either by jealously Of the Generalissimo or by fear that hho would become politically stron fe, curtly refused to comply with his urgent wish. He was thus placed 19 fan equivocal position where ko cond be charged with the responsibility In the event of failure, without being allowed any power either to ensure. Success or avert failure,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.