Hankow's cup of bitterness is already overflowing, but the misfortunes of the community continue and there is no end in sight. Practically isolated in the heart of Central China, with communications blocked both ways and a system of economic pressure exerted on the business structure which is feared will lea to ultimate extinction by the Japanese, the city is suffering even further privations. On Sunday, the electric power was suspended owing to the inability of the Hankow Light and Power Company to obtain coal, There are supplies a few miles from the city and not very far up the Peiping-Hankow Railway are the mines at Chiaotsi, buteHankow's situation is so chronic that the principal source -of power has been cut off and the city subjected further trials in the midst of winter because of the failure of coal supplies in an area of plenty. It is reported that the Japanese military authorities are keeping their promise to supply 1,000 tons a month, but here inter-veries a condition to which this journal has continually drawn attention. For some un plained reason, supplies from local sources are unavailable; but coal is not being imported owing to the fact that incoming ships are full of merchandise and military supplies. In face of the British Note to Japan, which makes adequate reference to the discriminatory commercial policy of Japan and the inconsistencies of Japanese official statements, this admission of the real position at Hankow which has reached such a state as to cripple the principal public utility, should leave no doubt regarding Japan's real intentions. Admittedly, the cessation of the power supply is not the fault of the Japanese, but the conditions which led to it certainly have been created by the Japanese for the new trade rush, the subject of constant denials, is proceeding on such lines as to cause serious interference with normal comminal services as instanced by this grave situation.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.