The re-opening of the Nanking Post Office, which will be effected to-morrow, is another welcome sign of the return to more normal conditions in the area within Japanese military control. Parties of postal officials and employees have already reached the former capital to resume business in the Post Office, which is one of the few buildings reported to be intact in an area of ruins in the Hsiakwan district. Japanese officials ce-operating with Mr. W. W. Ritchie, Director, and 200 Chinese employees, will undertake the service. As a preliminary, only light mail will be handled and will be transported between Shanghai and Nanking by Japanese military trains which have been in operation along the railway for some time. A number of foreigners have travelled between the two cities by these trains and permits have also been given to Chinese to use the service. All this is to the good and should reflect favourably on Japanese intentions to permit and encourage the free development of this area which has suffered so severely in the recent hostilities. There are reports that it may be possible in the near future to use some of the roads if their condition and military circumstances permit. This, too, would be an appreciated concession. At the press conference yesterday, the military spokesman announced that mopping-up operations had given the Japanese army full possession of the Nanking-Hangchow highway, but he stated there was no guarantee at present that travel along it was safe. Nevertheless, this statement gives rise to the hope that in the near future it may be again in use.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.