condiffon of the people in Kiangsu and neighbouring provinces cannot be adequately described nor can it be imagined by any one who has not actually seen such suffering. Perhaps it is true in all wars, that non-combatants ar the chief sufferers; but this is all the more true in the present in China, because of the indiscriminate use of aeroplane bombs, and the cruelty of the armies on both sides.
When the Japanese armies came and captured any Kiangsu district, of course all Chinese officials were driven out of the cities, and their organization was disarranged, so that they were not able to protect the people, oF take effective action against the bandits. The Japanese themselves have not make any serious effort to stop the bandits from robbing and kidnapping the civilians.
In fact, they have not been able to pay! much attention to the bandits except When the latter have become Suliglently numerous to constitute an Annoyance to. the Japanese them= selves, Of course it would be imfrossible for the Japanese to police the rural districts effectively unless their forces were increased 10 several Umes the present numbers.
"The situation in Kiangsw is similar to that reported from other parts of the occupied areas, The Japanese hela the illes and some of the larger towns, but In the rural parts of nearly every county may be found amore or less complete set of Chin ese afMielats, appointed by the Central Government,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.