Shanghai has been grievously shocked dur-past few days, firstly, by the murder R. d'Auxion de Ruffé, and secondly, the slaying of Mr. Chikayuki Akagi.
Deputy Commissioner of Police. who at the hands of Chinese morning in the Western 1 What lies behind the killing "Mr. de Ruffé is not at present known, and tions have been completed it just, as well to suspend judgment reasons for it. But in the case Mr, Akagi, his nationality leaves no room his assassination was for 3 or as to the people behind i, met his end as a very brave wounded in the head he dis-rom his motor car and sought to battle to his assailants, and it was not he received a bullet wound in the He died within a very Fortunately one of the mur-again, after a period of quiescence. the first time that this journal has these repeated assassinations, only for the actual slaying, but those whose guilt is all the greater as inspirers of these Crimes. Nothing can be more foolish than to believe that the murdefitig 6f an individual can advance any cause, and with regard to the murder of Mr. Akagi the crime seems a completely senseless one devoid of any real Purpose whatever. It has been reported that the captured man alleges that he was sent into the Shanghai area with instructions to Shoot any Japanese he met.
1f that story is true nothing could be more futile. The assassins apparently knew no more than that they were to murder a Japanese. Apparently the Western Special Area was chosen for the scene of this attempt in the belief that it was easier to commit the crime and make an escape. But conditions in that area have changed during the past few months, and the efficient work of the Police has led to a capture being effected. If this assassination was designed as a blow against the Japanese it is stupid in the extreme. All the assassinations which have taken place during the past four years on one side or the other have completely failed to change the manner in which the history of this country is developing. The fact that Mr. Akagi was a Special Deputy Commissioner of the Shanghai Municipal Police may, or may not have had anything to do with this attack upon him. But whether that is the case or not those behind this murder must surely know that there are plenty of courageous Japanese who will take up his work where he has been compelled to lay it down, Brave men are not deterred from doing what they conceive to be their duty by these acts of terrorism. That applies with equal force no matter what political question is at issue, and it does not matter whether a murder is aimed against Chungking or Nanking, there is not one up fo the present which has had any effect whatsoever than to arouse the great disgust of those who realize that nothing is ever settled by such unlawful Proceedings. For the rest it remains to be seid that Mr. Akagi proved himself a most efficient officer of the Municipal Police. He was well liked by his colleagues as a man of charming personality, and there will be grief in the force over his untimely death. To his widow the sincerest condolences are extended in her tragic bereavement in which save for exceptional luck she also might have been involved. For those responsible for this most disgraceful affair there can be nothing but the completest condemnation; it marks an irresponsibility entirely out of keeping with the commonly accepted characters of men who claim the right to government, German Moves Fail Two German mancuvres—in Syria and in Iraq—have failed, but it is not to be supposed that the Nazis will allow these failures to do more than temporarily thwart their plans. They will do their utmost to benefit from the uneasiness caused in Iraq by the propaganda which was freely spread over the country during- Raschid All's brief term of office, and will increase the number of their agents who are working underground. The younger Iraqis are fertile soil for any type of propaganda, while there are venal elements in the ruling classes who are wiling to accept money from any party or anyone's assistance to get them into power. These are dangers of which the present Iraqi government is fully aware, and will probably be able to suppress, with British as-ince. There can be no doubt, however, that the Nazis will make the most of the presence of British troops in the country as a propaganda point, and that they have not abandoned their intention to stir up as much trouble in that quarter as they can. The British entry into'Syria has also checked Nazi plans. Their hopes of being able to encircle Turkey and thereby force that country into permitting Nazi troops to cross her territory have been nullified, but they have had virtually a free hand for their propaganda in Syria ever since the French signed the armistice, and there can be no doubt that they have sown seeds of disruption among the Syrians which may sprout when the country is granted its promised in. dependence. These two set-backs for the Nazi may be taken as one explanation for the Nazi concentration on the Russian border. The Nazis always had an diternative route to the Middle East through Russia and Iran. and if the road through Syria has been barred to them, it may well be that they are attempting to threaten Moscow into opening this alternative route for them. Military experts doubt whether the Russian army is sufficiently good to stop them, if they decide to open the route themselves. The display put up by the Russians in their war against Finland was not impressive, though it is believed that the Soviet Commissariat of War has not allowed the lessons of that campaign to go unlearnt and that many of the defects then shown up may now have been removed. If, therefore, certain concessions are made by Moscow, it will not be surprising. The Russians have. however, been able to see for themselves what fate overtakes peoples who make important concessions to the Nazis, such as the Rumanians and the Bulgarians, and they may consider that it is better to fight. On the other hand, they have an opportunity to save themselves by signing a full-dress military alliance with the Nazis. But whether they would, in that case, consent to do the Nazis' dirty work for them, and move southwards towards Iraq may well be doubted. At all events, Stalin, who has up to now played a masterly waiting game with considerable profit to himself, is facing a difficult choice. To give way and allow the Nazis through would prove a most damaging blow to the prestige of the Soviet regime and to communism the world over. To resist might result in a defeat which would overthrow the whole Soviet regime and precipitate another revolution.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.