The War in China It is clear by now that
Japan will not be satisfied with any- thing less than the destruction of General Chiang Kai- slick's Government and the capture of Nanking, which, after the victory at Shanghai, has become Japan's main military objective in South China. The Chinese Govern- ment is already leaving the city for a new capital farther west, and it is announced that General Chiang Kai-shek has resigned his position as Prime Minister of China in favour of Dr. H. H. Kung, to leave himself free to take charge of the defence of the capital. But already the Japanese have advanced far enough for the capture of Soochow, the key to the defences of Nanking, to be imminent, and it would be optimistic to think that Nanking will prove to be the Madrid of the Sino- Japanese war. In North China the Japanese, although their advance has been held up at several points, have formed a front too miles wide on the banks of the Yellow River ; their lines are exposed in the rear to possible attack from the troops of the Shantung War Lord, General Han Fu-chu. No doubt the Japanese think either that the attack will not materialise or that the risk is less than the advantages of a rapid advance. It is probable that a major battle will soon occur on the banks of the river north of Tsinanfu ; complete control of the north bank, together with the capture of Nanking, seem to be regarded by Japan as essential prelim- inaries to the opening of peace negotiations.
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