NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE gravity of the attack on two British warships on the Yangtse on Wednesday, with , casualties amounting to over 7o killed and wounded, needs no emphasis, the more so since the sloop ' Amethyst' and the destroyer 'Consort' were where they were essentially on their lawful
occasions. Ever since the situation at Nanking caused the Chinese Government to withdraw from its capital last winter, a destroyer has, with the permission of the Chinese authorities, been stationed there in case of emergencies—which, should they arise, would affect personnel not only of the British but of the various Dominions Embassies. Similar facilities have been accorded to, and are used by, the United States Navy. The sloop ' Amethyst,' on a routine voyage connected with supplies and reliefs, was engaged while proceeding up the Yangtse by shore batteries, pretty certainly belonging to the Communists on the North bank. The ' Amethyst' suffered some 20 casualties, caught fire and ran aground. The destroyer ' Consort,' coming downstream from Nanking to her assist- ance, was also fired on and returned the fire. The destroyer 'Black Swan,' closely followed by the cruiser 'London,' has gone upstream from Shanghai to the scene—about 7o miles below Nanking—of the incident.
Responsibility for this wanton attack, which recalls the shelling of the American gunboat 'Panay' by the Japanese in 1937, seems certain to fall, when the full facts are known, on the Communists, who will make the implausible excuses and counter-accusations which are de rigueur on these occasions in China. It is altogether a regrettable affair, in which Great Britain can expect no redress, and the danger of further complications is serious. The Communists now appear to be about to attempt by force a crossing of the Yangtse, having been refused facilities for unopposed transit by the Nationalists. If in the course of their operations further incidents of this kind were to occur, the implications might be serious ; and the whole thing emphasises the need for the British Government to establish some sort of de facto contact with the Communist authorities. At the moment this is impossible, for the Communists, ostrich-like, bury their heads in the good earth and refuse all official dealings with foreigners. But an opportunity is bound to occur sooner or later, and when it does it should be seized. Meanwhile the incident is likely to strengthen the hands of the American Senators who are denouncing Mr. Dean Acheson's decision to give no more help to Nationalist China. In fact the Nationalists• appear to be past any effective help.
