NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE despatch of the British Nate to Tokyo and the events that led up to it are discussed in a leading article on a later page. As we go to press an announcement, obviously important if true, appears, to the effect that the Japanese Chief of Air Operations in China has been recalled as a disciplinary measure. On the military side, the Japanese are now in full control of Nanking, but despite the fall of his capital, the real victory appears to rest with Chiang Kai-shek. Of the 300,000 men reported to be at his disposal for the defence of Nanking, by far the larger part are still in the field, and it would seem that. the military situation offers Japan no altema-. tive to a further advance against the enemy. This opinion is confirmed by a statement made by the Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, early.ihis week in Tokyo, in which he said that the fall of Nanking was the prelude to " real and.protracted hostilities, in which the nation is urged to redouble its efforts in all fields of activity." Prince Konoye also said that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek's power was shattered, and indeed the Japanese have .established a new " Provisional Government of the Chinese Republic " in Peking. But, in fact, so long as his armies are in the field Chiang remains the leader of the Chineie people ; the Frankfurter Zeitung reports that the nation is more united in his support than ever. So long as it remains united, Japan is within no appreciable distance of achieving the first and greatest of her " war aims."
