As we have explained in our first leading article, all
the perils and risks which have now become real were in the mind of the Government when they decided to try to compose matters with the Nationalists. They have been proved true prophets. On the Cantonese side it is being said that the barbarous outrages upon foreigners at Nanking were committed not by Cantonese soldiers but by the Shantungese troops or by independent fanatics. Sir Austen Chamberlain, however, stated in the House of Commons on Wednesday that the murderers and looters were undoubtedly Cantonese soldiers ; that they began their work by signal—the blowing of whistles ; that their main objective was the British Consulate, and that when the ships of war began to fire the signal to stop the work of destruction was a bugle-call. As at Shanghai, the troops in front of Nanking made no real effort at defence. It is said that they had practically all retired before the Cantonese entered the city on Thursday, March 24th.
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