Evening star., 1937-08-30
SLAUGHTER in China.

Wide variations in the reports OF the
war in China-which is still diplomatic
ally not a war-are confusing. Accounts
are received of large scale attacks by the
Japanese, by land and in the air, of
heavy forces engaged, of thousands slain.
Again come denials minimizing the losses
of life and territory. AS matter of fact
it is likely that there is no actual record
Of the casualties. Yet plainly they are
heavy. The Chinese have taken large
toll of the Japanese troops seeking posi-
tions in the Shanghai area for attack,
and on the other hand the Japanese
have slain many Chinese, both troops in
direct onslaught and civilians in air
raids that have had as their objectives
densely populated sections of the Shane-
hal region. There will perhaps never
be even an approximately accurate
accounting. The Japanese high COM
mand has not disclosed the number of
troops sent to the fighting zone and the
Chinese have no dependable population
statistics.
Mere slaughter OF inhabitants will not
win this war that is not war for the
japanese. Only through the occupation
Of territory can victory be gained. And
occupation Of territory in China is a
gigantic task. The other day Chinese
spokesman, admitting to foreign cor
respondent that a mistake in strategy
had been made in the initial resistance
of the Japanese landing forces, said
that well-informed Chinese had not ex-
pected any big victories in the early
months OF the warfare, but were pre-
pared for q campaign of gradual with
drawals instead OF holding given lines
at heavy cost of lives. He conceded
that the japanese with naval aid might
sweep the whole Shanghai, Hangchow,
Soochow and Marking area and even
then would have made only the smallest
territorial dent into China"
One of the evident objectives OF the
Japanese campaign is to drive through
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from the Peiping area from the north,
uniting the lines and cutting off the
triangle of territory from the mouth
OF the Peiho, east of Peiping, to the
former capital and thence southwark to
Marking and eastwardly to Shanghai
This would be large expanse of land,
but it would be only a relatively small
fraction of the entire Chinese terrain.
Geographically and politically. however,
it would be vitally important, including
as it would the important ports, the out
lets of the two great rivers, the Hoang-ho
and the Yangtze, and both the old and
the new capitals of China.
China has been conquered several
times by invaders in the course of the
centuries and its conquerors have for a
time dominated and have then been
absorbed into the great body of the
now in the Chinese official mind some
such thought in consolation for
prospective Japanese victory in the occu-
patton of so important a section of the
territory. But these are different times.
War is far more costly in life than in
the old days when the bow and the
sword and the lance were the weapons
of assault. Political psychology is diff
ferent. Yet it is idle to prophesy. If
Japan should gain possession of the area
that has been indicated as its presumed
objective it would need to adjust to
new Chinese psychology, a more ad-
vanced general intelligence and stouter
national resistance to the extinction of
China as a political power.
Meanwhile the slaughter continues.
Already the cost of this adventure has
been very heavy. Perhaps its extent will
never be known. 1t Is hideous spectacle
that is being presented on the banks of
the Yangtze and reckoning of the cost
must include the condemnation of the
aggressor for engagement in a cam
paign Of conquest without just cause
and without restraint in terms of civil
lied warfare.