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In Nanking the so-called Chinese Government took no steps to send either the heroic igth or any other Chinese army to recapture Shanhaikwan—an impossible task. "Every Chinese should feel happy and honored to die like the Shanhaikwan heroes," bleated Nanking's Daily News. "Such bravery and heroism is proof that there is hope of a rebirth of the Chinese nation and of Chinese glory."
If there is such hope it is dim today. Year ago, when Japan seized Chinchow. 90 miles from Shanhaikwan, U. S. Secretary of State Henry Lewis Stimson dashed off note after stern note. Last week news of Shanhaikwan's fall was brought to "Woodley," Mr. Stimson's home, just as he was tendering a reception to the diplomatic corps. Over cakes & tea Japan's new fait accompli was discussed—but nothing more.
In Tokyo the Imperial Government called Shanhaikwan a "local incident." As the Japanese troops bivouacked there for the winter their victory had two obvious advantages: 1) If Japan decides to strike at Peiping and Tientsin she holds the Thermopylae through which her Army must pass; 2) if, which is more immediately likely, Japan decides to seize Jehol Province just outside the Great Wall and add it to Manchukuo, her puppet state. Japanese control of Shanhaikwan will block any effective steps which Chinese might try to take to protect Jehol.
In Peiping bland Japanese Charge d'Affaires S. Nakayama was asked flatly why Japan seized Shanhaikwan. "This deplorable frontier clash," said he in English, "arose from the long-pent desire of our Japanese frontier garrison to see active service and to 'spank,' if I may so express myself, the Chinese troops whom they had monotonously faced for 16 months."