THE END IS NOT YET

After Four Years of War the Excellent Morale of the Chinese People, Both Civilians and Soldiers, Stands Dominant

by HerrymonMaurer '35, Robert M. McBride if Co., 1942,pp. 231, $3.00.

IN THIS BOOK the author's purpose is to show why it is that China after more than four years of war has remained unconquered and, as he believes, unconquerable. While the chapters vary greatly in character and content, the main theme is the splendid morale of the Chinese people, soldiers and civilians alike.

Structurally the book is chaotic. (Parts of it have appeared previously in one or another periodical.) Things that belong together have not been put together. For example, the author clearly understands and has admirably described the ways in which General Chiang Kai-shek has kept together the many discordant units of his political front and at the same time been able to direct the operations of the Chinese armies; but this important subject is treated piecemeal and scattered through the book, though there is a short chapter on Chiang. Similarly I found, after putting it together for myself, one of the best analyses I have seen of Chinese communism and of Communist and Kuomintang relations.

Distributed through the books are certain descriptions, incidents, and conversations which preface tells us "have basis in fact." These make very interesting reading; but it would seem that from the abundance of factual material available selections might have been made that would have been no less interesting.

Mr. Maurer has a habit of throwing about large numbers in a most reckless manner. Thus on page 81, speaking of seasoned soldiers, he says: "China has these by the hundred million." This sort of thing and similarly evident exaggerations do little harm, for they are so numerous that one soon learns to discount them; but they remain annoying, nevertheless.

The End Is Not Yet is unquestionably well worth reading. It is vastly superior to the general run of current books about China.