World War: BATTLE OF CHINA: Double Ten, Double Time

Double Ten is China’s Fourth of July. On the tenth day of the tenth month, 30 years ago, insurrection against the Manchu dynasty broke out in Central China. It ended in the founding of a republic. Last week, as if timing its action to the anniversary, the Chinese Army announced one of the greatest victories of the Chinese War: Chinese troops had at last hammered their way into the Yangtze River city of Ichang, farthest point of Japanese penetration.

But the victory of Double Ten was not as durable as the republic of Double Ten. Within three days the Chinese turned about face and abandoned Ichang at double time. The Chinese Military Operations Board announced, Japanese-fashion, that the Chinese had “accomplished their objective of diverting Japanese pressure” farther north.