ABSTRACT
The net result of all this was that every time the Japanese Generals tried to settle the Marco Polo bridge incident locally and on their own terms they found themselves up against the powerful Central Government, who backed up the Hopei-Chahar Council in its refusal to accept any terms involving increased Japanese influence over' the five Northern Provinces of China. The fighting in Northern China increased in intensity and spread to Central China, contrary to the plans of the Japanese Army. Thus, told in very brief outline, began the story of that great Sino-Japanese struggle which was to last over eight years. Japan finally stood in temporary occupation of more than a third of the total area of China, including all her most vital lines of communication. Yet this war is still euphemistically called in Japan-the "China Incident."
