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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker believes capturing Nanking is the only way to break enemy power and declares it a necessary personal mission.
In plain terms
Capturing Nanking is the only solution and he must do it.
What can you take from it?
Decisive military action is sometimes seen as the only solution.

Where it applies

  • planning military campaigns
  • justifying actions

Putting it to work

  • executing strategic objectives
  • assuming command responsibility

Questions to consider

  • Is any goal worth such a cost?
  • What defines a necessary military objective?

Another view

It ignores the moral and human costs of such military actions.

More from Iwane Matsui

  1. The China Incident [of 1937 onwards] has resulted in massive loss of life through the mutual killing of neighboring friends. This is the greatest tragedy of th…

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  2. Prince Asaka had joined the army only about ten days before its entry into Nanking and in view of the short time he was connected with this army I do not think…

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  3. Orderly discipline and morale within an army was the responsibility of the Division Commander.

    Permalink to quote #4

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