10th July.
Just as there are wiseacres who think it good business to insure neither their property nor their lives, so there are others of equal mental calibre who have in times gone by advocated the suppression of the S.V.C. Fire in their own households convinces the first, danger to their own precious persons converts the others—to a saner state of mind.
In one way and another, the Corps has cost the community a good deal of money, some of which as been wasted in various ways as is usually the case in all amateur organisations. But in the quiet nights of the past fortnight, and in the sense of security at all times, every tael used and wasted has been amply repaid, and we have as an asset the magnificent body of men which has paraded on two or three occasions lately. So much for the value of a nucleus, and the result of a great deal of unpaid labour. Well over a thousand strong, our defensive force is one of which we may well feel proud. Each unit has materially added to its strength. The Light Horse, a body of men who under conditions favourable to their organisation would be of the highest value, are stronger than they have been for a long time. The Artillery is prepared for double duty, and at a pinch for treble. Their nine-pounders are still ready, the men themselves are prepared for such machine guns as may be available (Admiral Seymour might well spare a few of those he captured), or they would make an extremely eficient body acting as infantry. "A" Company has broken all records so far as numbers are concerned. "B" Company has never before equalled its present strength. The Reserve has grown in numbers and efficient ey, and its ability to free an equal number of younger men for more active service, renders it second to none as a corps unit. For smartness in drill there is nothing in the corps togompare with the German Contingent, and in numbers they are at present very strong indeed. The vigour and earnestness with which their recruit instruction is imparted is interesting evidence of thethoroughness of their work. Coming to the newly raised levies we find much promise in them all. The Customs Company comes in with the fall intention of making itself a_permanent addition to our fighting strength, and in view of the dangers to which its members may be exposed in many a petty outport, it is somewhat surprising that such an organisation has never been started before and service in it made obligatory on all joining the Customs' ranks. As it is, its adhesion to the S.V.C, at the present moment has weight over and above that appertaining to its numbers. We have yet to see the American Company on parade, Its services are offered for a period of three months only, but we should imagine that when that period was elapsed the words, "or during the continuance of danger," will be added, and followed later on by decision to remain as a permanent unit. We are quite certain that the Americans, who as fighting men are hard to beat, will not wish the burden of continual readiness for defence to be for ever laid on others' shoulders. Neithee will they forget the evils which resulted in their own civil war from volunteering for stated periods only.
The Japanese Company has in it the promise of a great success. Strong in numbers, it is fortunate in having in its ranks a number of trained men, and more fortunate still in being under the command of a professional soldier. We expect to find this company amongst the smartest and most' useful units in the corps as soon as it has had a little time for drill and firing ex-excise, There is as we write, no official notice of the organisation of the Portuguese contingent. Doubtless as soon as the preliminaries are satisfactorily settled, we shall be called on to chronicle this further addition.
There are non-combatant branches besides the afore-mentioned to whom the community is just as deeply indebted as it is to those who take upon themselves the duty of active prsrection. On the whole, Shanghai has nobly replied to the demand for more strength. We regret that we have tosay "on the whole it would be far pleasanter not to use the qualifying phrase. Bat this is a painful subject we will not now discuss.
Is the corps as efficient as it is strong in numbers? That now is the crucial point, and as the proof of the force is in the using of it, we shall never thoroughly know until it has been thoroughly tried. Weak points will make themselves apparent, oversights force themselves into notice, and unreadiness meet its due re. ward. But on the whole we have firm faith that the corps is capable of doing all that it could in fairness be asked to do. There is a dearth of officers, who, if they are to be competent, cannot be made by the addition of es and_ gold" lace. The system of election is partly to blame for this, and it will perhaps be found desirable when the trouble is over to supersede this system by appointment. Election has been tried and found wanting in England, France, and America.
Energy and determination have not been confined to the Settlements North of the Yangling-pang. Our French neighbours have pro-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.