Mr, Cecil Holliday said: A pleasant duty has devolved upon me to-night to ask you to drink to the health of our guests. This toast always seems to me the easiest as well as the most pleasant of any. If that is on ordinary occasions it is much more s0 to-night, because we are assembled by reason of our being members, either past or present—a good many will say, perhaps, past—of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps, and to that corps our guests to-night have, each of them, individually been acting in a particular manner as guide, philosopher, and friend for more than 20 years past now. Each year an officer has been deputed from the Hongkong garrison to discharge the duty of reporting upon the Shanghai Volunteers, and year by year that officer has performed his duty efficiently, and he has never stopped short in the execution of his duty. Looking back, I think at times we worked them rather hard; we put them to bed lute, and got them up early; we ran them round morning, noon, and night, and we bored them with all our military hopes and aspirations, but they never showed it, They always gave us their ready sympathy and equally ready id. In the long history of our corps we have Ind our ups and downs, but the progress has always been, on the whole, upwards and onwards. (Heir, hear.) We must always reckon amongst the contributory causes of our success, the aid and advice which we have received from our inspecting officers. (Hear, hear.)
The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm, all the guests rising and singing "For we are jolly good fellows," giving Ulzes times three cheers, followed by a vigorous "Tiger."
Colonet Fletcher, in rising to respond, as greeted with prolonged applause. He sai In replying, I have just a few words to say. Recent events have shown us that the auxiliary forces and regular forces ave fought side by side in South Africa, In each ease each force lizs done its duty manfully, and while it has been found by us that we needed the assistance of these auxiliary forces—(heir, hear)—we have also found that they never failed us—{hear, hear)—but alivays faithfully and loyally responded to the appeal, because it is the duty of all Britons to fight on all possible occasions. (Bear, hear.) They underwent the hardships and fatigues of a long campaign with exam platy fortitwle and zeal. Nothing dum them from their great ambition, was to maintain the dignity and prestige of the Old Country and fight for it. I wish now to tell you-of course, you probably know -it as well as I de—the present War Office idea is that acegular army should be employed on service otitside (he British The Militiu, the Shanghai Volunteers, and others should no longer be considered foreign but home service, and for foreign service the regular army is intended to be continually on duty outside the British Isles, and the defence of our dominions is to be entrusted To the auxiliary forces. That is great honour to the force. It does not do Captain Gould, who commanded a body of to begin learning 2o fight when war has be-cavalry—the first formed—and called the gun, You must practis: it beforehand, so as Shanghai Mounted Rangers. On different octo be able to fight, as one must do, the casions they performed useful duties on the moment war is proclaimed. It is a great outskirts of the Settlement. Their name has pleasure for me to bs associated with the since been changed, but it still remains as Snanghai Volunteer Corps. it struck me an item of the Corps. I have always taken teat there was a business-like method about fa great interest in the prosperity of the the corps. They certainly had three arms—Corps, and have been glad to see its develop-namely, artillery, mounted men, and in-ment under the able assistance of some of fancy, and all three were useful to each the distinguished military officers here to-otic: and worked well together. On the night, watching, as one can do, not closely, whole 1 thought they presented a most but with great interest, from this great efficient and useful appearance, and I think distance at home, its gradual and steady they were well drilled and up to all the progress from snail beginnings, from its requirements of the situation. I remember necessary inception under the pressure of on my first and last visit 1 suggested that immodiale danger, and at a time when its the corps should be clothed in khaki uniform, development was more certainly assured un-which I consider to be the fighting dress of der the auspices of the distinguished officers whom we are glad to meet this evening, the period. 1 fear it is hard for men to whose assistance has been good for the corps, discard their old uniforms, but I think d was so that whenever an action docs occur it vight in my advice. The present shows shat will be found ready to protect the interests very clearly, You will remember a few years of the Settlement. In Mr. Webb's time and ago the Russians and the Japanese wore white uniforms when they came within the in my time, it wes a great pleasure to feel how thoroughly the international feeling of range of the Chinese guns. The Japanese the Shanghai Volunteer Corps was kept sped the situation, They suw at once It is an all-important feature, as we may that if they had been fighting a regular army at any moment be annoyed by and possibly they would have suffered considerable loss at the mercy of a stupid mob who might they therefore changed to khaki, and I soe come to attack us for an imaginary evil. now that the Russians have adopted this uniform, which again ployes the necessity The health was drunk amid vociferous for it. "Iam quite sure the volunteers will applause, singing, and a " Tiger."
The Chairman said: I thank you all for not be slow to adopt these precautionary measures in the: r uniform, and equally cer-the manner in which you have welcomed this toast. From the time I was first contain that the Shanghai Volunteer Corps will nected with the Shanghai Corps until now not be behindhand in this respect. Gentle-I have always been deeply interested in its men, I beg to thank you for the enthusias-welfare and efficiency. Mr. Antrobus also tic manner in which this toast has been alluded to the interest I took in organising received. an armed force at Shanghai, but T had Colonel O'Gorman also responded to the reason to note that there was a good body foast, stating it was o great pleasure and of men to turn out, at a time when it was a great honour to be present on an occasion 'a difficult task to keep the place quiet. which marks an epoch in the history of the Shanghai Volunteers, Their history: showed Some portions of the Shanghai Chinamen were always under the impression that the tint Shanghai was in no way behindhand in Shanghai Settlement contained untold their energy and self-denial in the interests wealth which was possibly the reason for of the Empire. (Applause.) some of their uprisings. These were oc~ The Chairman casions when the Shanghai Volunteer Corps Mr. R. C, Antrobus:: I rise to propose the made itself felt. The corps is most neces-health of the Chairman. (Hear, hear.) We sry, and I hope it will always be kept up always know that the Chairman comes to to its full strength. I have no doubt, that us certain wellacquiced credentials—it will, Since I left Shanghai many years (heer, hear)—which on other points would ago I am informed that it has been well call for our sympathy and our entire agreenuvintained, that it is better armed and betment. Who is there, I would ask, at all ter equipped and better organised. We canewnected with Shanghsi or who has any not wish for more. (Prolonged applause.) knowledge of the history—past or present—of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps that would Major Morrison: not welcome Mr. E. Webb as our chairman Mr, Cecil Holliday then said: Gentlemen, th's evening, We have the right man in before we separate this evening, I would like the right p'ace. (Hear, hear.) In the speech to bring before you one name that has been Connected for m riy years with the Shanghai which he made to you referring to the Shang-Volunteer Corps, hamely, the name of Major hai Volunteer and) the circum-Morrison. ('cheers.) Gentlemen, it, isto stances of i ry, unfortunately I Major Mo Morrison that we owe our gathering may be somewhat deaf, but I heard here to-night, and as you know, he is now him sly nothing whatever about him-lying dangerously T think no! man. did self concerning that famous action in Dare. in his way, for the Shanghai Volunteers which they were engaged, and which than Major Morrison, I think Tean speak the Shanghai Volunteer Corps are proud fon this subject aleo from a personal point of to remember. It was called " Muddy Few. because in 1886 he beat me by one vote. Flat." T also sce on my right Mr. Hansen.
Tu the circumstances, gentlemen, I think I (Appliuse.) The duties they performed on may be allowed to carry your thoughts tuck that oce: sion with the assistance of the Major Morrison and that you will join with me in expressing regret at his absence American volunteers showed how enger they from amongst us to-night. He. worke? hard were to come to the aid of their compatriots for the Corps at all times, and Lam sure w when necessity arose. When Mr. Webb left what help feeling deeply sorry that he is i by the way, is a plaice able to he present. (Hear, hear.) Major Mortison' health was drunk, all of their natural Jife—I had the present rising spontaneously. honour conferred upon me—not, I may sy, The Secretary. in a military fashion, as it came by post—- Me. R. C. Antrobus asked the whole com Giughte:)—telling me that Mr. Webb was coming kome, and that the members of the pany' present to tender a hearty, vote of ks to their Secretary, Mr.
Shanghai Volunteer Corps hoped that 1 tying out the preliminaries for this me would do my best to succeed him. I felt the same was carried much honoured by the request, and duly accepted it, and during the short time that replying, said I thank Mr. J. Welel T was in Shanghai-with my meagre know-you for the he four yor have done me, which ledge of military tucties and military mat-Parenter than Tdeserve. As you know, the ters, I was most ably assisted by several idea of the dinner originated with Major friends who are present here tovmight, also Morrison, whose absence we all sincerely
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.