Ningpo, Feb. 18.
A most enthusiastic meeting of the British residents of this port was held at the Consulate this afternoon to form a local branch of the Patriotic League of Britons Overseas. The Consul, Mr. W. Stark Toller, was voted to the chair, and in a very excellent speech remarked that Ningpo was somewhat un-que in having monuments to those Britons who had fallen in the forties and during the Taiping Rebellion at Tinghai and outside the East Gate of the city. It was also pointed out that our present King had been in the room in which thi meeting was being held, when, as a young cadet, he was travelling round the world. After reading the aims of the Patriotic League the Consul spoke of the glory and pride we have in the deeds of our Army and Navy, and in the won-drops response made by our Colonies and Dominions. And yet there were great responsibilities and ies. tremendous sacrifices for Britain to make, and we must not shirk ours.
He then called upon Dr. R. 8. Swallow, the oldest British resident, to propose the formation of a local branch of the League, who, in so doing, explained that a branch had not been formed earlier be-we had been without a resident Consul, but many subscriptions had been sent from time to time to the various funds, and much had been done for the British Women's Work. He said we had not the slightest doubt that ours was @ just and righteous cause, and that we were fighting for life and freedom, and the overthrow of tyranny and oppression.
Mr. G. H. Edwards seconded the prenasal, and said that one purpose of the League would be to unite Britons together, and link them with the Home country. Although so very difficult for us out here to realize all the terrible effects of the war, yet he appealed for gen-rons subscriptions from all.
The proposal was very ably sup-norted by the Ven-Archdeacon W. S. Moule and the Rev. G. W. Shepnerd. The former reminded us of what the Fleet had done during the past year in protecting our shores and those of France, and in the safe transportation of troops and munitions. He gave three reasons for supporting the formation of a branch of the League: (1) Tt revived the national spirit; (2) Tt presented an opportunity for slying to the fighting forces of the Empire; (3) It served as a message of aymoathy to our King and Government from Patriotic Britons Overseas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.