The great organization in the United States which looks after the interests of ex-service men is the American Legion. It is something more than the average benevolent society, for on questions affecting the defence of the country it has at times made its voice heard, but all the same its principal function is to look after those who went through the war. Now, in view of It-Col. Hayley Bell's remarks at the recent meeting of the United Services Association, it is of interest to note that American ex-service men are proposing to establish a post of this Legion in Japan. The scheme is thoroughly sound, for it means that a comparatively small local organization will be linked up to a great big brother whose influence throughout many quarters of the world will be considerable. What Colonel Hayley Bell called for was that the United Services Association here should affiliate with similar bodies throughout the Far East and so up that wonderful freemasonry which had its birth on the battlefield. This, it is satis factory to learn, is capable of early realization, for between the local Association and Hankow and Tientsin the relations are of the closest. Furthermore, Japan has also approached Shanghai, and a general affiliation of these bodies is well within sight. What, however, would be extremely desirable would be to see a general affiliation of all such societies not on throughout the East, but also with some great parent body at Home corresponding to the American Legion. Unluckils, societies at Home are nunierous, their objects; are more particular than general, and one or two of them are of doubtful value.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.