out. 19.
"Thre is no logical reason why Britain should have the monopoly of the Seven Seas, but] there is every reason why. the Association of Dominions which proudly bears the name of the! British Empire should be knit together by an adequate Navy and Mercantile Marine." writes Mr F.C. Bowen in "Ships." A long time has passed Shanghai has geon so many' men-of-war in harbour as during the past few months; British, Ameri French, "Italian, Spanish, Dutch," Portugese, Japanese. The British China Squadron has boon strengthened by the Ast Cruiser Squadron, and tivo flotillas of destroyers. ALS, Argus has become a familiar sight to many in Shanghai, and HIMS. Hermes was seen by few, with her paying-off pennant bidding farewell to China. During these months we have Tearnt once again the debt we! owe to the Navy. The extraordinary restraint and discipline shown by the men in ports like Hankow and Kiukiang saved a situation which had become more than critical. Residents at! Nanking have spoken in no uncertain voice of their gratitude to IMS. Emerald, Cruisers, destroyers, and the regular Yangtze gunboats have joined in watch up and down the river that has averted more than one tragedy.
And if we owe a debt to the Navy, so also do we to the Mercantile Marine: to the big] passenger ships, the regular jeargo ships, and the smaller tramps, that make it possible for the British Empire to exist, and for her children to live in the far parts of the world.
The liner she's a lady, but if she wasn't made.
There still would be the cargo boats for ome an' foreign 'The man-o'-war's er usbant, but if we wasn't 'e wouldn't have to fight at alt for ome an' friends 30 dear.
Out here in the China Seas Jwhere piracies and typhoons are frequent, and up her rivers Jwhere incidents such as that at Wanhsien take place, and ships Ihave to be fitted with loose steel plates protecting their decks, we learn that many additional thave to be run. They ai part of the day's work matter of course. But even in the ordinary way the death rate amongst sailors is in the proportion of fifty to fifteen in even dangerous a calling as that lof _a miner.
So it is that we welcome the opportunity afforded to-night of Ishowing our appreciation of the work of the Navy and Mercantile Marine, in the service of prayer Jand thanksgiving to be held in the Cathedral at nine o'clock. It is the annual service for seafarers, held on the same day as that in St. Paul's Cathedral.
These were started here five years ago at the suggestion the Trafalgar Day Service Committee at home, And this year, leven more than others, have we jeause to thank God for the lives lof those who go down to the sea in ships.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.