Promptly at 12 o'clock, Brigadier Barret' addressed the assembly and aid: In the absence of General Wardrop owing to his hunting. accident, the duty devolves on me to express the great appreciation of all'of us who have travelled in the Taming, to Capt. Richards, his officers and ship's complement, for the many pleasant trips they have given us to various parte of China. believe that transport duty is the most unpopular duty a sailor can undertake, but travelling with Capt Richards and his officers, one would have thought it was' the most popular. In the majority of eases, ous journeys have been short—far too:
short—and occasionally up-On every occasion, whether travelling empty to Taku or erowded-to the extreme limit from Chinwangtao to Hongkong, Capt. Richards and his officers have dons all-in their power for the comte: and welfare of the troops. Some of us know what a hard time the Taming has had during the last si months; on occasions being 25 days without a night in port and disen barking troops on Sunday when not at sea, But, never a word has been heard In the way of a grouse. There Are several stories about Capt. Richard's seamanship and it is told that on one occasion when running. to Chefoo to escape a typhoon, a Indy passenger informed us that Capt. Richards had just said that he didn't strike a certain in ton minutes he was going out 9 sea (laughter).
Aw a small token of appreciation for all Capt. Richards and his mer have done for us, we ask him to accept this smal] Souvenir as a minder of the many happy days we have spent under his flag and as aa acknowledgement of our debt off?
Brigadier Barrett then presented Capt, Richards with a pair of silver silvers inscribed as follows:—
"Presented to Capt. J. Richards by some British OMeers of the North China Command thanks for his Kindness and consideration for their comfort in IL. T.
Taming, 1928."
Enthu for the Army Capt. Richards briefly replied and tha ed Brigadier Rorrett for his kind remarks, Being in contact ith the Army for six months, he felt part of the Army.
tu fact," he concluded, "when the next war comes along, I'm going join the Army myself."
With all_ standing at attention, the Blue Ensign was then hauled down and the Red Ensign hoisted
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.