Feb. 4.
At 6 p.m. on Tuesday next, Sir Everard Fraser, K.C.M.G., is to preside over a meeting of British subjects to be convened at the Town Hall to discuss the proposed formation of a local branch of the Patriotic League of Britons Overseas. We have dealt with the object of the League on more than one occasion and now the Secretary of the Shanghai branch of the Navy League has issued small pamphlet setting forth its Purpose in concise form. On the purpose itself, the presentation of a man-of-war to Great Britain from the three millions of her subjects who reside outside her dominions, there is no need: for us to dwell; our readers are already sufficiently familiar with it. On the reasons, however, why that purpose should receive the support of all Britons in Shanghai it is scarcely possible to say too much. The Navy League's pamphlet puts the matter freshly and vigorously in the following paragraph. a "Under the shelter of the White En-ign we ablished industries, in peace an shone" dwell "we eke pemett ity with the fri it it let or hindrance at our varied and wandered secure in cur Pleasure excursions. If, then, possible for us to make some tangible return for such inestimable benefits, our duty seems clear. We should join the Patriotic League, and whole-heartedly do what we can." riy a mickle makes a muckle,"" and there in no time like the We would especially emphasize the last line. A few days ago, correspondent, Patriotic Briton,' urged as an alternative to the proposed method of assisting the Empire that Britons resident outside should be made subject to income-tax.. The suggestion, is, we venture to think, a far less practical one because would require too much time to bear fruit. The Empire wants the assistance of all British subjects now, at once, and not six months, or a year, hence. The meeting over which Sir Everard Fraser is to preside can do all that is required of those resident here in the course of a couple of hours, and if similarly prompt action be taken in other parts of China, as we feel sure it will be taken in other parts of the world, the Navy can be mat-enolly strengthened without any delay at all Accordingly, we
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.