Jan, 30.
Perhaps with the poignant memory of all that has happened nce "the last issue of the North-China Daily News" was jin the "hands of its reader Jemphasis of the community need for volunteers for Public Services needs neither adornment nor -the pointing of a moral, But it is clear that the tragic happenings in the Chinese areas around Shanghai have had a serious repercussion jin Shanghai ani~ may possibly have 4 more serious result before the drama around this city is fully played out. There is not the. slightest doubt' that with the Hdismay which has struck into the hearts of the Chinese at the Joceurrences of the last thirty-six hours there is a growing prohibited without permission. feeling of resentment. The Bankers have closed their banks,
the International Settlement, andi hundreds of shops throughout the French Concession have followed suit and the threat of a general strike is becoming more and more impressive. Added to this the state of affairs pre= ing from Chapei to Nentao may mean the cutting off of supplies from the markets, for the country people are hardly likely to. bring their produce through the war-infested area until some semblance of peace, and quiet is restored, In the circumstances the aiffculties which the municipalty had to face in 1925, during the general strike, and to a minor extent in 1927 may have to be faced again to an even greater degree, It must be emphasised that the difficulties which are foreseen can only be met successfully by means of the greatest possible cooperation between those responsible for [the governance of this city and its inhabitants, particularly in this instance the foreign residents. There is no need to be alarmist even in these trying times, but ft must be impressed upon the inhabitants of Shanghai that this is an occasion when, if ever, they must stick together. The excellent work done by the women telephone operators during the last general strike, the men unattached 10 larly of the organised bodies for defence, the Boy Scouts, the Police and lastly but by no means least the volunteer or-the past service. They ig. The mai {tenance of peace and good order is of paramount importance but ly a little way behind it is the surance of an adequate continuance of our public services.
It is consequently not too much to ask that all who in any way whatever can be of assis tance to the authorities should place themselves unr their disposal. Tr drivers may be necessary to handle food, telephone operators may be wanted again, perhaps post-office workers. The ho pitals may have great demands made upon them at, any moment. The reserve of labour in such emergencies serves to increase the confidence which comes by efficiency. Food specialists are wanted, special police and volunteers to reinforce the men who are already gallantly at work, The call is so apparent that it seems to be a work of supererogation to insist upon: in this fashion, but whatever may yet be ahead the authorities and the residents themselves will meet it all the more confidently if they know that every possible means of assistance has been mobilised against any crisis that may come,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.