London, Nov. 1.
The political effort of France 10 consolidate a Mediterranean Eastern Europe bloc in her favour received 4 set-back in the death of King Alexander and German policy gains for the moment by the now uncertain conditions prev-: ting in Yugo-Slavia. The loose federation of French allies has been weakened through the rise of Hitler and Germany's neighbours have to regard possible" Teutone 'France has countered any new' grouping. By building a defensive frontier on land to link up with Belgium's line, she has sensibly lessened the prospect of a military success against her. And'she now has a new Channel Fleet based on Brest. The! land front is closed and the Channel fleet bottles up the North Sea. There: still remains Germany's other way round through Swizerland There is an easy road from the Rhode fron-ler to Geneva and the Belfort-Porrentruy line is another possible arow of contact.
The last French manoeuvres presupposed such an advance as the Bel fort one. South of Geneva the terrain. has been strengthened in view of an advance that way, which would turn. the flank of the French defence line.
The Swiss are now busy strengthening the Rhine frontier with bridge heads, forts, block houses, and abundant artillery to hold up an advance while the Swiss army mobilized. The: number of heavy batteries has. been Increased and an allotment made on a big scale of quick firing guns for the infantry. France is thus secure if a new grouping aids Germany. There remains Italy as a key problem. On whose side will she be? It all depends on what Germany does with Austria, 'A Shanghai Promotion Brevet Colonel Fergus Graham who commands the Shanghai Volun-eer Corps, got his substantive. colonelcy on October 15, on the retirement of Colonels Richmond and Howard. He obtained his rank at 49) years, eleven months and nineteen Gays, so he must be classed as one of the young colonels of the new plai His father was a major and his father inlaw obtained the rank of Vice Admiral.
recall several Fergus Grahams in the army, some of whom may be re~ natives. There was a captain of ihe! name in the Irish Guards, a major-general in the Indian Army, and a Tieutenant in the K.O.SB.
Shanghai's Fergus Graham, who is well thought of at the War Ofte began his service in the old Roys Anirim Militia and in 1905 became Regular in the old 86th, the 2nd Royal Ulster Rifles, with whom he served at Dublin and Aldershot before going. Under the Colonial Office as a Southe ern Nigeria Regiment lieutenant. When he returned he was attached to the Ist RU.R. on Srylsbury Plain and then posted to the Ist RUR. at Aden but mobilization found him in. France. He fluctuated four times between the ranks of major and lieutenant-colonel in the 6th RU.R. and finally commanded the 6th Lienster: and 10th London.
His war work ranged over the Western front, Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, the Aegean islands, Egypt and Palestine. He was wounded twice, mentioned five times, promoted by brevet and awarded the French Cross, M.C. and DS.0. His war promotions to temporary, acting brevet and substantive rank numbers ten, He got his majority in. 1992 while commandant of the Malay' States Volunteer Regiment to which. he went as a captain (brevet major) and local lieutenant-colonel. He rejoined the Ist NUR. at home and commanded it at Belfast and in Egyp: and Palestine from 1930 and a New Year's gift last January was Brevet Colonel' and the S.V.C. command as an officer on the half pay employed Ust or, in other words, remunerated from funds other than those of the Army. In all, he has had_ seven periods of command in regiments and battalions of Ulster, Leinster, London, Malaya and Shanghai. As a tried trainer and leader his brigade is overdue.
China Nurse Promoted For some time the China Station has had one of the most distinguished Army nurses on its strength in Miss Roy, a matron of Queen Alexandre's Imperial Military Nursing Service. In October,, she was promoted Principal Matron, of whom there ere now three in the service.
The vacancy occurred owing to the retirement of Miss E. R. Collins et the War Office. Miss Roy was an exceptional nurse and administrator. in France, not only surgical but in the epidemics which occurred. Her work may be gauged by the fact that received the Royal Red Cross, the Military Medal, and the French Silver-gilt' Medal, From Principal Matron only one grade separates her from the headship as the nursing command-in-chief, that of being single Chief Principal Matron. She came to the War office a few weeks ago from China, Among troop movements are the following:
Ist Queen's Royal Regiment, Tientsin, leaves Chinwangtao on November 24 and arrives at Karachi on Decem: ber 17 and Quetta December 19, 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers from Gibraltar arrives at Hongkong November 22.
Ist South Wales Borderers leaves Hongkong on November' 29 and ar~ ives at Karachi on December 16 and Rawalpindi on December 19.
On being relieved by the Gordons, the 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers. left Gibraltar on October 21. After a week in port at Hongkong the trans-por, Somersetshire will take on the old 24th to India, It is a curious turn the cycle of moves that the 24th should also relieve a Welch unit in India, so that all three of the regiments of Wales are concerned as '2nd RW, Gibraltar to Hongkong S.W.B. Hongkong to Rawalpindi '2nd Welch itogt, Rawalpindi to the Kyber
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.