The excellent training of the volunteers and Chinese regular staff as well as the good equipment with which they were provided contribute ed to rapid turn-out to fires and good work with the result that the number of serious disasters was on the decrease, despite the increase in the number of buildings. The. erection of 14-storey buildings, how-cover, is one of the reasons for the establishment of a professional brigade. The situation at present occasions. many demands upon: volunteers, who say that the role of a fireman no longer offers any attractions. As to. that, said Mf, Chapeaux, it is diMeult'to please everybody, Continuing, M, Chapeaux referred! to the last' brigade competitions, which showed the high degree of training and the sporting qualities of Nos. 1 and 2 Companies, as well as of the regular Chinese firemen, contest between the two companies again showed that sport, be it; helps to cement their jendship and esteem, Special tribute was paid to No. 2 Company for the sporting character of its members and its valuable cooperation, and as to No. 1 Company, M. Chapeaux left that to. the a sembly to judge, as they knew all its members.
Messrs. Rovere and Clauman, chief and second officer of the regular personnel, and M. Bonniveau, workshops officer, also came in for praise for their' share in keeping Gown the number of big fires in the French Concession, Twenty Years Command In concluding his speech Chapeaux stated that in the 20 years he had commanded Lo Torrent he had always received from the authorities the moral support and equipment that was necessary to arrive at the desired result and that there had been little friction tween them. What friction there had been had always boon removed thanks to that spirit of civie devo tion which is characteristic of Shanghai and of which the memers of the Council and those of Lo Torrent both past and present have constantly such great proof.
After the gathering had risen and drunk a toast to the Consul-General, M. Koechlin, the members of the council and the honorary. members of the Brigade, M. Koechlin replied a short and cordial speech for which he was given musical honours. Further speeches were made Capt. J. Gordon Cly: Chief Officer of the Shanghai Messrs. Moh and Chen, Commandants of the Tonkadou Brigades. Following the dinner the assembly enjoyed an entertainment presented by several artistes. Amongst those present a che dinner were Colonel Mallet ena Messrs. Cochet, Donne a complete change from the usual type of amateur show produced by: them: great pains have been taken to offer a lively evening's ent
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.