The main address was delivered by Gen, Ho Cheng-chun, Pacification Commissioner for Hupeh, who was Chairman of the ceremony. Clearly' and forcefully Gen, Ho's words were carried to the edge of the crowd through loud speakers. The gist of his speech follows:—'Comrades and fellow citizens: We people of Hupeh are assembled here' to-day to christen the planes which will be presented to Gen. Chiang Kalshek. The whole nation realizes: the dangerous position in which China is placed as well as the absolute neces sity of following one able leader in order to save the country. This is why the Chinese people, including those residing abroad, are unusually enthusiastic in contributing funds for the purchasing of aeroplanes to be presented to the Generalissimo.
After Jong years of internal troubles, we have fortunately achieved na-tonal unifation under Gen. Chiang's leadership."'The next step for us to) take is to resist foreign invasion with, view to attaining national regent eration. This task, more than any thing else, requires our whole-hearted support of Gen. Chiang, who Is our greatest leader.
The actual christening ceremony was performed by ive ladies, chosen to represent the business and commercial interests of the Wuhan cities through whose money. the purchase of these planes was largely made possible, Five bottles of Shaohsing wine, wrapped In red silk with long Fed streamers, were Uroken with resounding crashes on the propellers of the five planes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.