Mrz, Bruce itis quest at a'dinner given by ex-nambers of the RFC, the MAS. and the RAF. at the Royal Ait Force Association ead-quarters; Hongkong aod. Shanghai Bank building, when she recounted seme of her fying adventures.
Mr. R. N. Swan, president of the Association, presided. ahd those present included Mr, A. P, Blunt, COG, British Consal, Squadron Leader A. P. V.
Daly, Whiting, Resident Naval Officer. ing Mrs, Bruce, Mr. Swann Tt has. been our honour privilege from time 19 time to wel-some' and entertain a considerable number of fliers of different nation alities._'The first flight: from Europe to the Far East was, i believe, that by. Captain Ferrarin, at ginning of 1920, At that ti British ex-flying people ing their forces to prov nucleus from which our present Association has growa, and so we were unable to ent Capt, Ferrarin as an association, although many of our members took part. in the reception which was held in his honour at the Astor House Hotel.
Amongst other who have Town to this part of the world and Leen, entertained by our Association are, the American round-the-world tiers, Pinedo, (Italian), Deisy (Freseh), Maclaren and Plenderlieth (British), Botved. (Danish) and numerous, others I-cannot at present recall to mind, and we have also had Sir' Arthur Whitten Brown who, with the late Sir John Alcock, made the the first direct crossing by air from. the old to the new world in 1919, We have also bad the privilege of welcoming Chinese aviators to our: gatherings.
But this dinner is an occasion, unique-in the history of our association. For the first time it is our privilege to entertain a member of the fair sex who is "one of us," and Such a distinguished one at' that. You will probably notice that I have' referred to Mrs, Bruce as 2 member of the "fair sex." In the dim.
Aistant past it was customary for men to use the term, "weaker but women of practically all nations have now taken their pare in almost "weaker sex" must now be cast into the limbo of things forgotten, Most of us here have been at one time privations which to overcome can by those who have had actual experience of flying. The constant changes of climate and temperature, and sea, tropical heat, strange surroundings.
Mrs. Bruce has accomplished her: present perilous journey with mag nificent doggedness and pluck, overcoming-what seemed at times in-soporable difficulties and is now on the eve of final success. We a confident she will succeed, and point that is exercising my mind the moment is, what she will do after it is all over? She has conquered the world of motoring, speed boat racing, big game shooting and Jong distance flying, and there very little left, unless pany submarine journey to the North Pole, or to endeavour to reach the palling heights aimed at by the lustrous French professor with the id of an aluminium globe and a balloon, But Mrs. Bruce ig only a few months, her first love for a longer. Perhaps the will let us into the secret Inter on, Mrs. Bruce, we are practically all lying people here nothing but admiration for you in this splendid achievement, You have placed your name high amongst those of ether women who:
wwe done big and noble things and you have raised as they did the prestige of your sex, not that we feel it needs to be raised, because: women are with us, side by gide, in almost every sphere of activity' on We are roud of you ed we trust you will, in your future leisure moments (that is, if you permit yourself any) remember that the R.A.P.A, of Shanghai is follow ing your various activities interest and pride:
Mr. Swann then presented her with iver memento of the occasion and en his proposal, heartily approved by, members, she was made an honorary member and the only woman member of the association.
Mrs, Bruce: replied by narrating' some of her adventures on the flight, dearing particularly with the incident when she crashed in the desert and encountered Baluchi tribesmen among whom she Kved for three days before she could send ext message for assistance,, She related
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.