Dec. 24.
The field day so successfully arranged for the Shanghai Volunteer Corps last Sunday week has set the tongues of old-timers wagging. Some of them declare, witn a veteran's legitimate pose of infallibility, that recruitment is always best served by such affairs. "Show the flag" they say in effect "and the recruit will show himself automatically". They also recall the frequency with which the Corps Jappeared fully on parade, either for route marches, inspections or field days. Nor is it forgotten that, in the "good old days," the commander, who desired to bring his, unit up to and over strength, was, inclined to bank on a full ' programme of work. Those who were not prepared to fulfil his requirements were gently allowed to find their own level in units of less, exacting ambitions. Times change: the face of Shanghai has been lifted" out of recognition. The [Great War has come and gone and Shanghai itself has had experience Jot "emergencies" which have. thrown a new light on the problem of the Settlement's defence.
Yet it may be instructive to dive into the old records and discover how the old-timers went about their business as "Saturday night soldiers". One thing is clear. the expansion of the area known as /Shanghai would make it difficult to indulge in some of the apparently favourite exercises of those days. Thus, the files of this Journal show that, nearly twenty years ago, a furious engagement was fought on the "Tunsin Line". 'This involved operations in rural terrain. To-day any such attempt would be strictly urban. Nor does seem probable that artillery' could be posted in Edinburgh Road with convenience under prescnt~ day conditions. Modern topographical knowledge might also Jdeprecate a mock hand-to-hand. fight "over open country" just beyond Edinburgh Road.
The present has this in common with the past: the imaginary enemy in both eras is some nondescript rebel force reported to be advancing on Shanghai with evil intent. Otherwise it would be difficult nowadays to reproduce the thrills of the past. It is also possible that the exigencies of finance prevent! frequent field operations on the scale of those either of last Sunday or of that Saturday of about: two decades ago, when, to quote from this journal, A strong muster, fine weather, and country that lent itself well to strategy and initiative, made the first field day of the season a successful and instructive one.
On that occasion the Corps split itself up into two opposing forces. One tried to occupy Siccawei Village, after fording Soo-how \Creek; the other had to throw back the assailants over the Creek. In the event it appears that the Jattack failed and Siccawei was successfully defended. A curious
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.