Recruiting Drive and Farewell to Major Neal A dinner was given on Thurs: day night the "SV.C, Hall by members" of che American Company, SV.C, to their former OE." Capt. GIN, Neal, who ast week was promoted to the rank of Major, and now will be second-in-command to Major W. R. Johnson, Jcommanding "B" Battalion. "At the JoMicial table were Capt, J.C. Doughty, 0. C. of the Company, Capt. 'Houghton, American 'Machine' Gun Company; Lieuts. Awad, Portrude, and Farnum, with "Lieut. Roberts (formerly a Company officer, but now attached {0 Headquarters), Others included Capt, Rodger and Lieut, Taylor of the American Troop, and Major Baraclough and Capt, Eardley. About 80 per cent. of the strength were present.
"The function, coincident with 'a presentation to Major Neal, carried with it a recruiting "drive," the Policy of which had been - recom= mended by Col. F. R. W. Graham, Commandant, 8.V.C. it was announced that 20 recruits had been obtained.
With a felicitous speech, Capt. Doughty presented Major Neal with sword, upon which was engraved:—"Presented to Major G. M. Neal, Major, S.V.C, by the officers and men of the American Company, S.V.C, March, 1938.
Major Neal said that he was overcome by the presentation, but he POX and typhus "were the chief, Special outbreaks were spoken of especially that of cholera in. 1863, when the deaths from this disease were estimated to reach as high ts 1,600 in one day, Leprosy was noted as having been found in considerable numbers of patients from the earliest days of modern medical work in this district, It has sometimes been assumed that cases of leprosy found locally have been Imported cases, Lo, that they have come to Shanghai from elsewhere, 'This may well be the case with many, but leprosy fas' been found in Shanghai for the past ninety years at least, The brief time available precluded the lecturer from mention of many other interesting factore dri the medical history of those early Sottlement days, would treasure it among his possessions. He would hope that, when he finished at Headquarters," he could lay the snow away and become a "buck private" with the Company again, 'This he prefaced by stating that he was convinced their present would handle Company' affairs satisfactorily, assisted by the oflcers, and, above all, by the sergeants, than whom no unit had more Reason to be proud.
Songs by Sergt, Gifford, RAME,, accompanied on the piano by Sergt. 'Thorpe, S.V.C., followed, after which Serat. V. Page, RASE. rendered a monologue and other numbers, and, Capt. P. Eardley gave "Daniel in the Lions' Ben."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.