Shanghai Community Celebrates America's Independence Day; Spectacular Events ALD Glory" was honoured yesterday by citizens of the United States throughout the world and the local American community in Shanghai had the enviable distinction of being the first metropolitan community, with the exception of Americans in Japanese cities, to celebrate Independence Day on the "Glorious Fourth of July", Homeside observances of America's greatest national holiday being held many hours later, due to the difference in time. Grey skies which gave promise of rain did not deter Shanghai Americans from attending the many functions arranged to commemorate the day, and, at the comparatively early hour of 8 am., a large crowd had gathered on the polo field of the Racecourse to witness the flag-raising ceremony and military parade, which were due to commence half-an-hour later.
Other celebrations included a re ception by the acting American Consul-General, Mr. Frank P. Lockhart, at the Columbia Country Club, at which were present a distinguished gathering of diplomatic, moval and military officials, an "Open House" at the American Club, sporting events on the Racecourse, and, to culminate the day's festivities, of firework display and the annual Fourth of July Ball at the Columbia Country Club.
Flag-raising and y Parade Officers of all the foreign forces in Shanghai were ut at the flag-raising ceremony held on the Racecourse at 830 am. a feature of this "event being the distribution of American flags to all children attending the observance, with the eompliments of Mr. and Mrs; F. P. Lockhart. Drawn up in review formation in front of the saluting base the Fourth Regiment, United States Marine Corps and a detachment of sailors from the USS, Marblehead awaited the arrival of. the Consul-General and the distinguished officials, who attended the ceremony. Promptly at 8.30 the Stars and Stripes was slowly hoisted to the peak of the flagpole by three sailors, and, after the playing of the Star Spangled Banner by the band of the Fourth. Marines, a salute of twenty-one guns boomed out from the opposite side of the Racecourse.
e naval detachment then moved offhand stood at ease, while Mr. Frank P. Lockhart, Judge N. E. Lurton of the U.S. Supreme Court, Commander T. Moran of the U.S.S. Marblehead, Mr. R. T. McDonnell and Col. Charles F. B. Price, commanding the Fourth Marines took up their position at the saluting base. Headed by the band, the national fag apd Regimental Standard the Marine® moved off in review formation, and, swinging past the base, emeh'unit saluted the Consul-General.
Returning to their base the Marines, with excellent precision performed the Manual of Arms, and then moved into company fronts to march past the stand. The salute was again taken by Mr, Lockhart and the Regiment marched back to its former position. The naval detachment took up its position im front of the flagpole and the morning's celebration ended with the lowering of the flag A large crowd followed the Marines back to their billets.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.