Without entering into discussion of the merits of the Shang-hal Volunteer Corps' present organization, "it is pertinent to applaud diseriraination between critic ism. of an institution and. dis couragement of those who ive their time. and services 40 the defence of the Settlement. Mr. P. H. Provot's enthusiasm for eliminating the Corps for transforming in. into. something else would be more impressive If It were not accompanied by depreciatory comment on the efforts of those who desire. to stimulate recruitment.
Me, LIH. Cohen was perfectly right, In his capacity as Corps Recruiting Omer, to bring to public notice the duly of young men to serve in a force which, as at present constituled, carries the authority of the International Settlement. So tong the Council decider that the Volun= teers are required, so long Is it necessary for officers, N.C.O and men to support the call for recruits. It is no answer for the young able-bodied Shanghailander to declare thet he has grave double of the wisdom of main-faining the Volunteers or of the organization al present prevailing. Those issues may be fruitfully discussed in the usual manner, bu thei decision rests with the Council. Th: essence of the Volunteer spirit is civie service—a readiness on the part of the able-bodied male to do his duty at the all of authority in the ime of grave emergency. Mejor Douglas, speaking "by the ook", pointed out on Saturday that the tained man. was required snd not the enthusiastic eleventh hour convert, even if the latter had had experience in the world-disturbance which ended over 17 years ago. The raining given in the Corps includes not merely the "spit and polish" Which Mr. Prevot mistakenly. despises, but also 9 knowledge of prac-{ical matters indispensable to the ef-Aolent local defender of any city, whether in China oF Timbuctoo. It cannot be imparted in. the hectic moments of an "emergency" without rave risks and even graver loss of valuable energy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.