Recognition of the valuable work one over long hours by the 500 members of the Shanghai Special Police during the critical weeks since hostilities broke out, is given by Major K. M. Bourne, Acting Commissioner of Police, in a letter addressed to Mr. McDonald, Deputy Commissioner of the Specials.
In conjunction with the steps taken by the Shanghai Volunteer Corps, the Special Police have been demobilized in part owing to the more quiet conditions which have been prevailing recently. An extract from the letter of appreciation signed by Major Bourne reads as follows:—
Dear Mr. MacDonald:
I take this opportunity, now there is a definite improvement in local conditions, to thank you and all your men for the valuable work done and Jong hours they have worked "on behalf of the Police and the community as _a whole.
In the course of my duties I have seen the Special Police doing their work at all hours and they have kept up the best traditions of the Municipal Police and appeared smart and workmanlike at all times.
It is hoped the present quiet may continue but in any case it is advantageous to give your Units rest for afew days as far as possible and the Same policy has been adopted towards the S.V.C. so far as Police requirements are "concerned.
Please convey to all ranks my sincere appreciation of all they have done and if it again becomes necessary to mobilise at full strength I am sure I can rely on you all for a further period of equally good work.
Mobilized on the evening of August 13, the Special Police, 500 strong, reported to their stations on the morr ing of August 14, "Bloody Saturday. Swinging into line immediately, the Ist and 2nd Divisions reported to Hongkew Station and the former was then attached to West Hongkew Station where it continued on duty from the outbreak of hostilities, Evacuating refugees was the main task of the 2nd Division, attached to Hongkew Station. At work almost constantly, the duties of this unit came to an end at Hongkew Station when it assisted in removing the bed patients and instruments from the Shanghai General Hospital.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.