"Among us hero today, are 9 number who did their share in the last world war and who are prepar~ ed, 1 might even say that they are eager, to get back into uniform and finish' the task which, unfortunately, time has shown, was not properly completed, 'That' task, however, is being given to the younger generation, and no matter how much we may personally desire to have an opportunity of showing our mettle as we did a quarter of a century ago, we. cannot but remember that for' such an eventuality to occur would mean, in effect, the slaughter thousands, even ' hundreds of thousands, of' the flower of French and British youth, for otherwise we should not be needed. Were it not for that, I am sure that there are many members of both nationalities here today who would welcome the opportunity of getting back into the front lines again, We have been jeered at and labelled members of decadent demo-oracles by our opponents, who have of realized that it is our love of Mberty, civilization and personal selt-among nations, which made us exercise the utmost international restraint so. as to give our adversities no excuse to repeat with the slightest shadow of justifica Vion the mallelous and lying propaganda of that egregious Don Juan, Dr, Joseph Goebbels "Because of this restraint, we have been dubbed spineless " cowards, but you, gentlemen, will, I think, agree with me that_a_ strong man, gute of the righteousness of his, ehuse, can afford to suffer such taunts with equanimity, knowing that when the sword is taken up, it will not be laid down this time until there complete certitude that any desire of dictators to enslave not only their freedom-loving neighbours but also their own people has definitely been shown to be impossible of realization.
"Otherwise the world indeed will become a herd of slaves, with no no self-respect and no hope for any existence higher than that of the beasts of the field, and careful though the neutrals of this war are old compromising their neutral-think there fs little doubt, that who make up those fare not fighting for glory or for Fiehes, but merely to safeguard the selt-respect of humanity."
"vive La France"
This speech was repeatedly inter rupted by applause and when Sir Victor asked those present to rise and to drink with him to the health of "La France," the Allies and the French and British " Empires, the enthusiasm knew no bounds. "We're there because we're here. was then sung with fervour and pride by all those' present, 'M. Bauder then rose to reply to Sir Victor's speech and said thal he was honoured in having been invited to the function, unlike most of you," he added, "have never flown. "As'a matter of fact, apart from a few weeks, in barracks at the beginning of the last war, I have seen no active service because at that time T was transferred elsewhere. I wish to associate myself fully with what your president has said and wish to offer a toast to the health' of the Allied cause."
'Thunderous applause, again testify ing to the spirit of' the meeting, greeted M, Bauder when he had finished.
The "Bank-Clerk Squadron"
Later during the tiMn, Sir Victor rose again and said that_members would probably "be interested know that while Britain's crack fying squadrons are congregated in large cities, all the fighting that has been done' so far in Scotland, goes to the credit of the so-called "Bank-Clerk "Squadrons" which, on a volunteer pattern, had "received week-end instruction in flying prior to the outbreak of the war and had then been transferred to the North.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.