A unit that has rendered yeoman service as one of the many component parts of the defence forces of Shanghai is the Police Speciale Francaise. Founded in 1924 by the then French Consul-General, Monsieur Paul Emil Naggiar. who is now French Ambassador to China, the unit's first duty was during the civil war between Gen. Chi Hsieh-yuan and Gen. Lu Yung-hsiang, which raged around Shanghai during that period, Its main duties were to maintain order and enforce the curfew.
On its formation the members were not provided with a regular uniform, but wore a steel helmet, and armlet, and carried a revolver and truncheon. The trouble of 1824 was of short duration, and, after a month's service the unit was demobilized.
In 1925 it was again called out, a special meeting being called by Capt. Fiori, who was then Chef-de-la-Garde Municipale, and the unit was divided into four posts—Poste clu Nord, Poste Joffre, Poste Centrale and Poste Petain. The late Francis Schweitzer was appointed Chief of the Special Police. V, Dent, Chef de Secteur Poste Joffre, and Eric Davies, Chef de Secteur Poste Petain.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.