The New Year promotions in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force are particularly interesting to China for they reflect the course of the Sino-Japanese hostilities and the meritorious work of British officers, Wing-Commander H. S. Kerby, ps.c., A.F.C, British Air Attache, becomes Group-Captain in recognition of his services in China during the past three years which transformed a routine job into one of tremendous importance in view of the hostilities, Group-Captain Kerby has done more flying in China before and during the hostilities than any other man, and in addition to the other duties attached to his office, he has been called upon to exercise diplomatic ability in connection with aviation incidents arising from - the hostilities, especially the bombing of H.M.S. Sandpiper at Changsha which, on first accounts, created an unpleasant atmosphere. Group-Captain Kerby is shortly leaving for home on the expiration of his tour of duty in Shanghai, his relief arriving in the next day or two. Another promotion which will find general approval is that of Lieut.- Commander W. E. J. Eames, commanding H.M.S. Sandpiper at Changsha who has been promoted Commander. The reputation and prestige of the Royal Navy were never more worthily upheld than at Changsha where Commander Eames, in command of one of the smallest units in the Royal Navy and not much larger than a Whangpoo tug boat, has done a good job protecting British and other interests in a most difficult period. Bombed by Japanese planes on one occasion and afterwards compelled to evacuate British and other residents when the city was burnt to the ground by the Chinese authorities who believed the Japanese were immediately upon them, Commander Eames, practically isolated in the Siang River, has rendered eminently distinguished services which the Admiralty has seen fit to reward by promotion. The work of the gunboat captains on the Yangtze and its tributaries often remains sealed chapters in British naval records but here, at least, is one which has merited and has gained recognition, and the heartiest congratulations come from his colleagues who know what the job entailed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.