A small but impressive demonstration of Allied unity took place at noon yesterday in the Zero Club, a club formed by Britons who saw active service in the war of 1914 to 1918. A number of French guests had been invited, among them the Ambassador M. Henry Cosme, the Consul-General M. P. Auge, Commandant Robin of the French navy, Commandant Fabre, head of the French Police, Father Jacquinot, and several other officers and officials. The meeting had been planned long before there was any idea that such a critical situation could develop on the Western Front, But the situation was, naturally, the principal subject of conversation. That the German drive has served to cement the friendship of the Allies was, clearly shown. Veterans of some of the great offensives of the last war examined the position and were not downhearted, though the potentialities were not underestimated. Mr. C. H. Haines, the president of the club, welcomed the guests with a few references to some of the individuals present. 1n his reply, brief and to the point, M. Cosme expressed the sentiments of the whole gathering: "God save the King. God save the British and French armies." The new technique of the German army, mentioned by the French Premier, M. Paul Reynaud, in his speech to the Senate, probably puts a greater strain on the troops who have to meet it than did any of the gigantic bombardments of the last war. From all accounts to hand it appears to be a sudden, concentrated drive over a narrow front, with the object of breaking through, and once through, carrying on and doing as much damage as possible and disorganizing the defence of the opponents' lines. To break through, attacks are carried out in successive waves. Bombers come over, flying low, in an endeavour to put out of action all artillery, the positions of which have been previously located. On the tails of the bombers come wave after wave of low-flying planes which machine-gun the troops in the trenches, and force them to keep their heads down until the avalanche of enemy tanks is practically on top of them. The tanks, accompanied by special fuel wagons, then go straight through, leaving any mopping-up operations which may have to be done to troops coming behind in motor lorries, The speed of these tactics and the complete disregard of the danger to the rear of the mobile columns seem to have upset the calculations of the Allied General Staff. A mathematical genius like General Georges, the displaced Chief of the French General Staff, is made temporarily useless by these tactics, and it is no discredit to him that he has been replaced by someone more suited to the conditions at present prevailing. The "do it or bust" attitude of the Nazis has up to now proved most effective; but it has aroused a determination among the Allies to them or bust" which may well prove the undoing, British War Fund The latest statement issued by the Central British War Fund (Shanghai) showing the amount which has been subscribed up to date, and the sums remitted home, indicate the "xcellent manner in which local Britons have been responding. The weekly lists which are published show that large numbers have committed themselves to monthly contributions and it should not be very long before the dollar contributions will amount to a million. It is a tragedy that the rate of exchange prevents the committee from sending home a very much larger sum than the £20,829, but that is something that cannot be helped, and the fact that so much has been remitted and also a further £2,700 speaks well for the enthusiasm with which Britons have responded to the original appeal. The Committee in its statement published yesterday announced that another appeal for a certain sum for specific objects will shortly be made. There cannot be the slightest doubt that it will meet with an enthusiastic reception. In the meanwhile it is hoped that local Britons will mark their appreciation of the gravity of the situation by further donations and subscriptions, and where possible on a percentage basis of their incomes. A casual review of the lists which are published weekly creates the impression that some of the donors are not really extending themselves in this matter, and that people who could afford more are not giving with that freedom which is to be expected. It may be that in individual cases injustice might be done by any such opinion, but in such times as these it certainly behoves everyone to examine his or her conscience in search of an answer to the question of whether they are giving all they possibly can. It must be remembered that the men in whose interest these appeals are being made are not contributing to the Allied success in terms of money alone, but with their bodies and their lives consecrating a holy cause with the ultimate sacrifice. Money is a trifling thing compared with what they are giving, and every British man and woman needs to consider how much more can be spared, what self-sacrifices can be made in order that by swelling the totals of money remitted home there shall be demonstrated in Shanghai not only a solidity of purpose but a firm desire to do the utmost to see that everything shall be done for the gallant men who on land and sea and in the air, are doing their utmost to free the world from the curse of Naziism.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.