"It might have been more appropriate if our Vice President (Mr. J. R. Weeks) er one of many of our members were to speak this morning, as some 26 years ago they did what you, our guests, are going to de in a few days. Ho er; you may think it better this way, because I shall anxious to do what they had done in the last war, and serve their country in the field, and he appreciated their feelings at being unable to do so. He believed, however, that the men who were joining H. M. forces, with set jobs in front of them, had Suwa Maru Leaving Dublin on Saturday Tokyo, Sept. 11.
Carrying 70 evacuees from England, the Japanese liner Suwa Maru of the N.YK. Line, will sail from Dublin on September 14 enroute to Lisbon via Belfast, Mr. Yakichiro Suma declared at the press conference in replying to questions.
The spokesman added that the Japanese authorities were again approaching the German Government with the request that they guarantee the safety of the vessel—Domei, probably an easier task than those who wanted to serve but had to remain in Shanghai carrying on Britain's trade—a task which was just as important as serving with the forces, It was interesting to note that some of the young men who are joining up are the sons of members of the club. not be tempted to tell you what we had to put up with on our journeys home! This war is very different from the last. Last time the con-fingents from Shanghai all went to England for training. This time some of you are going te Malaya, some to India, and some to Canada and Africa for your training. In this connection I would mention that those of you who are going to Africa to train as pilots will meet the son of one of the oldest members, in fact, an original member, Ted McMichael.
"We are particularly happy to have as one of our guests, M: La Roche who, with nine other Frenchmen, is going to England to join the forces of Free Frenchmen under the ccmmand of General de Gaulle. We can assure. him of a very warm welcome from our fellow countrymen. [t has been noticed before, but I think it worth repeating that the officer commanding the Free French Forces bears the ancient name of France We should take that as an omen for the ultimate delivery of France from her oppressors, just as the Arabs saw in Allenby's name an omen that he had been sent by Allah to deliver them from bondage.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.