Jan. 13.
In another column it will be seen that a message has been received by the Embassy from the Foreign Office asking it there is any Ukelihood of the Voluntary War Contribution Fund reaching £100,000, and saying that for that sum it would be possible to buy a squadron of fighter *planes to be identified with the donors in China. A reply has been sent to the effect that it is-hoped that the Fund will reach that sum in the near future, suggesting that the squadron should be named the British China Squadron, and that the type of machine would be left to the decision of the Ministry of Air. The decision of the local committee is indeed wise one, It will be remembered that an announcement was recently made public in India to the effect that the amount of money in the shape of contributions for Spitéres was coming in such a manner' as to cause some embarrassment and suggesting that donations should be given simply for aeroplanes. Obviously it must be the desire of those who contribute to this most worthy object that their money shall be diverted to whatever channel there is in which it can do most good,—or in other words the enemy most damage,—and, as long as the funds are going to purchase such machines as the Ministry -considers most suitable, it is be-Meved that Britons will continue to respond to the appeal which has been made in the excellent way that have all along been doing.
The committee of the Fund strongly desire that by the fifteenth of this month the sum of £102,000 will have been reached by at~ taining the monthly total of £10,000 which has been sent home regularly since the commencement of collection. And what is more it is necessary that a similar amount shall be sent home every month afterwards in order to maintain the British China Squadron. 'The Imagination is fired at the prospect that Britons in China will thus be represented by 'a unit of the Royal Air Force, that a name identifying' them with the struggle against the forces of evil will be carried by alr units which, it Is also to be hoped will ultimately be manned by the sons of China residents. In no better way can the solidarity of Britons residing in China with the cause of the Empire be better emphasized, for while they fare of the Empire they are not in it, Never~ theless it will enable them to rank with other places throughout the world where Britons have contributed to a like object.
There is a particular significance about this message from the Foreign OMice, and it is that the. efforts of Britons in China are being watched, and fully appreciated by the Government at home. That in itself should be a direct encouragement to do as much 'mére.as possible. It will be a glorious thing to realize that -once the required sum of £100,000 has been reached Britons in China, unable to take a more active part in lthje war, will have their own unit out dealing with the enemy, that they will have with their money fashioned a weapon with which they will be striking back though so far fromthe scene of action.. The appeal of the Voluntary War Contribution Fund Is all the more striking for just that reason, but also for another. That is that this British China Squadron is tangible-evidence to the people at home that Britons in China are fully sympathetic with them in the hardships which they are having to endure. The steadfast courage which they are displaying under the blows of the enemy, the splendid moral which remains unshaken no matter what the enemy does, the unparalleled cheerfulness with which they face the terror which Mieth by night, and the establishment of an "aristocracy of heroes" cannot but inspire all Britons with tremendous pride. We in the Far East must not fail them. Whatever money can be defences must be spared, have emerged victorious. as we shall do if we towards that end—and giving money fund is one of them—we to share the pride of the knowledge that we we could. That £100,000 quickly. Now is the time to see that it
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.