Shanghai, Jan, 1 The RAPE, enlerlained Captain. H.C, Reed and" OMfcers of the Shanghai Fire Brigade at the weekly Tuncheon held at the Dome yesterday a tribute to the London Fire!
Services, fighting daily the ravages carried out by Nazi bombers, Among the - official "guests were " Deputy Chief Ameer W, Charters, Mr, R. G. Watking and several others.
The guests were welcomed by Mr.
J, B. Holland, Vice-President of the Association, who paid a tribute fo the amicers' and men of the 'Shanghai Fire Brigade and lauded them for the efficiency and spirit shown by them in. devoting their ives to the service of others. Mr, Holland deplored that the economy' of the Shanghai Municipal Council had hit the Brigade and said that! they would have rather scrapped the orchestra than jeopardize the efficiency of the Brigade, Fine Service The Fire Brigade, he said, was a fine service and added that " they] were proud of the men. The speaker then paid tribute "to the London Fire Services and said it was fortunate thay those at home could depend upon efficiency of the fre-men at Home, who stuck to. their duties "notwithstanding. the ruthless added that he it Shanghat had face what Europe is now facing, the firemen of the Shanghai Fire' Bri-'Gade would rise to the occasion and rove their worth.
'Referring to the events in Europe, Mr, Holland said' that he was sure that the day was not far" distant when the machines of the 'RAJ would be sufficiently" numerous to five Berlin and other large cities of Germany & dose of their own medicine. He then' proposed a toast to the members of gallant service—tte Shanghat Fire Brigade, Captain Read thanked the hempers of the RAPE. for inviting them Tuncheon 98 a tribute to the wonder ful work carried out by the London Fire Services and said that he was sure that all would agree: with ira when he said that the Fire Service {at Home had given ample. proof of able first line defence.
The Fire Brigade Chief OMicer then read several excerpts of Home papers, which paid tribute to the magnificent work done by the firemen.
Captain Read also said that his predecesser,, Captain J.C. Dyson, was how on the staff of the Fire Brigade Division of the Home Omice and is in the thick of the fray. As a former Force officer, Capiain Dyson was for many years a member of the RAPE. Messrs. L. Heap and W. Dent, two other ex-members of" the [Shanghai Fire Brigade were employed by the Air Ministry on special duties {im connection with Fire Protection Work at RAP. centres.
"Do Their Best"
Speaking about the Shanghai Fire Brigade, Captain Read said that he was sure that they would do their best should emergency arise. This inehided the Volunteer Reserve of the Brigade.
concluding Captain Read thanked the President and the members of the RAPE. for their invitation and said that he considered it his duty to write to the Professional Fire Brigades' Association and the National Fire Brigades' Association of Great Britain ({he latter a volunteer organization) to acquaint them with the generous tribute paid them by the RAPE, He then proposed a toast to "that splendid institution, the Royal Air Force Association of Shanghai, coup-Tod with that of the Royal Air Force, truly magnificent service."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.