CO129-564-9 St John Ambulance Brigade- possible use of unit in China 23-9-1937 - 3-3-1938 — Page 16

since it would be something of a disaster if at a moment

of emergency in the Colony it was discovered that a great

part of the trained personnel and of the equipment had

vanished into China. As you know, the Colony's defence

scheme requires sufficient members of the Brigade to be

of service with the military in hospitals, etc., in time

of war, and the Passive Air Defence measures also provide

for St. John personnel to be a source of supply for those

arrangements. Apart from this, the cessation of the St. John

Ambulance activities at their stations in the new territories

might land the Government in an embarrassingly expensive

scheme to provide substitute arrangements.

We understand that Sir Geoffry Northcote has told

Colonel Sleeman that he will at once look into the position

and see what is to be done, and I am asked to write to you

to say both we and the St. John Ambulance headquarters

would be most grateful for all the attention and assistance

you can give in the present unsatisfactory state of affairs

which involve matters of great importance for the security

of the Colony.

Yours sincerely,

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