Shanghai Jews Form Volunteer Company in Case of Trouble

Jews in Shanghai have always been of a peaceful character, but they believe in preparedness. During the last few years many Jewish young men have joined various companies of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps, a military organization composed of men of many races and creeds for the purpose of defending this city against trouble from the outside. Now, at last, a Jewish company of the S. V. C. has been formed, following protracted negotiations with the organization’s leaders.

Added to the American, British, French, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, international and Russian companies, the new Jewish, or “H” company, is conceded to be a valuable asset to the corps. Lieutenant Noel S. Jacobs will be in charge of the Jewish lads, who, in their snappy khaki uniforms and six-starred insignias, will undoubtedly add to the sense of safety of this cosmopolitan city’s heterogeneous population.

The local Jewish colony was greatly relieved this week when N. E. B. Ezra, editor of Israel’s Messenger, received a statement from Dr. J Oyabe, famous Japanese author and scholar, stating that he had seen Count Uchida, Japanese minister of foreign affairs, in Tokyo, and got his assurances that his government was opposed to anti-Semitism in all its ramifications.

Mr. Ezra had previously written a letter to Count Uchida regarding the reports of anti-Semitism in Japan. Dr. Oyabe’s reply was couched in the most sympathetic terms, deploring the Jew-baiting campaign of the Hitlerites in Germany and promising that no such thing could be possible in Japan.

But Jewish residents in Shanghai, as noted before, believe in preparedness. Last week they held a meeting and founded a society which will be known as the Jewish Defense League. The group’s avowed purpose is to combat anti-Semitism and protect Jewish rights. The Jewish boycott of German goods in Shanghai is continuing without abatement.