During  this  year  an  important  element  in  the  Club's  work  was  the  establish-
ment of  local  Committees  throughout  the  world  for  the  distribution  of  literature  in
neutral  countries  which  presented  the  British  and  Allied  standpoint  and  helped  to
counteract  German  propaganda.  Books,  leaflets,  pamphlets,  maps,  illustrated
diagrams,  etc.,  were  distributed  in  large  quantities — about  2,000,000  in  the  year.
It  was  estimated  that  14,000  members  had  joined  the  colours;  an  Overseas  Trade
Bureau  was  formed  to  develop  trade  and  the  sale  of  British  manufactures  abroad;
during  1915-16,  2,848,000  children  in  British  elementary  schools  through  the  Club
contributed  a  penny  each  for  soldiers'  comforts;  its  monthly  journal,  called  Overseas,
had  a  wide  and  useful  circulation.  The  objects  of  the  Club  were  formally  stated  as
follows:  (1)  To  help  one  another;  (2)  to  render  individual  service  to  our  Empire;
(3)  to  maintain  our  Empire's  supremacy  upon  the  seas  and  in  the  air;  (4)  to  draw
together  in  the  bond  of  comradeship  British  people  the  world  over.
In  Canada  the  Over-Seas  Club  had  a  membership  of  over  2,000  with  strong
Branch  organizations  at  Toronto,  Halifax,  Peterborough,  London  and  Vancouver.
