SIAM-BANGKOK
1087'
branching off the Korat line near Ayuthia and intended to open up the country to- Chiengmai was commenced in June, 1898, and the first section (42 kilometres) to Lopburi was opened to traffic on 1st April, 1901. The next section, Lopburi-Pak nampo- (118 km.), was opened to traffic in November, 1905, the section to Pitsanulok in 1907, and the last section to Chiengmai on January 1st, 1922. The line running south-west to Petchaburi, viá Ratburi, 152 km. long, was opened to traffic in the early part of 1903. In 1909 the construction of this Southern line was continued from Petchaburi, and has now been completed to the Kedah frontier at Padang Besar and to the Kelantan frontier at Sungei Golok. A through rail service between Bangkok and Penang was opened on July 1st, 1918, and the time was reduced to 34 hours from the beginning of 1922. The Eastern line from Bangkok to Patriew was completed in 1908. It has now been continued to Aranya Prades near the Cambodian frontier. The Korat line is being continued to Ubon. A further section of the North line, to- Ban Dara, was opened in November, 1908, and a section to Utaradit and Pang Ton Phung, with a branch line to Sawankalok, at the end of 1909. By November, 1913, the- line was open to traffic as far as Pak Tha, and the survey of the route to Chiengmai had inade good progress. The war delayed the completion of the Northern line, but through traffic was opened to Chiengmai towards the end of 1921. The total length of State and private railways is as follows:-(1) Northern line, 750 kilometres; (2) Southern linc, 1,309 kilometres; (3) Eastern line, 63 kilometres; (4) North-Eastern line to Korat, 264 kilometres; (5) Extension to Tha Chang, 21 kilometres; (6) private lines, 106 kilometres. The private railway companies comprise the Paknam, Meklong and Phrabad Com- panies. A fleet of steam launches runs from the metropolis in all directions up-country to the east and west.
The foreign import trade of Siam some years ago took a leap upward and remained practically unchanged at Ticals 63,000,000 until 1909. In 1924-25 the value of the imports was Ticals 153,006,580 as compared with 136,254,000 in 1923-24. The value of exports in 1924-25 was Ticals 165,931,496 as compared with Ticals 171,426,000 in 1923-24.- The principal export is rice, which constitutes about 83 per cent. of the total.
The Army is small, but in recent years great progress has been achieved in military matters. The land forces of the Kingdom are divided into 10 divisions grouped into three Army Corps, with one independent Division (the 4th). The First, the division of the Guards, is stationed in Bangkok. Each division consists of two Regiments of Infantry, one of either Cavalry or Chasseurs, one Regiment of Artillery, one Company of Engineers, one Company of Transport, and one Ambulance Company. At the in- vitation of the Allied Powers Siam sent a contingent of volunteers, consisting of aviators and motor transport troops, to France in June, 1918. A form of conscription is in force throughout the country. The Royal Military College in Bangkok has been one of the principal factors in the improvements effected in the Army, and young officers trained in this institution are also in great demand for the work of the civil administration of the interior. The Navy is small, but additions are constantly being made to its strength.
The native population of Siam, with Laos, Cambodians, Peguans, etc., was estimated at 9,513,000 for the year 1923. The number of Chinese in the kingdom is estimated at about half a million.
BANGKOK
On
The city of Bangkok is situated on both sides of the Menain about 25- miles from where this magnificent streain empties itself into the Gulf. the left bank of the river is the city proper, enclosed partly by a wall. The Royal palaces and Government Offices are within the wall, the foreign hongs, the Consulates, and the principal rice mills being on the principal or main street of the city. The right bank is principally occupied by Siamese, Chinese and Mahommedan residents. The bulk of the business is transacted on the left. Here a road, called
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