THE GATEWAY TO THE
GORGES
Ichang Hard Hit by Decline
in River Traffic
RESIDENTS IN UP-COUNTRY
STATIONS
Owing its importance almost solely to its position as a trans-shipment port for the Upper Yangtze, Ichung has been hard hit of late years by the general decline in river traffic, writes Mr. K. J. Brookes in a special ar- ticle to the "North-China Daily News."
Chronic unrest in Szechuen has had the further effect of greatly reducing the volume of native trade pass- ing through the Gateway of the Gorges, though peaceful conditions prevailed at the time of a recent visit, there being no Communist forces within 100 miles of the city.
OPIUM TAX BUREAU
Oplum revenue, formerly est- the tughest level reached by the mated at twice the net value of juods. From this narrOW WAY,
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1934.
DEATH OF MR. A. L. ALVES
Loss to Portuguese Community
FUNERAL YESTERDAY
Antonio
BAYONNE IN LIMELIGHT
An Instrument of
Argument
Bayonne, now in an unpleasant The Portuguese community nas limelight, is said by some authori suffered a loss by the death which ties to have given its name to the occurred on
Wednesday at the infantry's final instrument of argu- meni. The dictionary, it is true, Canossa Hospital of, Mr. Luiz Alves, a member of a well-declares that the word, bayonet, is possibly derived from an old French known local family.
Mr. Alves was admitted to hos- word baron which was given to the shaft of a crossbow. It is maintain pital a few days previously
ed that, as the crossbowman was the his condition was such
ancestor of the musketree the word was inherited Still M. Pugeegur, native of Bayonne, writing in his
and
that he
sank rapdly. He was 59 years of age and unmarried. Formerly he
was on the staff of the Chattered
Bank, but established his OWN business some years" AKO under
memoirs of his experiences at Ypre In 1847, declares that his musketeers
CHEAPEST PLANE OF 1934
"Moth Major" Biplane
Probably the cheapest aeroplane of its type and power in the world is the 1934 Moth Major” biplane. Its price £895-13 £130 less than was charged for a similst machine last year, a reduction made possible by even more efficient construc tional methods and concentration on a single "Moth "-type mis-
chine, instead of on three which differed in power-plant and cer- tain other details.
The price includes full naviga- tional and other equipment. Po- wer is derived from the 130 h.p. which has already to its credit
Gipsy Major" air-cooled motor
many record fights, including five successful trynsatlantic crossings,
the name of A. I. Alves & Co. i fitted steel ciggers into the muzzles and is the only aero engine in the and was the local representative of their muskets. These short day world that is guaranteed to run
1
for many years of the Halphons Portland Cement Company.
Of an unassuming disposition, Mr. Alves made for himself large circle of friends, being ex-
wherever tremely popular
he went. He
known Was charitable workers for his gen erosity and frequently gave as- sistance to many who went to him for help..
among
the "Moth Major" this engine 750 hours between overhauls. In endurance represents no less than 72,000 miles fown, at normal crut- sing speed of 96 m.p.h.
Nine years of continuous "pro- duction, of experience gained in the flying of "Moth" light bl- planes all over the world, have gone to the design of the "Moth
the port's legitimate trade, ap- with its characteristic figures of The funeral took place yester-which proxiuced the disability men- the steamy heat of the tropics
pears to have passed its zenith chuw-vendors, letter-writers, and with sheathed swords with the removal to Hankow of Kurds
slung on their backs as well as the tax bureau headquarters.
at a Foreigners dwelling in a cosmo-bayoneted rifles balanced
the shoulder, politan centre such as Shanghai perikus angle on
half- there is a picturesque view down BI(' apt to picture with condescending pity the lot of the matshed street to the ship- their compatriots in up-country pag in the stream, over which stations as one of boredom and towers the lofty. hill known as the unalloyed. Like most Pyramid, though it is actually dulness broad generalisations, this is tar more like a sugarloaf, and resem- from holding true in every case, bles the ancient Egyptian monu- yet there are places where the ments less than the regular faced coast may pardonably suppose hills beyond Kweichowfu. that members of the foreign com- munities must need either full absorption in congenial work or exceptionally attractive personal interests to reconde them to the surroundings of their exile.
One such treaty port is Ichang. nearly 1,000 miles by river from Stanghal Opened to foreign trade. In 1877, "the walled city, to gether with environs and junk population. is credited by the postal survey with some 110.000 of Ove inhabitants. Transier married couples from the Yochow region in connection with the River Customs service has brought up the number of foreigness to about 55, including missionaries and men of the gunboats in har- tour, and at the last St. Andrew's Day celebrations the little com munity set something of a record by mustering more than 60 strong. Seen beneath the hovering mist which so often drifts down from the Gorges on mild winter days the
water- slätternly low-level front could not be described as
Communist Scare Past.
A visit to a medical missionary who incidentally boasts of the only. wall-papered room in 'Ichang drew forth the assurance that the city itself is quieter than for some time. The danger of the Szechuan and Hupeh Reds joining hands and cutting communications on the Upper Yangtze was believed to have passed over, and there was no knowledge of any concentration of rebel forces within 100 miles. As an illustration of the compara tively, greater safety of travel off the beaten track, not long ago a
to came
the Rankine woman
Memorial Hospital, for the purpose of undergoing an operation, from Tsinan, far across the mountains
where
and in the bitter cold of the far; north. Every kind of duty has failed to find the limits of their strength and dependability.
Bayonne towards the end of the 16th gers were said to be products of century. An English draggon regi ment raised in 1879 was issued with these plug-bayonets. M. Pussegur's son invented a ring-bayonet which got over the danger accruing from the stoppage of the musket's power of fring when the bayonet was in position. At Killiekrankie, the English defeat was partly attribut-Major.** Three thousand of its ea to the use of the old plug-bayonet prodecessors are to-day in use, in large at tinned. The defeated "loader sub- day and there was B tendance at the graveside Rev. Fr. Spada officiated, assist equently invented a ring-bayonet on his own account but it was Sir Rossello, Fr. Granell and Fr. Mas-John Moore, the victor of Corunna, who introduced into the British
The 1934 machine possesses many The service was chanted.
ere Army the bayonet fastened to the improvement in design compared The principal mourners
The bucket Mesars. J. M. Alves and A. Husket by a spring clip in 1805, with earlier "Moth." Alves (brothers). Mr. Leo D'Alma- The triangular bayonet was used seats in the two cockpits are lar- by the British until the introduc-ger, and permit the use of seat- Castro (brother-in-law),
Better wind and Messrs. L. and C. D'Alamadation of the magazine rifle, when it type parachutes.
was replaced by the sword-bayonet. shielding provides more effective But whether Bayonne or the cross protection against the weather. bow has the honour of giving the Other refinements are the unspline. bayonet its name, the language terable glass screen for the rear which the bayonet-fighting instruc cockpit, the roomy luggage locker tor uses is all his own and, in and the exceptionally attractive peace-time at all events, is the most cashboard, fearsome association which the wea-
ed by Fr. Noval. Fr. Rossi. Fr.
rini.
de e
e Castro (nephews).
Among those who attended the funeral were Mesars. B. Abraham, C. M. S. Alves, J. A. A. Alves, J. H. Barnes, S. Berg, J. Basto, C. H. Basto, P: V., Botelho, A. H Carroll, S. M. Churn,
C. Hirose,
D. L. King, C. E. Kew, E. J. Figue- rido, H. M. H. Nemazee, J. Peston- 11. A. W. da Roza, C. Á. da Roza, J. M. da Rocha, A. J. C. da Rocha, A. B. Silva-Netto, E.V.M.R. da Souza, J. V. Remedias, A. R. F. Raven, P. M. N. da Silva, and A.
H. Suva.
pon possesses.-N.C.D.N
The de Havilland patent, supplementary airspeed in- dicator mounted on the wing strut is retained; it is visible from both cockpits and has been found in- valuable by experienced and novice pilots alike.
before coming back to Shanghai, Altogether about, 10 guards have Maximum speed of the "Moth been on duty simultaneously, pro- Major" is 1125 m.p.h.. attained at sea level. Its fuel consumption Among the wreaths sent were tecting Butterfield and Swire and the following:-Lilly and Tidd Jardine, Matheson ships on the at normal eruising speed of 96 The officer in m.p.h. is slightly less than six Bir Robert Ho Tung. Mr. H. Ne-Middle River. mazee, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. D'Alma- charge of the River Guards oper- gallonsan hour, equivalent in da Remedios, Mr. and Mrs. F. B. ates these from his headquarters still air to 16.3 miles to the gallon. Silva Netto. Mr. and Mrs. G. A. aboard the Hankow cruiser, where, Ultimate range with the full nor- Harriman, Mr. and Mrs. S. Berg. after making one voyage of in-mal load of petrol-29 gallons-is Mr. and Mrs. P. V. Botelho. The spection, he remains until his tour 475 miles. Minimum flying speed is China Provident Loan and Mort-
of duty is ended, the guards, be only 42 miles an hour, which means gage Co., Ltd. The Haiphonging under the immediate command that the aeroplane can be safely to the south-west, where the Com-Portland Cement: Company. The
of their N.C.O.'s, subject to the and eastly landed in a compara- munist leader Ho Lung had his China Phonograph and Radic instructions of
the shipmasters, tively small field. Its "take-off” Company. the V. R. C. and the First-class accommodation and ex-run is less than a hundred yards, The service headquarters for many months.
Club de Recreio..
cellent food are found for the ever with no wind.
"celling is, impressive for a ma- guards on the British steamers,
chine of this type-18,900 feet. while at Hankow they are quar- tered in a bulk alongside the ship The Nayy makes every effort to make the Stars of the military guard as pleasant as possible. Contrary to the general rule, with coastwise shipping, trouble is us- ually expected from the outside the vessels themselves.
Some months ago, it was stated. the headquarters of the Optum Taxation Bureau were removed to Hankow, and Ichang's monthly quota of the drug had been limited
to a value of 6380,000., Enormous as this seems at Arst sight, it is small compared with the traffic a year or two ago, when the normal oplum revenue was reported to be about 30 million dollars per annum.
are also buried here, in addition
to a number of missionaries.
Seaplane foats can be fitted, at extra cost, instead of the landing wheels. Installation of skis, for use or ice or snow, is also feasible.
INEXPENSIVE TRAVEL
attractive as the Yangtze Rapid ... Ichang anchored on Decem- ber 7, after.slowing near the large white-walled Catholic Convent on the outskirts to let a launch from the American gunboat Guam take of a sailor who had travelled up vast quantities of opium still pass whole of the foreign community. A / rather than from pirate action in nine years afterwards the. "Moth
Hankow with the armed
from
guard.
A Drab Waterfront A first glance at the flotilla of sempans
immediately. "which swarmed round the vessel, and all of which semed to have acquired by some means a pretentious flag
king.
Not far away was found the re- creation enclosure set apart for foreigners. This plot, which has good hard tennis courts, is held in trust by the British Consul for the
-Firing On Shipping.
The Grat "Moth" Eght aero-
plane appeared in 1925. Nearly
Major." at 6695, provides the best through Ichang. however. The scheme is afoot to augments this
value yet obtainable mi. "Moth " writer was told that in January recreation ground by the addition
-two-seater-biplanes. Evidently. last in four shipments by a Chin- of a clubhouse, which would all a
under, the present systems of ese steamship company 5,700 cases real need among those whom duty
Parties of bandits and
diser-manufacture, Involving rigid off- the "drug were unloaded at holds in the port with small chance
It is be- ganised soldiers who have infested clal. control and inspection at Ichang. 17 cases representing one of outside relaxation. ton. For this opium, which fetches ieved that the clubhouse could be the riverlands at different times every stage, there is still far to go high prices down-river, the farmers built for a sum of $2,500 of which during the three years that British before the very cheap aeroplane. who tend the miles of poppyfields half could be raised locally, and troops
have been carrying out often forecast by the imagina- west of Chungking, and who are some of the big sporting organisa- armed guard duties on the fiddle tive, but not always informed. to tions in Shanghal might earn last River have adopted as their own prophet becomes fact. Neverthe required by the militarists allocate a certain proportion of ing gratitude among ap-diver for- peculiar form of sport that of in- less, the "Moth Major" represents their holding to oplum, are said to eigners by offering financial help. discriminate firing on foreign ship a definite step forward. Its price compares more than favourably as little as fifteen cents There are already a Union Jack ping, and though shootings on with those charged for many types Club and clubbouses for officers this stretch of the Yangtze have or automobile: Its speed is much and men of the American gun become rarer in recent months a higher than that of the road keen watch is still necessary, es- vehicle, and it burns no more fuel pecially where ships tie up for the and oli than a powerful car. Ita night or run aground. The latter operational cost per affle will prob
receive an ounce.
boats.
IlFated Eallway.
ably be found to be not more than
CHINESE Y.M.C.A.
ELECTION
Mr. Lam Chi-fung La New President
to flaunt in the breeze, was enough to bear out Ichang's re- putation as one of the greatest opium markets in China, Leaden move- complexions, somnolent ments and lacklustre eyes were the mark of the local type. A foreign, official gave the propor- tion of opium addicts as one third
Two Cars Only. of the whole Chinese population.
During a stroll along some of the and one would imagine that if
but rough-surfaced. and
Beyond the Japanese Consulate, his estimate erred, it was on the broad
is an eventuality always in the side of moderation: The revenue dirty roads Ichang's first two verandahed building in the char-
motor-cars, acquired by Chinese acteristic modern style of the Ger- mind of even the most experienced sixpence or sevenpence; a big car scarchers undoubtedly leave little
Middle River captain." "One" ship within recent months, were seen
can easily cost up to a shilling a mans whose Consul formerly oc- to chance in their hunt for smug-
mile. gled shipments. Two of them, side by side in their garage. One cupied it, the town quickly trails said to have gone aground no one after the other, were noticed would imagine that their drivers off into picturesque scrab-clad him fewer than 23 times between Han- kow and Ichang. The number of swarming the foremast of the have little chance of testing their country. Two neighbouring sum- Chichuen, moored near the Ichang | skill. for outside the town there mits are surmounted by a large British sailings on the Upper River after having arrived from Chung are no highways suitable for cara, temple and a Chinese structure is not held sufficient to justify A little distance from the water formerly used as an officers club, armed guards beyond Ichang, at The landing of the airmail from front is the exceedingly well-kept and to the left the path back to normal periods, though" on the other hand American vessels are Shanghai struck the first and foreign cemetery, with its small the city follows the course of a
uniform almost the only note of modernity chapel. Here a
row of broad cutting, half full of reed at present carrying, armed guards as a small party of tourists land- carefully tended headstones marks covered water, which might be from the U. 8. Navy and Fourth Marines right through from place of the three mistaken for the town most. Ac- ed on the stretch of soft dark the resting sand laid bare by the receding officers and four naval ratings of tually, however, this is nearly all Shanghal to Chungking. waters. A steep ascent between British gunboats who lost their
that is left of the ill-fated Eze- A few hours steaming below The Board of Directors of the rows of untidy matsheds had to lives in the Wanhsten incident of chuen Railway, which was to have Ichang, rolling hill scenery offers Chinese Y M. C. A held its anaus!
Beveral sea-1 had Beptember. 5, 1926.
election last night, Mr. Lam Chi ita terminus in Ichang. men drowned in the Upper River Riverside and city stations were a foretaste of the Georges' superbly fung was relected president. The bullt, about 10 miles of track laid varied grandeur, and a welcome other officers are Dr. S. W Phoon, down, and embankment and tuinreller from the
Vice President, Mr. Richard Shim, eternal
Hon, Oreasurer and Mr. PC neling work done between Ichang and welchowiu. On the shan tony of the Lower River. The land- pok, Hot, Sectolary donment of the line some of the scape, as yet more charming than rails and stock were disposed of ruggedly impressive, has the de to the British Government for use leate appeal of the Chinese nor in Masonpotamia during the Great Ists miniature gardens. Ar one's War. Stations buildings are now ship, nearing her overnight moor in use as barracks for the garrison, ing place, glides towards the 20 and on the flat stretch of ground ting sun, it is a delight to watch beyond the cutting is the military straggling black-and-white towas aerodrome, which possesses a like Yangche or Chihkiang, with scouting plane of antiquated de- their fringe of baremasted junks, their pagodas and Tengkuen towers sigh
Ichang marks the end of the to propitiate the spirits of air and Middle River run which is the water. The brighter patchwork sphere of activities of British arm- of winter crops stands out from the ed guards. The tour of duty of a clustering evergreens and autumn guard is approximately four weeks tinta, and among the trees nestle from the time leaving the battalion lone cottages which would pass for in Shanghai Proceeding to Han- Swiss chalets rather than the kow, the guard makes one trip to traditional homes from which the Ichange, returns, stays about four men of the Yangtze watch the days with the cruiser in Hankow unpitying, fickle moods of Old Mari and then goes up to Ichang again River.
be climbed to the Bund, where figures painted on a wall matk
Hongkong Philharmonic Society
PIRATES OF PENZANCE At the King's Theatre At
Feb. 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th at 9.30 P.M. Matinee: Feb, 7th at 4.30 P.M.
Book these dates-Make up your parties. Booking opens 1st Feb. at the King's Theatre,
Dnah mono:"
the retiring officers are Mr. Ngan Shing Kwan, Vice-President, and Mr. Mann K, Wong, Hon. Tres
aurei
Dr. Y. H. Tso is the General Becretary of the Y. M. C. A. and Mr. J. L. McPherson, the Advisory General Secretary,
More Rusisans are obtaining cer- Lineates of British naturalisation than any other nation Home office return for the past year shows that during that period 411 Russians were granted sturalisa- tion papers; Germany came next with 239, Foland followed with 134, and Australia with 62 in 21, 1.741 persone were granted naturalisa- tion during the year
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