1949-10-29 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1949.

DON

IDDON'S

DIARY

A SMALL TOWN STORY

The American story is tald also mountain read, against the book- and native Nevadays all seeing in the small towns Virginia drop of the Sierras. The signs Virginia City.

City is tiny:...

Only 1,000 people live here. Mainly they live in the past.

said: Welcome to Virginia

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City" "Visit the Bucket of "Here is a representative cross- Blood. "See the Suicide Table of Americans and Amen. And then I came to the place can public opinion. Most of the saloons, seedy shops, an insecure the old-timers, are surprised to bank, an aloof church, a founder-find an Englishman in this ghost the history of the place in which they are so busy getting themselves photographed.

They cater to the tourists swarm a decrepit collection of shacks, people I have talked to, except Is Your

ing over the old gold and silve town, sell then drinks, souvenirs, antiques, picture postcards, and tall tales of the Big Bonanza boardwalk, and neglected own. They do not know when the town ran yellow with riches

Once

artRind 1870. 40,000 people lted in these parts, in Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, American Flat, and Com- Stock City, and the earth spouted most treasure we

Men of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment "B" Squadron," during exercises in the New Territories with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The 52-ten tank-shown above.. stalled in

pulled out later by an armoured recovery vehicle. Mair" photo).

a

beg and

Was

("China

DUTCH, INDONESIAN

ARMIES

HATTA TO RETURN TO INDONESIA

REGROUPING

Batavia, October 27.

A very high Dutch military authority, told Reuter tonight that the Dutch and Dutch-Indonesian armies were now re-grouping "to meet any situation which might arise from the grant of sovereignty to Indonesia".

The measures included the withdrawal of out- posts and the concentration of forces through- out a large part of Java and Sumatra. The authority said that the proportion of British officers and The Hague. October 27. The Indonesian Republican "December 7" Division, total-commanded by British generals.

"The Republican Army seems Premier, Dr. Mohammed Hat-ling about 20,000 men, many refect Dutch military advice ta, announced today, that he of them trained in Britain, and Has not the training

or dis- would return 10 Indonesia would be withdrawn to Hol-leipline of the Netherlands forces," about November 7 at the end land by the end of the year (the high military source declared. of the current round-table after three years' active ser- He added that the future of conference here which is draft-vice in Indonesia.

the Sourabaya naval base in East ing the form of a new South Six British troopships had been Java was one for the naval au East Asian nation 1 the chartered 10 repatriate the thorities,

archipelagu.

Division, most of whom

It belonged to would Netherlands, no to Indonesia,

the

Competent foreign military 00- He said that he would not have be demobilised in Holland,

and servers today considered ime to keep to his plan to visit remainder being re-formed

the

Burma.

trained as part of Holland's con-Dutch concentration of forces to The only subjects remaining for tribution to the Western Union be the prelude to further with further discussion at the round-ferces. able conference were Dutch New Guinea, the transfer of Dutch

a

WLS

balconies.

t visited The Bucket of Blocdma pub ance known for gun duels. I dropped. In the For as early as 1860 it was Suicide Table saloon where Englishmen who were the co- men who had fast their gold on, Andilling influencé * of: Virginia

J+L PETOR

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Jewellery-wide in cover.

the throw of a dice had killed City, even though they comprised Household

themselves only fair Vericent w the popula-

tion The British influence

TC-

More than 1,000,000,000 dollars' worth at gold. and silver

The town is thick with tourists.mained strong for years. - wrested from the ground and There are school teachers from men' went mad with greed and Boston, salesmen from Philadel- The two youths en route to San drunk with fortune.

phŝa, oil drillers from Texas, Diego to join, the Marines have Virginia City built San Fran-powerline mèn From California, not heard of the Anancial crisis..

Householders Compzel

Effects:- Insurance, covering your ar-

ticles where you live.

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COVETS

you by sea or air anytohere,

cisco. I financed the Pacific Easemers and Middle Westerners "We just never think of the Bri- Baggage: Claims settled promptly by

Coast. It shook the financial

structure of the New World. It was a wild mining town over- Bowing with gold and silver, jammed with miners, rogues, painted worden.

ren, confidence men madumes, gamblers. charlatans cheats, drunks and deadbeats,

Today Virginia City is a shabby and pathetic relic. The mines in the town are closed and the earth grey and spent The buildings along Main Street need paint and repair.

They are crumbling and sagging and sinking slowly into no longer the ground, which yields gold or silver, but only memories.

The

town is dying Piper': Opera House, St. Mary's of the Mountains, the Storey County Cours House, the Marre Building and the Masonic Temple are still standing, still in use, but I won- der for how long.

1860 Englishmen

I drove to the old mining town from Rezo, along the winding

drawal to main evacuation cen

covering the The authority added, "Theres when orders Array High Command has fully military transfer of power are re- assets from Indonesia and a few informed the Netherlands Govceived from The Hague.

They expressed fears that

of the Dutch- large proportion Indonesian feres, especially the Amtonese, would be pawing The to serve under Republican com-

military

points." he disclosed. After the Indonesian Parlia-

ments

ement of the dangers inherent

round the Indonesian situation after the grant of sovereignty,

had

the ratified able conference agreements. Bonesian

"A firm decision on what is to State representatives

with the Royal and would meet to discuss the up-be done. pointment of the President of Dutch-Indonesian the Netherlands-indonesian Union concerning that will be the archipelago's political position after sovereignty

their

armies

and mand military and

British Army To Withdraw From Greece

London, October 27. Informed quarters said to. day that Britain has decided to withdraw the last 3,600 British trocas remaining in Greece.

understood the desi sion was taken at a Cabinet meeting today but a spokes. man at 10 Downing Street would neither confirmi nor deny it

It is understood also thXI the British military mission in Athens will remain In Greece for the time being. United Press.

British Approach To U.S. On German Policy

London, October 27.

Foreign Office said today that Britain has re- quested the United States to follow a co- ordinated and consistent policy on the dis- mantlement of German industries.

"

was necessarily

ند و

tish."

Smallest Capital

The Government worker,

а

agents all over the world.

middle-aged woman who is head. Get The "GENERAL” Idea-

ing for Guam, is not perturbed by Britain's dollar shortage We haven't suffered by sending help|

anyway there's. * feeling of partnership with the British."

The citrus fruit canner, 2 Texan, explains that he is of British stock through and through, and is all for financial aid as much as is needed.

And an old prospector who still patiently gouges the ground at an old working a few miles away, says: "if they increase the price of gold to settle this dollar headache, why these ghost towas: would count alive again. AL. present the price

ice of gold tardly makes it worth a man's sweat".

Virginia City is proud that

Twain once worked on the Territorial Enterprise" which published here, proud of the old inth days and perhaps ashamed of the present decay and decline.

Nearby

is another small town-

Mark

Carson City

the smallest State:

capital in America. Five thou- sand people live there. In all Nevada there are

150,000 people

only

I talked to an old clerk in the domed State Capitol, and he was not aware that Berin and Cripps had been to Washington

-and cared less.

I chatted will the manager. of the drug store in the centre of the town. He said? "No one gets excited here about any thing in Europe. if anything we look towards the Pacific when we get = glimpse past the

Hague Statement Many statements on the future new link with Holland.

is needed urgently."

disposition of Dutch troops and

mountains. A spokesman, commenting received from the American Em- Indonesia would seek

close soldiers want to know the future formation of an in-

on reports that statements by bassy and none

"General MacArthur is high-l co-operation" with neighbouring how long we shall be remaining donesian Army "are unauthorised

the US. High Commissioner, (expected.

ly thought of here countries. Dr. Hatta said in Indonesia. how не иге to and anticipate the outcome of

No immediate comment was

You can see, therefore, that the, Indonesia would be concerned trenster inilitary authority to the the present talks at the indone Mr. John J. McCloy, were available from the American Einy towns of Nevada have little

common republic, and with the promotion of

how much war sign

conference," harming Western policies in bassy. round-table

in common with present-day Bri- Interests and economic

welfare material is to be handed to the highest Dulch political circles Germany, said:

It was understood that Birtain. When you talk about Bri and would not be directed against Republican Army and under what said in The Hague tonight.

"The matter was raised with Ivone Kirkpatrick, in his cle-ish taxes the townsfolk look as third parties.

conditions, the authority de-

The were commenting aJulius C. Holme, Councillor of cussion with Mr. Holmes, ex- if they are listening to a ther Co-operation parties couidclared.

statement made to Reuter by athe United States Einbassy in pressed British annoyance ever man's story, and then say: "But

very high Dutch military au- London, when he called at the Mr. MeCley's reported use of why do the British stand

for thorityTM in Batavia that the Foreign Ofice to see Sir Ivone such expressions 38 "I have explained about two

Fikr that?" Dutch and Indonesian arrajes Kirkpatrick, head of the German less dismantling." "The main task of the Dutch were regrouping to meet any section."

MF. McCoy is expected in Lon-crippling world wars and social Army after the transfer of station which might arise from The spokesman said that the don next week SIL

route to measures and cradle-to-grave sovereignty is protect the the granting of sovereignty to request followed publication in Washington but Foreign

are not Office Security, but "Nevadans

Interested in State guaranteed lives and property of Euro-17, aesiz,”

the German and British press of officials said they had no official Well-informed Dutch pcans. This can be assured hin

security.. ob-statements attributed to Commis- notice of his visit.

They prefer ulette. the cities where we are in

servers sald they could

not signer McCloy critical of the General Sir Brian Robertson, strength.

understand the occasion" fer agreed programme of reducing British High Commissioner in the Batavia- military spokes- Germany's war potential through Germany, was at the Foreign) | man's remark, that the Soura- dismantling.

Office today to see the Foreign

make a "vigorous contributien Jeward world peace," he de-l clared. The

problems facioz Indonesia in the economic ficid

main

kere transmigration and in- ustrialisation. Indonesia would lave to work hard at reconstruc- ion, increasing rice production in hose areas which had been made by fighting. sous productive forestry would also have to be aken in hand.

sus sem

Army's Tosk

The source said that most of Much of Indonesia's recovery these questions were presumably lepended also cn world con discussed by the Military Com- Thons. Even the Jaya sugar mittee at The Hagie "but in

dustry had to be protected (general, the Republican attitude: efore the war, he said.

seemed concerned only with the "The new Government will actual transfer of sovereignty nly be able to justify its exis-and not with its grave military ence if it is able to promote the

consequences." velfare of the people," he added,

Reuter.

haya naval base (East Java): Asked if a co-ordinates policy Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin. : "belonged to the Netherlands, on dismantling had not been It was presumed that the mat- nct to Indonesia," especially as reached earlier in Washington.ter of Mr. McCloy's statements the spokesman himself had the Foreign Office spokesman on disbillement. J was said that the future of the base said: "It was". The spokesman{the subjects discussed-Associat was for the naval authorities said that no answer had been ed Press. to decide,

A task for the Dutch Armny

"In the political arguments the after the transfer of sovereignty military aspect appears to have might be to protect lives and been neglected, yet it is of para-property. But it would be only in

PLANT EXPLODES mount importance for the new the period immediately following

-IN YORK

York, October 27.

cation and the protection of life the transfer and not a permanent and property," he added.

task, which was the impression “An early announcement on the given by the Batavia statement,

."

An electric plant exploded to military situation would allay they, said,

ay with a roar heard five miles fears, and enable the transfer of The Dutch authorities at The way. Five employees were in- ured and one is missing. Some power to proceed peacefully".

EX-

The

Hague, it was stated, were fully actories in the district were closer

soutre said that the trans--informed on the military” zätüa- of power in India was - not tion; and had taken all these' mất- The d. for want of power. loston hurled boiler through a true parallel with that in Infers fully into a consideration in

donesia as the British plant root. Debris blocked a

Forces the Political and Military Com- earby main road. The cause of handed over military and policemiters of the round-table con-- ae blast was not known-Asso-contral to well organised and disference on the future of Indone- iated Press.

be

TRANSFORMERS

سكرية

ciplined forces retaining a bighsia, Reuter.

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