Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 844

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HANKOW

these were completed in December, 1920. Messrs. Butterfield & Swire have a four- storey reinforced concrete godown on the site of their old office. Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., put up a very fine modern four-storey reinforced concrete godown, on the site of the buildings destroyed by fire in 1917, the total measurement of the building being approximately 74,772 square feet. The English Church was re-built, and consecrated in May, 1904. A new Union Church was built in 1916-17 in the French Concession, and opened in April, 1917. The new British school building was occupied at the end of the summer holidays in 1920 and is a vast improvement on the former accommodation.

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The native city of Hankow was burnt by the Imperialist army in October, 1911, and a population of about 800,000 were thereby rendered homeless. At the end of 1914 it was estimated that fully 80 per cent. of the burnt area had been reconstructed, though unfortunately on the old lines, all the laudable plans for modernising the city having fallen through, owing to difficulties in obtaining the necessary funds. During 1919 large tracts of land in the back of the native city were reclaimed and several new roads were constructed. A scheme for the development of a Greater Hankow was. started with the backing of the Government.

TRADE IN 1930.

The year 1930 was probably the most unsatisfactory for Hankow trade within recent times, not only because of the internal political situation, civil war, and the depredations of Communist-bandit armies, but because of the general world trade depression and the unprecedented fall in the value of silver. The one bright feature was an abundant harvest in Hupeh and the neighbouring provinces. Although actual civil warfare followed later, war clouds were already gathering over Honan during the first quarter of the year. Negotiations between the Government and the Northern military leaders. dragged on until April, when all hope of a peaceful settlement was abandoned. Fighting commenced early in May in Honan and Shantung and lasted most of the year. With the despatch of all available forces to the front, Communists. and bandits preyed mercilessly on many important districts, even the Wu- Han cities, where martial law was vigorously enforced, being frequently threa- tened and the inhabitants subjected to most anxious and trying experiences, with executions of Communists of almost daily occurrence. In June Kwangsi insurgents set out to attack Hupeh in response to a call from the rebel forces in Peiping. They easily overran Hunan and penetrated into the outskirts of Hupeh. Troops were rushed by Nanking to the defence of the province, trenches being dug just outside Wuchang. For a time it seemed that Hankow would fall, when suddenly the Kwangsi detachments withdrew to South Hunan to meet the Cantonese forces pursuing them and were forced to retire again into Kwangsi. Meanwhile the Communist menace was growing daily. Firing on passing vessels by groups of Communist-bandits, particularly on the Cheng- ling Shasi section of the Middle Yangtze, was frequently reported, and the situation there towards the end of July became so dangerous that the River Inspectorate was obliged to suspend work in the sounding and marking of channels, etc. At the end of the year this work had not been fully resumed. The partial conclusion of the war in October released many divisions from the front and enabled steps to be taken by the authorities to combat the evil, but the Government forces met with stubborn resistance in their difficult task, and at the close of the year the menace had not been eradicated. A marked shrinkage in the importation of most foreign goods is noticeable. Difficulty of distribution in the interior, due to bandit activities, lack of transport facilities, excessive circulation of unsecured paper currency, and increased cost of goods through low exchange and higher duties, together with over- stocking in the previous year in anticipation of the introduction of a new tariff, all militated against a normal import trade during 1930. The kerosene oil trade probably affords the most striking example of this decrease. In- creased prices of the commodity, due to adverse exchange, affected demand, the poorer classes reverting to the use of cheaper native vegetable oil.. The importation of foreign cotton piece goods showed a marked decline, espe-