1936-03-24 — Page 6

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, Tuesday, March 24, 1986.

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TROUBLED RHINE WATERS.

THE Rhineland is Ger- many's western pro- vince, which the French in their hour of might sought, and failed, to carve out of the Reich; from which they thought to have removed the sting by the demilitarisation clauses of the Treaty of Versailles, incorporated in the Locarno protocols; and on which they now turn a gaze of growing and tragic anxiety.

In the Rhineland the French and German general staffs do not see merely a pleasant and wealthy tract of Europe. They - do not hear

the good Rhine flowing. In the heart of all Allemagne. They ace it as a vital strate-

We are fully equipped for any gical factor in a battle still -

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DEATH.

EGGE.--Passed away at the French Hospital, en 24th March, 1930, Felagie Egge, beloved wife of W. Egge. Funeral will pass the monument at 5.15 p.m. to-day.

The

Hongkong Telegraph.

TUESDAY, MAR. 24, 1926.

IS THE COLONY

fought.

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in

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the good Rhine flowing"

By George Malcolm Thomson

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After a few weeks' precarious exiṇ- lapsed, to the savage joy of the local tence, the Rhinoinnd republic col

habitants, who, at Pirmasens, net re to the building in which the Separatists had taken refuge,

France's second attempt to solve the military, problem of the Rhine-

and bind failed.

**

the

ue third was Locamo. From

point of view of the French general staff this was a compromise. It involved a free acceptance by the German Government of the perman- ent demilitarization of the left bank

of the river and of a strip wide on the 'right bank.

milen

On the other hand, it envisaged an

To the French generals, the west, or left, bank of the Rhine is simply a base of concentration for a German attack on France. Germany has a foot on the French side of the ditch, a But this French complacency reigned in Germany and the dent that French propaganda stronghold within the defences waned as the months passed morale of the people was at a and French bribes had failed to which nature designed for the and revealed that, though Ger- low ebb, a second and more dan- win over the Rhenish popula- protection of France.

many would certainly fail to gerous separatist attempt was tion. The Germans point out that carry out the monstrous obliga- launched.

This time the French had pre- Home millions of indubitable tions of the treaty, it would German subjects dwell on the probably prove impossible to pared the ground for their wrong side of this "natural fron apply

its severity the separatist friends. Propagandn tier."

legal alternative-a permanent had been busy among the Rhine- French occupation of the left land people. They were "Celts, like us." French newspapers, fortnight after the Armis- bank of the Rhine.

tice Marshal Foch present-

magazines, and soup kitchens. soldiers

applied stressed the contrast of a die- ed a demand for the separation FRENCH

themselves once more to the tracted Germany and a strong, from Germany of the entire left bank of the Rhine, coupled with task of detaching from the Reich friendly France.

Besides, there was the tempt permanent occupation by this area which contains eight French troops of the bridge-, per cent, of Germany's territory, ing bait of escape from repara heads on the right bunk. eleven per cent, of her popula- tions payments.

When Fooh's plan was reject- tion, and twelve per cent, of her

IN the autumn of 1923, when early withdrawal of the French garri- ́ LIGHTLY TAXED?ent by other means,

ed, the French sought the same coal.

Now there was in the Rhine- German resistance on the sons. But this was compensated for ceau believed that the Treaty of land a genuine local movement Ruhr had collapsed, the Separa- by the guarantee by Britain and Italy of France's frontier against unpro- A favourite argument by Versailles gave him what he for decentralisation. The Ro- tists launched their "putsch." vnked attack.

man Catholic province of Luth- Their leaders were Matthes, who It seemed that at last the problem Hongkong is a lightly-taxed In fifteen years," he toki eran Prussia had grievances had at one time run a Commu- was solved. France, with immense nist paper at Frankfurt, a Ger- new fortifications defending her soil, looked out on a German zone empty Could the French make use of man named Dockers, who com- of soldiers, naked of defensive works. have fulfilled the clauses of the this local sentiment? They demanded in Aix, Dr. Dorten, and Germany, on the other hand, felt Poincare, "Germany will not against Berlin.

a picturesque adventurer who easter in mind now that the menace, treaty. If you will do me the termined to try.

the very real menace, of the Separa- honour to visit my grave, you

And so there opened the whole was called Captain Parsival. will be able to tell me. We stand bloody, bad-tempered and dis-

The rank and file, as usund in on the Rhine and we remain on creditable episode, half-farce, such adventures, consisted part the Rhine.

half-tragedy, of the Rhineland ly of ruffians and partly of a not caded in a victory for separatist movement. In the honest men.

And, even if the Rhineland were summer of 1919, a handsome The red, white and green not rearmel, what, it may be asked on a basis of 24 per cent., as

young Wiesbaden lawyer, Dr. tricolour of the Rhineland was by the French generals, is a 30-mile against 17 per cent, in Hong-

Adam Dorten, known as "Pretty resurrected from the museums demilitarised zone in these days of tanks and mechanised heavy guns Addi," proclaimed the Rhineland where it had lain since the days which could cross it in an hour? kong. But before any safe de- ductions can

What is the value of the neutralisel be drawn from

republic. The wind blew the of the French Revolution and It is interesting to discover, that proclamation posters away. hoisted by the Separatist storm Rhineland when a sudden secret mobi these figured it would be

million Hongkong's defence forces are a But in 1923, while the fright- troops in Wiesbaden, Crefeld, lisation could transform a essential to know how property match for a fair-sized enemy force ful, silent struggle in the Ruhr Aix and Coblenz.

Ithonish civilians into 11 million values compare between Singa-which might attempt to take the

marching. Reichswehrenen in a few pore and Hongkong-in other Island by landing troops without went on, while financial, chaos words, whether rental standards preliminary bombardment on n are approximately the same, inrge-scale, and that even-hould

that

Government spokesmen

Colony was again heard 'during costs in the Legislative Council the debate on administrative on Thursday. In support of the theory, figures were cited com- paring taxation here with the standards prevailing in Singa-

pore and at Home. On the former point, it was shown that

wanted.

Clemen-

the assessed tax in Singapore is NOTES OF THE DAY

COLONY DEFENCES

tist movement, was at an end.

But the long struggle for the strategic mastery of the Rhineland

France.

But from the first it was evi- hours?

inasmuch as the assessed tax is such a force of Invaders gain the 1911-1936: AVIATION IN HONGKONG

back into the sea, by the fierce counter-attacks of the

reserves

(including the Volunteers) and

=XACTLY twänty-five years

ago this week the first avia-

based on rents. Until this benches und the more rugged in- point is cleared up,, there is not terior country, they could be driven much utility in comparing as sessed tax percentages. So far as the respective positions be- tween the United Kingdom and such of those who survived the tor to fly in Hongkong took off at first struggle on the beaches. It Shatin and, amidst the jubilation Hongkong are concerned, it is gratifying to know that the of thousands of people who as- would appear idle to make com- Colony's defence forces are efficient, sembled to witness his daring parisons, for the simple reason well-organised and keen on the feat, succeeded in flying a dis-

The flight was made on March

that the conditions existing in job, and that in the face of an tance of 200 yards! the two places are in, no sense ordinary attack from the sea, with similar. The standard of liv-naval artillery fire supporting the ing of the majority of the people landing parties, they can give a 18, 1911 by Mr. Van den Barn, account of themselves, a Belgian. To-day, just over 25 there bear no relation to that good of the average taxpayer here in However, the official reports of years later, the Imporial Airways lessons learned in the recent liner Dorado inaugurates a com- Hongkong. Admittedly, it

manoeuvres give OR no roommercial service that brings Hong- would not be difficult to show for complacency. It appears kang within 26 hours of Penang, that specific sections of the that, in the event of a sustained, Colony's community get off re- and "ferocious" attack by enemy and within ten days of London. latively lightly in the matter of alreraft, Hongkong would suffer Newspaper reports of Van den taxation. The well-to-do and severely; and the inference may Born's first flight in Hongkong

were this norint are given below, the very poor, the last-riamed of be drawn that

weakened, We

are

whom either pay no regular offensive maintained long enough The S. C. M. Post of March rent or are accommodated in the ultimate assault from the sea bed-spaces or cubicles, are not might find the defenders sadly dr-20, 1911, reported:

"Keen disappointment Was

The First flight in Hongkong. unduly taxed. Equally, Govern.pleted and their resistance much

therefore manifested by a large number ment servants and others who pushed to the conclusion that anti-of people who assembled at

"As it happened, the wind front of the hangar and, upon enjoy free quarters. or house aircraft defence is the vital spot Shatin on Saturday afternoon died down and the few who re- observing this, a large number allowances get off lightly. But in Hongkong'e armour, and that (March 18) to witness the ex- mained had the opportunity of of those present, the majority between these groups there is a any weakness in this direction must hibition of flying promised by seeing Mr. Van den Born in the of whom were school children big section of the community be remedied before we are in a Mr. Van den Born. It was a air. The machine rose, within a from Queen's College and other which finds it hard to meet the position to defend ourselves with beautiful day and high hopes comparatively short distance of institutions, rushed to the spot. burden of taxation. In this real hope of success, For it lá were entertained of witnessing its starting point to a height of Secing the danger of a collision connection, we have to bear in most improbable that in any at the latest of the arts of locomo- several hundred feet, in a series and possibly injury to some of

tempted invasion of Hongkong air- mind the overcrowded labour craft would not play a major part, tion under the best of circum- of circles and descended on the more reckless of the specta- market, which has a direct bear-in this connection let it be noted stances. There was some delay exactly the spot from which it tors, Mr. Van den Born with ing on this matter of taxation. that Singapore has taken steps to at the outset on account of the rose, thus proving the aviator's great presence of mind (for he If renta go up, carrying en-augment Its volunteer anti-aircraft late arrival of His Excellency ability to fly (a question much was travelling at considerable hanced taxation, the worker can-defence force materially. We the Governor, and when His Ex- debated during the afternoon by speed) swerved his machine not expect to get recompense in suggest there is material among cellency did arrive it was found the disappointeca) and his per- clear. This left him too little the way of higher wages; he is the men of this Colony for the that the wind had risen too high fect control of the machine." distance in which to make for at the mercy of the landlord in organisation of a similar body, ai

In its issue of March 24, the, the shed, and the result was a such circumstances. There are complementary unit of men to be to permit of flying. The machine many other aspects of the trained to work with the Royal Air was taken out of its shed, how- S. C. M. Post referred to an collision in which the forepart of the machine was considerably ever, and the working of the alarming michap: question which could be cited to Force in garrison.

motor displayed, but it was de- "Mr. Van den Born, the avia- crumpled. No injury resulted. show the danger of making com- parisons with other centres have not reached the limit of cided, that it would be folly to tor, gave an exhibition flight to the motor, fortunately, and where the conditions are dis- taxation does not imply any in. attempt to rise in the teeth of at Shatin yesterday afternoon. Mr. Van den Born himself es similar. Generally speaking, tention of adding to the present a gale blowing about 30 miles In the presence of a considerable caped with but a few slight. however, it must surely be real burden. Any such move would an hour. The people hung number of people he rose beauti- brulses." ised by the Government that meet with instant condemna-of them were glad when the 6.10 300 feet, and performed several several successful ventures into around impatiently, and most fully to a height of from 200 to On March 27 he again made the present is no time in which tion. The remedy for the to contemplate any addition tol Colony's present plight obvious-train started, for home, for, al- evolutions. He had intended the air-aviation was an accom- the existing scale of taxation. ly lies in the direction of rethough the band of the Rajputs rising higher, but experienced plished fact in the Colony, The community ́as a whole, ducing expenditure, not in seak-did its best to enliven matters, contrary winds. Flying over the The airman then went on to therefore, sincerely trusts that ing means for the raising of nothing would have induced the railway station. Mr. Van den Canton, and gave a most suc the official submission that we'more revenue.

crowd to wait longer..

Born endeavoured to land in cessful exhibition there in April..