The Position in the South In an article entitled "'Sidelights on the Two Kuangs War," which appears in another column of this issue, mention is made of the fact that the Canton Government has declared that. crude oil is contraband as against Kuangsi. The result of this. procedure is that launches operating on the rivers in Kuangsi, at normal times very numerous in number, have been reduced to the smallest total. This brings into prommence the work which has been accomplished by the semi-Diesel type of engine in these southern waters, The semi-Diesel is an engine which has made a most effective appeal to Chinese engineers, © So much so that works for its construction were started near Canton a few years ago. The actual Diesel engine, with its very heavy castings necessary to take the extreme compression of atmosphere requiffed for its operation, did not suggest itself to the Chinese as the best possible medium for the generation of power, the initial cost of the machinery being probably too heavy. The initial cost, however, of the semi-Diesel type is considerably lower, as a smaller compress sion is permissible by means of heating a metal bulb. The Chinese have undertaken the manufacture of these engines themselves in the Canton district, a large workshop being in operation there, and most of the launches plying on the rivers of south China are so fitted. Accordingly crude oil was one of the first commodities to he declared contraband of war, and the launch services of Kuangsi, cut off from its supply, has ceased to function to its normal extent.
While the semi-Diesel type of engine holds the field in the south in the matter of marine work, it is distinctly interesting to note that Chinese elsewhere, probably hevause they do not possess the enterprise of the south, have not taken the idea up with any enthusiasm. For instance, some time ago a foreign engineer suggested that the junks trading out of Shanghai would find it of considerable benefit to have these engines installed as auxiliary plant. To meet the case the proposal was made that a foundry for their manufacture might be started at Pootung. but no support was ever forthcoming, the result being that in the event of adverse winds sailing craft are cither immobilized at their moorings in the Huangpu or compelled to make use of a tug until open water is reached. It is obvious that when engines of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.