Night Travel Along the Chientang "Prox Our Own Consesroxomr Hangchow, July 12.
There is no mistake that the great convenience and utility of the new light railway is steadily growing in popularity. Leaving by the night schedule, the train pulls out of the Riverside Station at dash and by dawn, the next morning, the thriving town of Lanche, on the reaches of the Chientang of the summer night lends enchantment to the new experience. It is strange to be whirling through the heart of the province at night, on the "Iron Road," as the Chinese' call it. The route' takes one over a fruitful land of farmsteads, fields and fell but at night it is only pos-lo to sce the shadows of scattered trees and dark woods as one rudely jerked in the roaring chaos of drowsy nodding. Just before the break of day, the county of "The golden flower opens. up in wide ex: range 0 is dimly seen through the glimmering mists thrusting its pinnacles. 4,000ft. into the sky. In the near future these an attractive summer resort, will' vie with Mobkanshan. Prom Kinhua to Lanche, it is only a run of some forty minttes and the night traveller arrives before the city. astir. The town, with its white washed houses, looks all serene the morning sun and it is most interesting to see the gradual pul tion of life as the populace begin the stir of the daily round.
For the most. part, the track follows the ancient trail, at times ploughing through it and straightening out its many Dragon curves. In certain sections, there is a perceptible subsidence in the road bed, and the coaches rock, and then one hears the comments of the travelling Public who, with doubtful shakings of the head exclaim—' struction is too light to last." he Chuche County, the permanent lasting operations are al in. progress for the purpose moving the on to a firmer foundation, It ix to be hoped that soon the Jine will be completed to Kiangshan and anyone, taking this journey "In the sweet o' the year" will find that every mile is a picture, and every stream a burst of music.
On one of the recent very, hot lays, "a most exciting "incident happened. A motor car, conveying some passengers, made @ clean dive into' the canal," Fortunately, the Plunge was made at a point where The water: was only about five feet in depth, The "passengers, partly submerged were" kept prisoners within the car until means had een brained for their rescue. They were at the butt end of the ridicule Drithe crowd of onlookers Shouted outy—"Do you feel cool"
The Hangchow Police are adorned in their summer dress. They look very meat in their white tung shorts. The flying squad attract attention "and command respect, Notwithstanding the enormous deficit in the budget of the Tocal Government, the policy of progress and efficiency is by no means crushed out by cumbrous li tical machinery, or the ebb and low of Party events.
The youth of Hangchow are, these days, preparing for the annual sports. They are spurred on by flights of oratory boosting the benefits of physical culture. Open-air classes are in vogue and a huge poster across the street reminds the people that "The organisation of Athletics is the foundation step in the! Three Principles of the People." The sports and games are to take place the middle of the month.
News from the southern end of the province is not good, Com: minnist troops made a drive into the province in the Kiangshan country. At-one place, the post office was looted and organised plundering was carried out on a large scale. Crowds of refugees are flocking into Ghuhsien where, even in that strong hold, the people are tremulous. Over the border, in the Kuangsin region of Kiangée, it is reported that, a battle took place quite recently. The Government were augmented by aeroplanes. Motor roads are now being constructed with feverish haste, also some aerodromes are being constructed as part of the plan for future defensive operations against. the "Red" menace,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.