To the Editor of the "Norrit-Cinwa Dany News"
Sm—The article published in your columns on June 8 was most time! and may well have saved motors intending to make the trip over Whitsuntide holidays feom the troubles and vexations incidental to. internal travel in China. The writer, unfortunately, made the journey to Mangehow on the Dragon Boat Festival and was caught off his guard, He also had the misfortune to be involved offence to those who are only too ready to place the guilt squarely on the shoulders of the unfortunate driver, of a car without calling ey witnesses to testify as to the true facts of the case.
At a. small military post about twelve miles west of Halyen a private soldier attempted to cross the road when the writer's car, travelling about 30 mph was upon him. 'To avoid running straight into him the car, at considerable risk to the oe cupants, was driven off the road into small' pond giving the man a Ing blow at a point adjacent to steering wheel. He" was. knock down badly shaken and bruised. A Passing bus "took him. to hospital. With the help of a yang of coolies the ear was relrleved, and although Wchad been half submerged fortunately, was mot But fut of ection, 'OMcials who quickly gathered took the car with the Chinese chauffeur fo" the nearest "Headquarters. which Was In the. direction of. Hangchow. After an absence of three hours, from the time the ear had been pul on the road, they "returned and formed your correspondent. that he' would be escorted. to Halyen where ihe ease had tobe totied, "At Halyen rickshaws were provided andthe whole parly proceeded by deviow alleyways to" the Police Station, Atter a. struggle of three hours ihe case was setted on pay rent of eighty dollars, the maximum available. in cash, By the time the main road had been regained it was Spam. and the fact that the Chinese umber plates had been removed from the car was not detected in the dark, The. ehaulfeur was aware. What had occurred but didn't dlsthose it Sixteen miles east, of Hangchow 9 road barrier blocks the way at night took some persuasion to induce the res ta open it, Just as the ear was about to proceed an alert one potted the absence of the Chinese umber plater anda delay of two {o three hours Was experienced. fail it took seventeen hours to come plete the journey of 140 miles, and the car was deprived of its Chinese licence it was immobilized on arrival The recovery of the plates involved considerable trouble at Hangshow and was only. achieved through the powerful Influence of the. benign Dmeials at the "The writer does not wish to give the, impression tat he was treated With a lack "of courtesy. On. the contrary, the affeer at the military post and the soldiers, some of whom Witnessed the accident," discoursed with him most amicably within the Timits'imposed on the. conversations by his ledequate knowledge of the! language. He was offered the private baldier's ration and presented with a snapshot of "a gid friend" asa Inomento of the oeeabion. But ma ing every allowance, its Imoossible ignore the unreasonableness of the oMmeinie andthe absurdity of remov-Sng the number" plates of the ear making it Impossible to move In any Gireetion without. encountering ime mediate aiMleuties. incidentally, the {river's licence was also confiscated, for which a receipt was given, which would have made it entirely' hozarous for him-to attempt to drive the sar himself. True, @ document given to the chauffeur recorded the fact that the licence plates had been seleed, which made it possible ultimately ¢o reach Hangchow, but ensured the maximum of difficulty and delay in accomplishing the journey.
'A Chinese licence, especially for 'a fairly high-powered ear, Involves the owner in" considerable additional annual expenditure, providing the authorities with a most useful source of revenue. I: does not encourage' tone to pay for the cost of a licence Ie'in return there is little or no pro-ection from arbitrary treatment at] the hands of officials.
Shanghai, June 10.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.