The metal for these rifles comes to a large extent from railways, while the bombs are made of iron that is smelted locally by native methods under the direction of European-returned students holding high metal-surgical qualifications.
As the arsenals themselves lay at very remote places and my time was limited, I was not able to visit them, but I had the opportunity of talking with technicians engaged in this work and of examining specimens of their output.
The chief difficulty first encountered in using railway metals was their softness, but hardening processes since devised had obviated this trou-
"My own town," the magistrate continued, "has been sacked and gutted. Once it had 5,000 inhabitants and 200 stores, but now it is a de: serted ruin holding about three families. Even the Japanese do not bother to come there now.
"The people of my city are scattered, and their businesses ruined, yet, if the administration calls for money, it is forthcoming within a few days. Expenses have naturally been cut to a fraction of the former level in this district, and now total only $100 a month. This is just enough to pay for food, as officials of the administration receive no salary."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.