soon as the boat settled on the bottom, the frightened passengers scrambled ashore, rescuing as much joe their water soaked baggage Possible and spreading it out on the Fiver bank to dry. while soldiers. who formed part of the passengers. stood on guard until the launch. went to the market of Stone Dragon where amply barges were secured which took both passengers and cargo to the same market, where other means of transportation was found for the remainder of the journey.
Watereraft Increased in Numbers For the past twenty years motor boats of various designs have been plying -Kwangs!'s inland waterways Carrying passengers and cargo. This class of Watereraft has increased in numbers with the years until two years ago there were nearly 200 of these boats operating throughout the province. These motor boats use as fuel kerosene or crude oil. With the: capture. however, of Canton by the Japanese in the autumn of 1938, the West River—the main route over which these motor fuels has been im. ported—was closed to trafic. For Hime supplies were sent inland over other routes. but these routes closed one by one until importation became Impossible. Accumulated stocks the interior were gradually exhausted. and then the motor boats. one by tone, ceased running and ted up at! Various cities along "interior rivers, Jocally Known as "Noah's Arks." towed by launches took their places Wood-Burning Launches Atier being anchored for nearly] two years. the motor boats are now being requisitioned; they are being used as passenger junks, towed by Wood-burning launches,' When as-ending rapids where the current is Swift and the launch's power is in-
Sarts its engine and helps until less the run, the launch Swift water is reached. when again. Lits engine ceases to throb and the Tauneh assumes full responsibility. This novel method is providing more water craft for the river runs and [greatly assisting in transportation in the interior province of Kwangsi-
Attempt to Hold Up Express Train May 10.
'A few days ago there was a bold' attempt to bold up the night express on its run from Kweilin of Liuchow. 'This is @ section of the Siang-Kwei railway. 'The line has but recently been completed and the road bed being new, in the interests of safety. the trame' yun rather slowly along many parts of the line. the central part of the journey fom Kweilin to Liuenow the un runs through a mountainous eres which in days gone by was the stamp: Ing ground for robber bands and locally known as the bad lands of this jscetion of the province. It was nearing midnight. The express train had assed by the market town of Ngailin ft the eastern side of the mountains. had puffed through the tunnel of Bil-Iowy Stockade and was slowly winding its tortuous way through the foot hills nearing Hwangmien when suddenly the stillness of the night was broken Joy the sharp crack of rites as bullets {from robber weapons crashed through the windows of the slowly moving train. Mingled with the sound of broken glass were the frantic yells of the frightened passengers in the densely crowded third-class coaches.
In the darkness the robbers could not be seen and they evidently did Hot expect any resistance and judged they. could board the slowly moving train without serious difficulty. They had counted amiss. A, small company of armed soldiers were travelling in the second-class coach and these returned the fire and gradually the train pulled out of the danger zone and reached Hwangmien where - the attempted robbery was reported and Precautions taken against a further nese Expeditionary Forces by foreign diplomatic representatives in Nanking—Domel, King of Siam Dies Former King Prajadhipok of Slam died yesterday at his residence here.
years and two months afler he Baidated in favour of his nephew, Prajadhipok was last of the absolute! monarchs of Siam (now Thailand), ning on June 27. 1992 a provisional constitution "which was replaced on] Becember 10, 1932.
On April 1, 1933, he dissolved the Aseembly of the People's Reprosentae tives and appointed a. State Council of conservative character, In June, i538, Colonel PhyaPhahol who. had Participated as a leader in the origin coup: eat of June, 1052, ed a Sew coup dalat, following which iigeral' State Council was" formed—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.