The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-27
WOULD UNITE THE CONTINENT Proposes Road iron India to
 China. ENGLISH OFFICERS PLAN Physical Condition of County Well
 Adapted. Inaatesimai Trade would Develop wisA Co.str.esiep ef Modern rrasne Fscslisies--Chinese n1ercha.a. E.thusiastic--
 News of BrisisA Metrs-
 Delis.

8eWa 0A nkAtssn MctEV-
 Deiis.
 DY w. HAMILTON RHODES.
 London Speciai--An interesting proposal for the contraction of a rafl- way between India and China is ad- vanced by Mir. Noel Williamson. Mir. Williamson is political ofiicer in the service of the Indian government, who, while stationed in Upper Assam, has found an opportunity for exploring the Lohit branch of the Brahmaputra up to the Tfbetan frontier. He found no serious natural Rdifi1cuities in the way of his progress up the Lohit Val ley. and believes 1t would be an easy matter. as beginning, to connect India with the borders of Southeastern up to the Tibetan frontier. He foun Tibet by good mule track. The dis lance from the plains of Assam to the border of Tibet is less than fifty miles in straight line and little more than hundred miles by the river valley. The route traverses B country occu- pied by a quiet. peaceabie people. who look to the Indian government as the paramount power. and the road could be constructed not only at com paratively little cost but without risk of tribal unrest.
 The highest altitude 6ccurs in, the outer Cor first) range of hills, where there Is a rise of 4.so0 feet. after which no high attitudes obstruct the way. The banks of the river appear specially suited to serve as trade route. Large flat tiers running paral- lel to the Lohif. with easily -surmount- ed spurs extending to the river itself. rise gradually from an elevation of 1900 feet near the confluence of the TiddinE Rtver with the Loflit to an elevation of 5,ioo feet. at Sati near the seventy miles. In short, the valley of fers. says MT. Williamson, a natural highway into Tibet, which only re- quires the hand of man to render it easily and expeditions.
 At present trade along the route Is inflnitesimal. It may reasonably be hoped. however. that improved conn Munications would lead to a speedy development of trade. At present southeastern Tibet tor the Kong, as the country is called) has no indus tries because there is no incentive to the development of its resources A great quantity of wool Is wasted an- nuaIly because there Is no market for it's sale This is true not only as re- sards wool of ordinary quality. but as regards the costly variety called hashm, from which sfawis are made If communications were improved along this natural outlet for the trade of southsastern Tibet. facilities for ex- port would be brought within the reach of all. Mutual intercourse is Impossible at the present moment. he- cause Tibet is a forbidden land; but go0dfbFidle path leading down from the frontier of sadiya. place in close proximity to tie terminus. of the Dis hru-Sadiya Railway, would attract Ti- bstans to trade inJAssam.
 Moreover. the Chinese government is known to be taking steps to strength on its hold on Tibet. aAd it has been reported that a new Chinese province will shortly be formed out of the Kong. In any case the enterprising Chinese trader may be expected to be keeHiy alive to the advantages of easy communications with Assam. and Mir. Williamson, in addition to his modest proposal for the opening up of a mule track along the Lohit Valley, empha- sizes the fact that so far as en- neering obstacles are concerned, the running of railway up the L.ohit to- wards Sechuan would be a distinctly feasible project.
 As far as Rima, on the Tibetan side Of the frontier. there would be no very serious difficulty in building the line. Beyond that the country IS diff iicult. To reach Sechuan various high passes would have to be crossed, as well as the Salween, Lekong. and Yangtze rivers. This is undoubtedly formidable array. Obstacles in the way of railway communication between India and China are great by any route. The attitudes of the passes do not represent their heights above the surrounding country nor are the riv, CTS the giant waterways into which they develop further south. WhRtever the cost of the undertaking, Mr. Will iamson believes that compensation would be found in the facilities af- tween India and Western China.
 Such facilities should lead to an enormous expansion of trade between the two countries. At present exports from India to Sohuan have to be car ried by sea to the mouth of the Yangtze and there commence another long and difficult voyage up the river If Eechuan were placed in direct rail- way communication with India an immense impetus would be given to the development of the natural re- sources of the province, one of the richest in China.
 importance will be made in the distri- button of the British naval forces in the North Sea. The second division of the home fleet, consisting of the eight battleshlps of the King Edward class, and the second cruiser squadron consisting of the armored cruisers shannon, Naeal. Achilles. Warrior and Cochrane, will be permanently based on the Orkneys. These twelve large ships will be supported by twenty four destroyers.
 The first division of the home fleet, consisting of four Dreadnoughts. the two Lord Nelsons, and two other bat tleships. with the first cruiser squad ron, composed of the three Invincibles