El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-07-14

9 ~
w Little Siam wants to Join US.
She is almost the only old
World nation not in the war already.
Her present ruler. king Maha Vail
ravudh. is an up to date and pro
gressive monarch who was educated
in England. He is a personal friend
and admirer OF king George Y. and
Z his official adviser in all political
matters is an American. a former
/ Harvard professor. No wonder. then,
that Siam is strongly pro-ally.
The Siamese military system IS
copied after that or Switzerland.
which is acknowledged TO be the best
in the world Every able bodied male
citizen is required TO serve two years
with the cOlOrs. after which he be-
comes a unit Of the reserve. There
is, however. a regular army compris-
ing 20 regiments OF infantry. 10 reEl-
ments Of cavalry. 90 batteries OF
mountain and field artillery. and 10
EattaliOns Of engineers. with medical
. transport. COmmissariat. and other
{ staff adjuncts tt is a formidable
force. wen armed and equipped
The navy OF siam is not very for
midable. but what there IS OF n IL
good stuff II boasts one armored
cruiser carrying Is guns. six steel
I llNNaLSs one Afa Dl eIH anu @F-H r.. HaA
/ torpedo boats, supplemented by about
so small warcraft for river use. There
is a well equipped naval arsenal at
Bangkok with a first class dOckyard.
Progress in 80 Years
Fifty years ago Siam was one ~
the very backward Asiatic countries.
The progress II has made IN the last
half century is astonishing Today
its government IS on the European
model There is a legislative council.
q.
ministers Of war, agriculture. etc,
compose the kings cabinet The edu-
cationaI system Is modelled after the
British. and there are excellent tech
meal schools.
There is a Siamese envoy at Wash
ington: we maintain a minister plenf-
pOtentiary at Bangkok- That city has
a population Of 200. 600 it IS lighted
by electricity There are telephones
and telegraphs The first electric
street railway in Asia. was constructed
in that metropolis. which IS con-
nected with all parts OF the kingdom.
Bangkok is called the Venice of
Asia. because Of its many canals. To
is built astride the river Menarn
(meaniuE Mother Of Waters1. which,
like the Nile. overflOws annually. fer
tilizinE ar immense area by Its de-
post OF alluvium. For several months
in each year nearly the whole Of the
aTenam valley. which is $50 miles
Live Largely in Boats.
The Siamese are a water people. q
large part OF the population dwelling
in floating houses that are built on
RATS. continuous line OF such raft
houses stretches for many miles along
the riverfront Of Bangkok, the RATS
fastened by chains to each other and
70 the shore. SO that they can rise
and fall with the tide. This method
Of living has its advantages. for. n I
neiEhbors are disaEreeahle. or a fire I
breaks out. the occupants have only I
70 move away. house. furniture. and I
all. 70 some other spot
The roval palace is in the middle ]
Of an extensive park. surrounded hV I
high wall six miles in circuit I'm /
edition 10 the residences Of the r0vaI ]
family and temnles. the park contains ]
numerous buildings occupied by at I
teudants. barracks for the kings /
bOdvEuard. and horses for the keepers ]
Of the sacred white elephants. In all. ]
about 5000 persons dwell within the I
inciosure-
Pavilions in the palace grounds are I
set apart for the white elephants on /
which titles Of nobility are conferred. /
They are fed on dainties and waited l
upon by specially appointed servants /
the belief poDularly entertained be ]