Evening star., 1924-06-22

miles would have been saved but such
a course would have meant the crossing
of the mangrove swamps and jungles Of
the Mekong Delta, where, if a plane
were forced down, 1t is doubtful whether
a landing could be effected without in
jury to the crew, and If this was ac-
complished, whether they could pene-
trate the swamp and jungle to safety.
For more than 35e miles the flyers flew
along the low, sandy coast, bordered by
jungle and swamp, until the city OF
kampot in Cambodia was reached. Al
this point the character OF the country
changed, and the coast line became
higher. in fact, rugged and precipitous
in places. The landing on kampongsom
Bay was effected at the mouth OF the
Kampongsom River, which was suf-
fciently well sheltered to allow the
planes TO refuel from the destroyer
awaiting them. Although the northern
shore of the bay is high and rugged
lagos from which a large trade in ma
tive products is carried out through the
medium of coasting junks. After re-
fueling the flight again took Off for
Bangkok, which was still 245 miles to
the northwest, at the very northern end
of the Gulf of Siam.
Bangkok Beautiful City.
Bangkok is the capital and seat of
commerce OF the Kingdom of Siam.
1t Is situated on tne river Menam,
twenty miles from the gulf.
| Bangkok has been called the jewel
| city of southern Asia and is famous
| for its beautiful palaces and temples.
The city proper Is on the eastern side
of the river. occupying Il space of
| three miles in length and the same
| in breadth. 1t is in the low, fiat val
| ley of the Menam and is traverSed
by canals. The old city is surrounded
by battlements, Ranked by towers in
palaces. Here are the royal palaces.
the foreign warehouses and con-
sulatcs. the principal rice mills and
most of the public offices. The king s
palace and the temples are magniii-
cent, on a large scale. the architec-
ture being of kind peculiar to the
modern city. In 1888 street cars were
introduced and all the principal
streets and houses are lighted by
electricity. The western bank of the
river is mainly occupied by Chinese,
Siamese and Mohammedan residents.
Has .OO.OOO Population.
Bangkok is one of the most impor-
tant cities in the orient. 1t has a
population of almost 100000. Of which
not more than 10000 are Europeans.
! Practically all the products of Siam
| are exported through Bangkok, which
| is the nataural gateway of the coun-
| try, to the outside world. Bangkok
{
cities of the orient, very unhealth-
| full climate \ small epidemic OF
| cholera usually breaks out every
| spring Modern ideas of sanitation
| are being introduced and the city is
rapidly becoming more healthiul.
! The use of river water for drinking
| purposes must be avoided. This is
! the greatest contributing cause of
| disease.
| Siam is a kingdom. The present
ruler is His Majesty, Rama VI. His
! full name is Somdetch Phra Rada-
| dhibadi Sirisindr Maha Vajiravudh.
Monokut Klao. Chao Yu-Hua. 1t is
! a known fact that Siam is one of the
most progressive eastern countries.
1t has a very excellent railroad sys-
| TEN, and rapidly is becoming a mod
ern and up-to-date nation. Siam has
| a progressive aeronautical program,
| both for the army and for commercial
aviation.
Aviation Rooms in Siam.
Several large airdromes have been
established throughout the kingdom
| and are now in operation. Plans are
being worked out for the gradual eX-
tension of their present system.
! Aviation has distinct mission in
Siam where the construction of the
| lines of ground transportation are ex-
! tremely difficult because of the char
acter of the country. The airplanes
which have been used by the Siamese.
| heretofore, are mostly of French
manufacture. though they are operat
| ed by Siamese aviators and mechan-
| les. The construction of domestic air
| plane is being carried out in Bang
kok. Col. Phra o Chaloemakas COM
| mands the Siamese aeronautical serv-