Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-07-02


ciety. Washington. D. CO
Frances empire in the Far East
French China-has been brought
dramatically out of oblivion for the
rest of the world by the spectacular
flight of Captain D'Oisy, French air
man, who in only a few days flying
time recently tied Paris to the eastern
capitals, Saigon and Hanoi
Even the location and makeup of
French Indo-China are hazy matters
in most Western minds. Southern
Asia consists of a series of peninsulas
beginning in the west with Arabia.
Then follow gigantic India, and the
narrow, long -drawn-out Malay PENN
sula. French Indo-China is just be-
yond the latter and is the blunt,
thumb-like projection that completes
the South Asiatic peninsula series.
This French territory is in practi-
cally the same latitude as the North
ern Philippines and Central America,
land in the edge of the tropics,
warm and damp and tremendously
productive. Dense forests cover
much of the country, both lowland
and mountains, and many parts have
not been developed or even explored.
French Indo-China, which is half
again as large as France, consists Of
Cochin-China in the southeast, full
fledged French colony with repre-
sentative in the house of deputies; and
the protectorates Of CambodiG, AMMAN,
Tongking and Laos. Tonking, how
ever, Is really more than a protec-
torate. The other units of that class
have their native kings assisted by
French residents. Tongking has nei-
Their king nor viceroy, but is admin
istered entirely by French officials.
The various provinces that make up
the French Indo- Chinese union have
a total population Of more than H.
100000.
The southern territory which is
tributary to Saigon is a highly pro-
ductive agricultural country. 1t is,
In fact, the second largest rice pro-
ducing region in the world, being sur
passed only by nearby Burma. Sugar,
too, is produced in large quantities.
Cambodia may play very important
economic role in the future for 1t is
an excellent cotton country.
Saigon and Hanoi.
Saigon, the capital of Cochin-C China,
was until 1902 also the administrative
center Of all the French territories of
the union. That distinction has now
passed on to Hanoi. The city proper
has a population of about $1,000, but
It's suburbs swell the total to upward
of 100000. About 10000 Frenchmen
live in Saigon exclusive of soldiers.
With It's well-kept, wide, shady streets,
and it's beautiful public buildings and
statues, Saigon is sort of Washing
ton of the Far East. The city Is
situated "a miles from the sea on the
Saigon river and has harbor
thronged with merchant vessels and
French naval craft.
Hanoi, on which has fallen the
mantle of administrative center of the
French Far East, is far north Of Sal
gon near the Chinese border. This is
CITY OF 1ZO,OOO WIFI dlIuOSl as many
Frenchmen as Saigon. 1t has ample
possibilities for Identification and the
French have made the most of them.
Hanoi lies on the Red river 80 miles
from sea. In addition to the river
which serves as a transportation
artery, the city and its environs are
dotted with a number Of lakes rang
ing from LIE Petit Lac, perhaps half
a square mile in area, to lie Grand
Lac. many times It's size.
Both "~'gon and Hanoi are unfail-
Ing obiec.s of wonder to the NV tour
lists who poke about in the odd cor
ners Of the Far East. In them France
has accomplished as much as Amer
lea has done with Manila or Great
Britain with Hong Kong or Singapore
and in addition to giving them indus
tries. cleaning them and supplying
sanitation, public utilities and good
rule, the French have greatly beauti-
fed them.