The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-07-09

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. D. CD
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 mott Western minds. Southern
Asia consists of a series of peninsulas
beginning in the west with Arabia.
Then follow gigantic India, and the
narrow, ng-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,
a 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
hedged French colony with a repre-
sentative in the house of deputies and
the protectorates of Cambodia, 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 IT,
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 it 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 |
mas population of about $4,000, but |
It's suburbs swell the total to upward !
IF 100000. About 10000 Frenchmen |
i've in Saigon exclusive of soldiers.
With its well-kept, wide, shady streets.
md It's beautiful public buildings and
statues, Saigon is a sort of Washing
on of the Far East. The city is
situated "a miles from the sea on the
Saigon river and has a harbor
hronged 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
.on near the Chinese border. This is
city Of 125,0OO with almost as many
'renchmen as Saigon. 1t has ample
disabilities for identification and the
french have made the most of them.
Ianoi lies on the Red river so miles
rom sea- 81 addition to the river
rhich serves as transportation
rtery, the city and its environs are
otted with a number of lakes rang
lg from LIE Petit Lac, perhaps half
square mile in area, to lie Grand
ac, many times its size.
Both Saigon and Hanoi are unfail-
lg objects of wonder to the few tour
ITS who poke about in the odd cor {
ers of the Far East. In them France /
as accomplished as much as Amer
a has done with Manila or Great {
ritain with Hong Kong or Singapore; I
nd in addition to giving them indus
les, cleaning them and supplying
imitation, public utilities and good J
lie the Wrench have greatly beauti- I
ed them III