Evening star., 1933-01-29
BY VICTOR KEEN.
tCopyright, 1888, by the New York
rrrihl1tna Inc

BY VICTOR KEEN.
tCopyright, 1888. by the New York
Tribune, 1ncD
nSINKING (Changchun). Manchu-
kuo, December 18. Japan's long
cherished project for railway system
in North Manchuria, roughly parallel
ing the Chinese-Soviet jointly oper-
ated Chinese Eastern Railway and
terminating in an ice-free port on the
Korean coast, will be realized during
1888, according to construction est1-
mates just made public.
When the present rail gaps have been
bridged, continuous system will be
available from Tsitsihar via Harbin to
the Korean coast, a system entirely in
dependent of the Chinese Eastern Rail-
way. The existing line from Tsitsihar
northward to Kushan is be Ing extended
eastward to Hailun to connect with
Hailun-H -Hulan Railway terminating
across the Sungari River from Harbin.
A bridge will be built across the Sum
gari at or near Harbin and new
line Is being constructed from Harbln
southwark to intersect the east and
west rin-Tunhua line. The Kirin-
Tunhua Railway is being extended to
Laoutoukou, which is already connected
with Rashin, port on the coast Of
Korea.
Kushan Line Soon.
The section of the new railway syS-
tenn connecting .Kushan with Hailun
is being constructed from both termi-
mails and will be completed in February,
1888. The new line extending south
from Harbin will intersect Ithe Kirin-
Tunhua line at Lafa, a point about 40
miles east of Kirin. Construction al
ready has begun at Lafa and the Sec
tion will be completed before the end
of next year
The unfinished portion of the line
from Tunhua to Laoutoukou has al
ready been extended to a point 43
kilometers east of Tunhua and will be
completed to Laoutoukou by the end
OF 1888. Laoutoukou Is on the Korean
border approximately 10 miles east of
Tunhua. Laoutoukou already is linked
by rail with the port of Rashin.
The Harbin-Lafa section of the new
railway system parallels the southern
branch of the Chinese Eastern Railway,
which runs from Harbin to Changchun,
connecting at that point with the South
Manchuria Railway. The Kirin-Tun-
hua line when extended to Rashin will
parallel the eastern branch of the Chi
nese Eastern Railway which extends
339 miles eastward from Harbin to Suif-
enho (Pogranitchnaya) on the Soviet
border. connects with a branch of the
Soviet-oWned USsuri Railway and finds
a sea outlet at Valdivostock, Soviet
RusSia's only important ASiatic seaport.
When completed. this new Manchu-
kuo railway system should divert to the
port of Rashin a great deal of the
North Manchurian soya bean traffic,
which otherwise would be routed either
over the southern branch of the Chi
Eto Dot o. i
thence over the South Manchuria to
Dairen, or over the eastern branch of
the G. E. r. to Valdivostock.
Will Divert Traffic.
During the export season of 1930-31
total of l,316.292 metric tons of soya
beans, bean cake, bean oil and other
produce from North Manchuria was
shipped via the Chinese Eastern Rail-
way and exported through the Port of
Vladivostok, while during the same
year period 929,964 tons were routed
via the southern branch OF the c. E. r.
to Changchun and thence over the
South Manchuria System to Dairen
is completed and in operation it will
greatly reduce the value of the south
ern branch of the c. E. R. as feeder
to the South Manchuria Railway and
will make a strong bid for a major
share in the transportation of North
Manchuria produce which is now being
exported through Vladivostok.
To Japan, the new railway system,
aside from its military and strategic
value, presents the advantage of bring
ing North Manchurian produce, of
which Japan is the principal buyer, to
Japan by shorter and consequently
much cheaper route than now exists,
while on the other hand it will bring
Japanese goods to North Manchuria
much more cheaply than via Diaren
and the South Manchuria Railway.
The North Manchukuo farmer should
thereby obtain better prices for his
produce. and Japan will obtain raw
materials more cheaply and get cheaper
transportation for her manufactured
products exported to North Manchuria.
Chinese to Lose.
The South Manchuria Railway still
will serve as the main trade artery for
the area which it traverses. The Chi
nese Eastern Railway, which is jointly
operated by Manchukuo and Soviet
Russia, will be the chief loser from the
competition Of the new Manchukuo rail
system.
The South Manchuria Railway has
charge of the construction of the un-
finished links in the new transporta-
ton system which is being built with
Manchukuo capital, presumably OBJ
tanned from Japanese loans. Thus the
new railways, although Manchukuo in
name, will be largely japanese in sub
stance until Japan's extensive loans
to the new government have been
liquidated.
The construction of an east and west
railway system from Changchun via
Kirin to port on the coast of Korea
has long been one of the favorite prof.
ects Of the japanese general military
staff. The strategic value to Japan OF
such line in the event of war with
Soviet Russia is obvious. 1t would en-
able Japan to bring troops into North
Manchuria by a land and sea route
many hours shorter than via Dairen
and the South Manchurian Railway:
The Chinese Eastern Railway, even II
it were to be redeemed from Soviet
Russia by Manchukuo, would not link
well with the japanese or Chinese
owned rail system in Manchuria, Tor
1t is European standard gauge Is feeD
while all of the japanese and Chinese
railways in Manchuria are American
standard a feet 812 inches).. Accord
ingly, rolling stock cannot be inter-
changed.
Japan Advanced Money.
The Changchun- -Kirin line was opened
for traffic in 1912. Half of the capital
for its construction was furnished by
Japan on a 25-year loan, which never
has been repaid. The Kirin- Tunhua
section was completed in 1928, also with
Japanese capital. :.
The South Manchuria Railway entered
into a contract with the Department OF
Communications of the Chinese govern
ment on May IS, 1928, for the extern
sion Of the Kirin- -Tunhua line eastward
to Laoutoukou, near the Korean border.
Japan, by the terms Of the agreement,
was to furnish the capital for the prof.
ect In the form of 40-year loan, with
s,,4a 1f FTbic