Evening star., 1938-02-27
Singapore, Paradise on Earth,
Fro'cns Upon Big Naual Base
Highly 4 greeable Conditions of Life
Are Feared ln,periled by De.
uelopnent Nearby. >

Life on Singapore Island. Which,
,rith construction OF the huge Brit
ish naDal base has become focal
point OF ,uor'd interest. is described
here by distinguished pomdn
journalist ,Dho is making a tour of
the Far East.
BY LADY GRACE DRUMMOND-HAY
SINGAPORE, Feb. Is tNA.N.AD.-
Singapore Island, suddenly precipi-
tated on the international political
and military stage by the formal OPEN
ing of the naval base, is one of mans
last Gardens of Eden in this troubled
world and we'll do the residents, white,
yellow and brown, realize the fact.
Life is very agreeable here. There
is no income tax. and all save very
few commodities. such as tobacco
and alcohol. are admitted duty free
Salaries Of Europeans are double
| or treble those available to the same
category of employment at home
| Chinese can earn better wages than
they could dream of in China. and
live in security under British protec-
tion the majority holding or eligible
| for British passports. Indians. re-
leased from the fear of famine.
drought or f1ood-almost annual
| catastrophes in their own land
flourish as prosperous merchants or
as workers on rubber estates. The
native Malay is equally favored with
full share of the amenities of civil
ization and prosperity.
Healthiest Port in East.
Singapore itself is the healthiest
port in the East, free from the epi-
denies of smallpox. typhoid. cholera,
etc, which periodically ravage the
coastal cities from Bombay to Shang-
hal. The water supply is so pure that
even the unacclimatized can safely
drink it from the faucet.
Singapore is Woman's paradise.
There is surplus European male
population of "A per cent. Western
women have an embarrass de choix Of
beauX. escorts and entertainment In
the case of the Chinese, the ratio is
162 men to every 100 women Indians.
1877 to every 100; Malay. 104 to 100.
and among the other races, 173 to 100.
Although only 73 miles from the
Equator, the climate is not only bear
able to the European, but healthy
Almost every sport is available, from
big-game shooting to yachting, golf
and private flying.
Singapore Civil Airport is monu-
ment to human achievement. A big
hill some miles away was demolished
to fill in water-logged swamp. which
is now the site of a magnificent air
drome. big enough for the landing run
and take-off of the fastest and heaviest
transport and military aircraft. The
airport building itself surpasses any
have seen in Europe and America.
Di-like World Spotlight.
Small wonder. then. that I found
the inhabitants of this isle contemplate
ing the searchlight of world interest
and publicity upon their lives and
domain with some misgiving. Or that
there is certain lack of enthusiasm
at the honor of having the great naval
base in their back gardens. so to say.
Following swiftly developing events in
the Pacific, Singapore may we'll be-
come the white mans last stand be-
tween East and West, and is today
already a mirage of reinsurance not
only to Britons at home. but also to
several other European nations.
A short while back so little known to
any except travellers, today pictured
and publicized in the world press. Sim
gapore, the lion city," is fast losing its
glamor and lure as one of the most