Evening star., 1938-07-31
New Deal Is Now
at Work in Siam
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

The nationalistic fever which has
swept over Europe and the Occident
generally, resulting in many types of
new deals, including that in the United
States, has reached the kingdom OF
Siam which, save for the port and
capital, Bangkok, has been regarded as
half legendary land of white elephants
and strange customs. 1t will be remem-
bered that some years ago the King Of
Siam, Prajadhipok, visited the United
States to have an operation performed
on his eye and also to observe at first
hand ultra-Western civilization. The
advent OLA New Deal in Siam seems
to date from about that time.
coup detat took place in 1892 and,
in 1885, the King abdicated his throne.
The hereditary ruler now is the Kings
nephew, Amanda Mahidol. He is but
IL years old and is going to school at
Lausanne in Switzerland, with his
mother for guardian. Meantime,
Regency Council rules the kingdom. 1t
is headed by one of Slams statesmen,
Phya Bahol Bolabayuha Sena, who is
backed by what is called the Peoples
party.
While the capital and the coast had
IOLiC " d liiilGCu ChlCIlG uIlutI OuJSlut
influences, the up-country had remained
much as it had been for many centuries.
The slogan Of the ruling party and the
Regency has now become Siam for the
Siamese and a program of revitalization
and progress has been undertaken. The
King who abdicated in 1885 was one of
the few remaining absolute monarchs
in the world. Now while the throne
is retained, the institution is but part
of the political machinery of consti-
tutional monarchy.
X
In the short time since the Begin
ming of Slams New Deal the country
has made notable gains. One of the
more important actions has been the
construction of a system of broad paved
highways into the interior and the ex-
tension of railway lines. Interior towns
which had slept in medieval quietude
for centuries are coming to life. Com
munications and trade have been widely
extended.
One of the most fascinating develop
mentS under the new regime is the
establishment of a new military center
The project was started year or two
ago and still is in process. 1t is at
Lopburl, some 30 miles north of Bangkok.
For many generations this place has not
been heard of by the outside world. but
long ago it was the capital of the king
dom. Until the new project was started
Lopburi was struggling country town
SO far as contemporary life was con-
cerned. But the huts of the dWeilers
were in the shadow of crumblng ruins
of palaces and temples of the old capital.
The towering spires of some OF the
ancient shrines rose above the jungle,
but the creeping vines and luXuriant
growth entangled all beneath. The work
of clearing away the jungle has pro-
greSsed steadily Some of the ancient
structures are in an excellent state of
preservation; others less so. The New
Deal is making no attempt to restore
these but is building an entirely new
city which already has given Lopburi
an incongruous appearance. For the
new structures are modern and follow
western lines. They lack the rich cary
ings of the older edifces. but are emf
nently practical. For example, a huge
barracks has been constructed with every
modern convenience. Adjacent to this
is large swimming pool for the use OF
the cadets of the military school, which
might be compared with West Point 4
Spring temples of the old capital are
reflected in the waters of this blue pool.
Spacious officers quarters have been
built and there are modern hospitals and
schools to which the civilian population
as we'll as the military will have access
Primarily, however, the new city is
regarded as a military center, but it
fellows that a substantial civilian popu-
lation must be present. Nearby is an
extensive aviation field, while around
the city are the reservations for the
infantry, cavalry and artillery branches
of the service. Formerly the bulk of the
Siamese Army has been ouartered at
Bangkok, but it gradually is being re-
moved to Lopburi as the buildings and
other facilities are completed. Siam has
military conScription system and in
addition to the officers training acad-
emy there are training camps for the
conscript soldiers.
AS an indication of the modern Occi
dental note which has been struck IL
this strange, new city, a huge water
tower which has been built to supply
the citys needs is surmounted by sort
of roof garden where there is a dance
floor and cocktail bar While slipping
drinks one may look from the lofty
height out over the illimitable jungle.
punctuated, here and there, by the spires
of the ancient temples. The army al
ready substantial, has been increased BY
$4,000 men and it is obvious that this
strange city, set down in the jungle, will
become center of great activity, social
as well as military. 1t will be unique
in the world
Long ago Lopburi was the starting
place for the great elephant hunts.
These have just been revived. the first
in many years having taken place few
weeks ago. A new elephant kraal has
been constructed. 1t is a huge enclosure
made of pointed logs. The stockade of
the type which once was built in Amer
ica would be too flimsy an affair to hold
elephants. The walls of the Lopburl
stockade are built of logs. laid fiat on
connecting sleepers. and with sharpened ,
points toward the inside. This structure
rises as high as an elephant and the
wall thus constructed Is some 10 feet
thick
Elephant hunting is as old as Siam
and has ritualistic aspects. For example,
the priests bless the ropes, which are
used in capturing the beasts. The priest
ly caste Is important in the new-old
city and it's members, together with