Evening star., 1944-03-05


milton" to Russia. In this Eastern
land Of Omar Khayyaan and the
peacock throne, modern military
construction has changed the face
and habits of q nation.
Highways and railways have been
extended and improved. United
States Army technicians and service
troops have enlarged ports, built
housing, set up plants to assemble
planes, trucks, jeeps and other We
hicles. Iranian highways are flecked
with motor conveys put together
and loaded on the spot. It's skies
are dark with planes t6 be turned
over to Soviet pilots.
A whole railroad system has been
transferred to Iran, complete with
locomotives, rails, freight cars and
working personnel. Thousands of
Iranians have joined the construc-
ton and transport force; many
have swapped the flowing robe and
sheepskin jacket for the overalls Of
mechanics and drivers.
To keep the Germans out and the
road open for fighting tools to reach
the Russian front, British and
Soviet forces occupied Iran in
August and September, 1941. The
Americans moved in to deliver des-
perately needed lease-lend materials
to Russia's back door.
Historic Conference.
Iran thus became the only coun-
try where United States, British and
Soviet armies meet in daily con-
tact. In its capital, Teheran, was
held the historic conference of No.
vember. 1943, at which the leaders
Of the "big three" among other
statements of policy, repledged the
postwar independence Of Iran.
Iran Cor Persia, as it was known
before the old regional name was
revived in 1885 is one Of the worlds
key areas. In the middle Of the
Middle East bridge of nations that
links Europe with Asia, it is nearly
two and half times the size of
Texas, holds an estimated $4,000, 900
people. Its annual output Of 80,-
100000 barrels of oil provides pre-
cious power and fabrication for
Britain's Mediterranean and Indian
Ocean fleets and for the planes,
tanks and transports Of Middle East
operations.
Once it was feared Iran might
prove the junction spot for Germans
pushing through Russia and Egypt
and Japanese moving westward
across India. Today Allied Often
sives have not only smashed that
bogie, but have opened up the
Mediterranean supply route, clip
ping thousands Of miles from the
long, dangerous trip to the Persian
Gulf around the African Continent
To the Yanks assigned the job
Of getting the materials through,
from Persian Gulf ports to Russian
receiving stations in the north, Iran
presents a medley of East and West
ancient ways and modern magic
Of the machine age.
hS-Sc4le COnStructlOn.
Although war activities have
brought more dramatic change
Westernizing influences were al
ready at work years ago. Women
began throwing off their shackles
the veil was discouraged, educa-
ton was broadened. Many Iranian
towns went modern. New noweY
plants, cotton and jute mills, sugar
tobacco and cement factories were
built. Machine tools, motor cars
trucks and planes were bought In
exchange for Iranian oil and rugs
fruit, cotton, hides and opium.
The former Shah, who abdicated
after the 1941 occupation in favor
Of his son, had made a hobby OF
big-scale construction. Under this
ruler, who also held the titles OF
Most Lofty of Living Men" and
Agent of Heaven" the ambitious
project of the trans-Iranian railway
was completed in 1898.
More than $50 miles long, from
the head Of the Persian Gull to
the Caspian Sea, this single track
line streaks across desert and plain
over mountain and plateau. On its
way 1t ducks into more than zoe
tunnels, crosses thousands o1
bridges and in some places winds sc
sharply it can be seen at three diff.
ferent levels.