The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-03-01
POrtC sFamedi in
Tea and Silk Trade
MustBeR ecaptured
By the National Geographic Society.

By the National Geographic Society.
The Chinese have a saying. "Ev-
erything new originates in Canton"
Bearing this out they point to the
fact that the earliest Chinese trade
with the Western world conferred at
Canton. and that Sun Vat Sen. who
established the modern Chinese
state, found his first followers there.
This port, so important in the life Of
China, marks the southern end Of
a vital l.000-mile sweep Of coast
which extends northward to the JAP
anese-heid Shanghai area.
Along this coast, now feeling the
blows of American bombs, Japanese
control is only nominal except for
the ports. One important port, Foo
chow (Minhow), remained in Chi
nese hands throughout the entire
war until a recent sudden attack by
Japanese forces.
Japanese penetration along Sec
tons Of this long coast is only skin
deep, extending no farther inland
than the waning power of the Nip
ponese navy is felt. A few miles
inland from the port garrisons the
Chinese remain in control. Some siz-
able reaches of the coast between
major ports are likewise free Of the
invader.
The shoreline from Canton to
Shanghai forms a gentle outward
curve with countless minor irregu-
larities but no deep i~ndentations ex-
cept the Canton estuary. Hangchow
bay, and the mouth Of the Yangtze.
The coast is rugged. rocky and shat
tered into thousands of islands. Ty-
phoons often rage along the entire
coast except at Shanghai. making
ships scurry to the nearest typhoon
shelter. Gentler monsoons blow all
year. Fishing is n of the chief
occupations of the crowded, land
starved people.
A bit of this coast is tropical. and
much subtropical. Hong Kong lies
on about the same latitude as Ha-
vana, Cuba. and Shanghai is no
farther north than Savannah, Ga.
Orange groves, tea shrubs and rice
paddles are seen in profusion as far
north as Foochow.
Rivers Garry All Traffic.
Railroads are not as important in
serving Chinese ports as are rivers.
Many of the coast cities have no
railroads. Each port lies at the
mouth of a river. Nearly all traffic
is borne to and from the ports on
water, making them really trans
shipment points between river and
canal craft and ocean-going vessels.
Canton, about 80 miles from the
open sea, is truly a city built on
water trade. 1t is situated at the
head Of an estuary into which
flow several rivers. Estimates place
from Ion, 900 to 200, 900 of its $50. 900
inhabitants actually living on the
water, in junks. on RATS, sampans
and barges. In this floating city
within a city a man could be born.
grow up, marry, have children. and
die, spending most of his life on the
water.
Canton saw the birth of the for
| eign trade and merchant marine of
the United States. Six months after
England recognized the Colonies In
dependence the ship Empress of
China was bound for Canton-and
tea. She also brought back china
ware and silk. Thus started the fab
ulous China trade, in which Yankee
built clipper ships OUTRAGED every
thing on the sea. Before the Japa-
nese invasion brought an Interrupt
ton, one-third Of modern Canton's
exports came to the United States,
mostly as raw silk.
Canton was feverishly improving
itself when the Japs came. The
Bund. formerly a muddy track along
the river front, was transformed
into a wide, well-paved street backed