"DESERT BLOSSOM."

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17433, 19 April 1922, Page 9

"DESERT BLOSSOM."

EUROPEAN OASIS CITY IN MONGOLIA.

! Eighteen Europeans, including Englishmen, French, Dutch, and Belgians, who have founded a commonwealth in the Mongolian desert, are arousing the increasing interest of the authorities in Peking. Individual travellers returning from tho great province of Kansu state that in a region like a wilderness they suddenly came out upon a vast fertile plain. Entering Mongolian territory near the source of the Yellow Bivcr, they saw, says the "Peking Leader," a city with many "Western buildings in the centre of a plain. Entering the city, they found that it was a Christian commonwealth founded by a Belgian ! known as Min Yu-Ching, whose real I name is unknown. ] It appears that Min Yu-Ching bought. I tho land several years ago and began I to develop the resources of his estate. Chinese were invited to join him. He taught them scientific agriculture and irrigation. Gradually more immigrants came, and there arc now about 2-500 families, including 4 Be.jjian, 4 French, 8 Dutch, and 2 Englishmen. Tho entire area, which stands in the middle of a desert, is divided into districts and sections. In each section is a chapel. The entire district is governed by an elected assembly. Chinese or Mongolian officials arc not/ allowed to interfere with the Government. Independence was won by blood as well as by money. .Returning travellers say that ihe whole district, is well governed "and tho police maintain perl'eet peace and order." The men and women am hard workers and each family owns - or ;i oxen, a couple of ponies, a few mules, and between -"> and L'OO sheep. The swiftness of the Yellow Kiycr at this point, has made irrigation difficult, but eight ditches have been dug, which form a network to irrigate all the farm.-. on the plain. The Chinese have named the district "Desert Blossom."