ADVENTUROUS LIFE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1933, Page 10

ADVENTUROUS LIFE

FRENCHMAN'S TRAVELS

A ROVING COMMISSION

THRILLS IN CHINA

Pew men have the same opportunity for world travel as Dr. Regis Chevalier, of the French Forestry Department, who arrived today by . the Wanganella from Sydney. His principal duty is to act as the French delegate to inter* national agricultural congresses in various parts .of the world, and in the intervals between these gatherings he has a roving commission which has taken him into many countries and given him many unusual and exciting experiences. Dr. Chevalier has visited Bussia four times and has made three trips to Japan. He was in Maiichuria during the, fighting between jthe Chinese and the Japanese this year, and narrowly escaped becoming involved in the hostilities. On one occasion a Japanese aeroplane dropped a bomb on some Chinese soldiers near his car, a number of them being killed. STRIKING PHOTOGRAPHS. To a "Post" reporter Dr. Chevalier showed albums full of the most interesting photographs, many of them taken, obviously, at great risk to himself. Some of the photographs spared no detail in portraying the swift justice meted out to Chinese bandits; others dealt in fascinating manner with aspects of life in China and Japan. Dr. Chevalier explained that he had taken the more dangerous pictures with a midgot camera which was not noticeable in a crowd. Bulkier apparatus would havo brought him into serious trouble. "Life counts as nothing in China," he said. Many times during his stay in that country he narrowly escaped being hit by passing bullets fired in skiruiishes, between baudits and soldiers. The Grand Canyon of Colorado could not be compared with the wonders of a trip up the Yangtze Biver, said Dr. Chevalier. Every hour a new vista opened up, and when the upper reaches were arrived at the towering peaks 10,000 ft high on either side of the river^ made a striking picture. He had travelled by steamer, v camel, and horse to Cheiigtu, 3500 miles from Shanghai, and later to Likiahg, which was about 5000 miles from Shanghai. Once a year a French gunboat made the long trip to Likiang. . MANCHURIA TODAT. None of the Western nations really understood the conditions in Manchuria; they had hid their faces front the facts, Dr. Chevalier - continued. Great: Britain, France, and the United States did not understand the Chinese as tho Japanese did. He had been iv Manchuria beforo the Japanese invasion, and there was much ; trouble there.. Af tor the Japanese assumed control the country became quiet, peaceful, and prosperous. The Chinese were a good people,- but they had no real Government. The various, republican Governors changed office every three months, and'no one knew which was the Government. The Nanking Gov- . ernment itself did not know how many people it controlled, nor how many soldiers it had. ••;<■:■ JAPAN AND WAR. "In Australia people have been talking about the Japanese" danger," said Dr. Chevajier. "Just now I cannot foresee war with Japan, because; very rich in some things, she is very poor in iron. She could manage a war with China but not with England, France, or the United Statesjat the present time. She has coal-resource-in Manchuria and can get fuel oil from Saghalicn,.but iron is what she needi before she can think of a big war. The Japanese now want the iron mines at Chita)\in Siberia, .and that is the reason for'nthe trouble with the Russians." " Among the most interesting of Dr. Chevalier's photographs were those showing the massive steel grilles without which no coastal steamer would be safe from pirates in Chinese waters. The entrance to the engine-room of every, steamer- is guarded by one of .these grilles, and the bridge is similarly protected, with special provision for the armed guards, including loopholes for riflo fire. FRANCE'S DEFENCE SYSTEM. Dr. Chevalier spoke interestingly of the ramifications of the French Forestry Department, particularly. to the important part the Department played in conjunction with the military Authorities in organising the defence system. He explained the system of "organised" forests which blanketed the fortifications as far as the enemy, was concerned, and the exten- , sivc use which was made of rivers and marshes in designing the strategic points which extended along the eastern border from the Mediterranean in the south to" Belgium.; "Organised'? forests, said Dr. Chevalier, had played a vital part in the Battle of \ the Marne in September, 1914. Many of them were destroyed during the war, but ( they had all been replanted, and -today it was claimed that the French system of fortification was the strongest in the world. An entirely new system had been under construction since 1920, and it would be' completed by 1935 at the Dr. Chevalier will spend a month iflt New Zealand before leaving for Papeete, en route to Panama and South America.