QUAKE RESULT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1935, Page 3

QUAKE RESULT

A FORTIFIED TUNNEL

STR ACETIC RAILWAY DESRTOYED

The Quetta-Chaman railway, wliich was reported in the cable news yesterday to have been destroyed in the Baluchistan earthquake, is a line of considerable strategic military importance, according to a senior officer of the Indian Army now Jiving in Christchurch. This tunnel was constructed in the ’nineties of the last century during ono of the Russian scares, and has some interesting engineering features. From the Quetta end the tunnel climbs until the half-way point is reached. When a train reaches this point a hell rings, and tluy then descend a steep grade all the way to Cluunnn, some 15 miles distant. At Cliaman; on the Afghanistan frontier, material js stored for the continuation of the railway to Khamlahar, some 45 miles distant.

According 'to the Official Army List, the following troops are in garrison in this part of India:— Quetta —Two batteries of Royal Field Artillery, three mountain batteries, a light battery, an Indian cavalry regiment, four companies of sappers and miners of the Royal Engineers, three companies of the Indian Army Service Corps, three mule transport companies, two squadrons of the Royal Air Force, two British regiments, five Indian regimr nts, and a staff college. Slielahagh, guarding the entrance and exit of the tunnel both ends of "liicli are fortified—A detachment ol an Indian regiment.

Cliaman—Two Indian regiments and one mule transport company. Quetta is the headquarters of the civil government of Baluchistan, and lies some POOO I'eet above sen Hovel. 'lwo railway lilies run to ,'t from the Seinde Desert, one by way of Sibi a nd one from Hernai by way of Lesbian. It is the centre of a large civil population, therefore, anul the eontonment and the civil lines are of considerable extent. The climate is very cold in winter and in summer only comfortably hot. Owing to the height and the clearance of the atmosphere, however, sun helmets have to be worn. The wat n r supply is obtained from artesian veils and underground streams, the latter coming from the hills and golfing closer to the surface as the footbills are left behind

Except for th o portions cleared for crops, the Quetta i>lam is stony, but it is celebrated for its peaches and grapes, which grow to perfection and art* sent all over India. The town is dominated by two mountains, called Takatu and Merdan.