Evening Star Newspaper, April 18, 1937, Page 21

D. C.ONLY CAPITAL WITHOUT SUBWAY Al Major Countries Have Facilities-——Rome’s Re- cently Begun. “Discuasions of a subway for the *District of Columbia are reminders that this is the only major national capital of the world today, without this type of rapid transit,” says a bulletin from the National Geographic Bociety. The bulletin adds: England, France, Germany, Japan, Argentina and Soviet Russia—all these world powers have underground railways buiff into their capital cities’ foundations. Italy, joining the coun- tries with underground transportation this year, broke ground in February to plant four miles of subway at the roots of ancient Rome itself. Even countries which do not have marked traffic congestion have pro- vided their capitals with subways— Hungary, Spain, Scotland and Greece. Chile has approved subway plans for Bantiago and Czechoslovakia has siarted on 15 underground miles for Praha. London “tubes,” Paris’ “Metro,” Berlin’s white “U” on a blue ground, the broad flaming “M"” over Mos- cow's subway entrances, crowds fun- neling into the sidewalk hoods of New York's subways—all are the talk of tourists and the speedy escape from tangles of surface traffic. Subways in 17 Cities. About 17 cities in the world have subway systems, with underground tracks, stations and appropriate cars or trains. Four others have under- ground sections in their atreet rail- ways, where surface cars go under bover for several stations, then emerge tarther on. A great many more street railway systems employ underground passages where track and train dip below the surface to avoid a hill or a congested erea, as in Pittsburgh and in Los Angeles, and at the Kobe end of the line between Japan's metropolis of Osaka and its port Kobe. Chicago has s subway for freight but none for pas- sengers. p So far, the closest approximation to & subway in Washington is a midget underground railway which has no schedule, no tickets and only the most distinguished patrons. It shuttles back and forth beneath the Capitol and the Senate Office Build- iMg, carrying Senators from office to oratory without exposure to traffic or weather hazards. In Liverpool, Newark, Rochester and Athens the street railways lead & Dr. Jekyl-Mr. Hyde existence, going underground for only part of their career. Athens has a couple of bright orange-and-blue stations on less than s half mile of sub-surface railway. Liverpool's subway section operates under ‘the Mersey River, in tunnels of brickwork set in cement with three of its seven stations underground. Newark has 1'; miles of subway conected, with 3 miles of open cut, built in the old Morris Canal bed, with & car & minute whizsing along the channel of vanished barges. Btarted in 1929, this project was eom- pleted in 1935. Canal Bed Utilised, The Rochester system makes the Best of the demise of the old Erie Canal, converting a section of its abandoned bed into a subway, which surface ears can reach by ramps. The whole 9 miles of its extent can be traveled in less than a half hour with stops at 16 stations. Freight service also makes use of these sub- way tracks. London blazed the subway trail, with an underground steam railway in the 1860s. Glasgow, Scotland, fol- lowed suit in 1896, with cable cars running in a pair of iron tubes, be- tyeen 15 and 45 feet below the sur- face. This system now runs by electric power, but the line still goes around in s eircle without any junctions. The Budapest subway, completed at about the same time as Scotland’s, S¢ of shallow instead of deep con- struction—a trench with & flat roof of steel. Berlin, another pioneer, now has over 40 miles of subway. Instead of separate cars for different classes of passengers, as in part of London's underground system, it makes a dis- tinetion only between smokers and non-smokers, with red cars for the former and yellow coaches for the later, Some of its subway stations, ruch as the Alexander-Platz, with its pietures in tile of old Berlin, are three stories high and serve the elevated railway as well. 296 Stations in Paris. “Paris has an even larger system, spreading an underground spider web beneath the city’s foundation, with 296 ftations. In contrast to New York's simple coin-in-the-slot entrances, the subways of Paris require tickets for first and second-class travel. “The subway has even reached Asia, for Japan now uses this rapid transit solution for two of her rapidly growing eities, Tokio and Osaka. Tokio is dotted with subway entrances marked by the sharp peaked roof of the Orient. Passages down to the platforms are lined with arcades of shops, and one atation even blooms with artificial eherry blossoms. Coins when dropped into the box at the entrance are magnified, as in New York, for detec- tign of ‘wooden nickels’ Late reports mention newsreels to be shown on subway platforms to amuse the waiting puablic. %A neweomer to the subway circuit is Moscow, with 13 stations on three routes radiating from the Okhotny Rysd station in the center of the new business and hotel section. In their spare time volunteer workers joined Yn the labor of tunneling through marshy earth and quicksands. The marble stations are free of advertising, and mechanical ventilation and un- usually lofty ceilings—15 to 20 feet bigh instead of the more usual 10— give an impreesion of airiness. Boston's Subway Old. “Subways are an old story in the New World, for Boston has had one since the beginning of this century. Phila- delphia’s narrow streets made that city also dig deep for a solution to its trafic problem. The subway city par @xoellence, of course, is New York, where miles of sub-surface track are eounted not by fives and tens, but by the hundreds, and a nickel buys more underground travel than anywhere else in the world. In some spots, routes were blasted through solid rock without disturbing tall buildings on the surface. “Parthest south subway s that of Buenos Aires. Three systems connect the central business district with the outlying suburbs of Belgrano, Palermo and Ssavedra. The tunnel of one i large enough for regular rallroad wrains.” This is the third installment of two remarkable documents—Gen- eralissimo Chiang Kai-shek's “Diary of My Captivity in Sian™ and Mme. Chiang’s own story of how she helped rescue her husband and save China from a civil war. There will be nine installments, the first four presenting Mme. Chiang’s story. The first two installments told of her determined fight to keep the Nanking military leaders from carrying out their plan to attack Sian and of her decision to fly to Sian to save her husband’s life. BY MAYLING SOONG CHIANG. (Mme. Ohiang Kai-shek.) (Copyright, 1937, by Mme. Chiang Kai-shek and the North American News- « paper Alllance, Inc.) (All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) SHANGHAI—As Gen. Chiang Ting- wen had already been in and out of Sian, I requested him to accompany me in case the generalissimo needed an officer of his standing as repre- sentative. Gen. Chiang Ting-wen's wife, who regarded him as one who had been snatched from the grave, made ob- jections to his returning there. At the air fleld next morning I pointed out to her that I was not asking him to do something that I would not do myself, and I, being a woman, had much more at stake than he. “He is & military man,” I explained, “and his life belongs to the country. You, as a wife of a high military ofi- cer, should prove worthy of him by putting no obstacles in his way.” With tears streaming down her cheeks, she silently assented. Mme. Kung put her arms around her and gently drew her away as we entered the plane. People think I am brave, but I know I am not exceptional, for I am certain millions of other Chinese women would act as I did, as evinced by this woman's ability to place na- tional interests above the safety of her husband. Calm and Unatraid. Despite the predictions of disaster which were freely forecast for me and my own knowledge of the char- acter of the troops that controlled the city, I set off with calm deter- mination, with my eyes wide open, but unafraid. No one could know better than I the risk I would be runrcing when the time came for me to step from my airplane into a region held by mutinous troops. The flight to Loyang was in the first sunshine that had appeared for a week, but the Loyant fleld, filled with bombers fully loaded for action, did not look very reassuring to me. As I boarded the plane I took the precaution to impress upon the officer in command of the Loyang air force that no planes were to approach Sian till ordered to do so by the generalis- simo. Now I began to feel anxious and apprehensive. We were following the railway line through snow-covered mountains; past the peaks of the famous sacred mountain of Hwashan, which looked like great masses of sparkling ice, and finally over the opening valley leading to Sian. “There's Lintung, where the gen- eralissimo was captured,” sald Mr. Donald, pointing to a square, walled city nestling under the white hills. My thoughts flew fast and furiously. In & moment or so it seemed we were circling over Sian and the airfield, but before the plane landed I made Mr. Donald promise, handing him s revolver, that if troops got out of control and seized me he should without hesitation shoot mge. Planned to Hold Temper. T had been pondering the attitude I should take when I came face to face with those responsible for the detention of my husband. I knew that everything depended upon my method of approach. I determined that, even if they were rude, I should not lose my temper but be as natural as I could. As the plane circled over the air- fleld, no cars were visible. No people, except a few guards, were on the field, which showed that the telegrams an- nouncing our departure had not been received. We therefore went back over the city to draw attention to the fact that we had arrived, and cars were soon at the landing place. When the plane came to a standstill Han-Chen (Chang Hsueh-Liang) came on board, looking very tired, very em- barrassed, and somewhat ashamed. I greeted him as I always have done and, as we left the plane, asked him quite casually not to let any of his men search my beggage, as I disliked hav- ing my things messed up. “Oh, madame, I would never dare do that,” he very apologetically replied. Just then Yang Hu-Chen (pacifica- tion commissioner at Sian), an asso- ciate of Han-Chen in the mutiny, came up I shook hands with him as though I was just arriving on a casual visit. Yang was obviously very nerv- ous, and just as obviously very relieved at my calm attitude. First Had Some Tea The car journey into the city was not as strained as it might have been, and as we reached the house of Han- Chen he asked me if I wanted to go immediately to see the generalissimo. I told him that I would first have some tea, wishing to show him that I took him to be a gentleman and was quite prepared to place myself in their hands. I reflected at this juncture upon the fact that certain people in Nanking had warned me that if I got to Sian I would not be allowed even to see the generalissimo, but would be subjected to indignities and be held as s hostage. I must confess that, while I felt sure of Han-Chen, I had some misgivings about others. The generalissimo had not yet been informed of my arrival and I decided, in order to avoid giving him undue anxiety, to keep that fact from him until I saw him myself. The compound of the bungalow where the generalis- simo was detained was just a stone’s throw from Han-Chen's house and was strongly guarded, some of the guards having machine guns. As T walked into my husband’s room, he exclaimed: “Why have you come? You have walked into a tiger lair.” He shook his head sadly, and tears sprang to his eyes. “I have come to see you,” I said, trying to be as casual as I could. Generallssimo in Bed. My husband was in bed, suffering from a wrenched back. He looked wan and ill. I promptly saw that I would have to nurse him to secure some comfort for him. As I saw him lying there injured and helpless, the shadow of his former self, with his hands, legs and feet cut by brambiles and bruised by the rocks he clambered over when scrambling about the moun- tain, I felt surge through me an un- controllable wave of resentment against those responsible for his plight. “Although I urged you mot to come in any eiroumstances to Sian,” he said, "still I felt that I could mot THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D.»C, APRIL 18, 1937—PART ONE. The Kidnaping of Gen. Chiang Mme. Chiang Kai-shek. prevent it. I opened the Bible this morning and my eyes lit on the words, ‘Jehovah will now do a new thing, and that is, he will make a woman protect a man'.” He told me of his trials; of nis determination not to agree to any- thing while under restraint, and he entreated me not to ask him to sign anything while under duress. I told him that I considered the welfare of the country above his personal welfare, and that he need not have any fear that I would try to influence him to sign anything. He said several times that he was ready to die for the good of the coun- try. I pointed out that since his detention the whole of the people of China, even those who criticized his Policies, were profoundly affected, and people throughout the whole world were praying for his release.. Even the smallest school children were cry- ing as though they had lost a father, and when it was reported that he had been assassinated many soldiers had committed suicide, “Here to Share Your Fate.” “Therefore,” I urged, “you should not talk of sacrificing your life for the good of the country. To save the country there is more reason than ever for you to live. Be comforted, for God is with us. I am here to share your fate and to die with you, if God so wills it, and, if he wills it otherwise, to live and work with you for the sake of the nation.” I explained that I sensed that the people who were detaining him were conscious of their wrong-doing, and, it rightly handled, adjustment coutd be quickly made. Meanwhile we should not lose our tempers, but should be patient. Here I was in Sian once again— Sian, the cradle of the Chinese race. I caught myself wondering if it would also be its coffin. If the generalissimo were prevented from leaving it alive, the nation would be sorely riven, and incalculable disaster would come upon it. If he ocould go out, the nation would be more solidified than ever, and from near-disaster would come greet blessings. “Out of evil cometh good” sang in my mind, and I be- Heved it. Yet, it wisdom did not prevail, Sian would be a death-trap truly. Hemmed in, we were, with troops waiting orders from their masters. Beyond them were the Red hordes, which the generalissimo had been fighting for years. All were waiting, expectant and impatient. And beyond the borders of China others waited and watched. Foresaw Rangze of Calamity. Why was I fighting to prevent an attack on Sian being launched? Not primarily to save the life of my hus- band, but because I foresaw the range of calamity that could come upon China as the result of any impulsive use of force. There were the armies of the north- west, formidable in numbers and well equipped, which would naturally respond to any attack by promptly Joining forces with the Red armies behind them. Immediately such a junction took place the Reds would be revitalized and the whole combination would be galvanized into an action which would probably lead to an unprecedented civil war, with an unpredictable end. 8uch a condition could easily result in ruthless intervention by a country which has long been seeking such an excuse to justify large-scale invasion to gain the complete dominance of our country. ‘That nightmare was ever in my mind from the moment I realized the determination of military officers to attack Sian. I sent for Han-Chen. Probably he was relieved because I did not upbraid him, but, whatever it was, I was able immediately to talk quietly and sin- cerely to him. I endeavored to show him that he and his associates were Jaboring under s delusion if they thought the people of the country were with him. I told him that he had made a bad mess of things and now the question was, how was he go- ing to get out of it? “If you had asked me,” I said, “I could have told you that you could not get the generalissimo to do anything by using force.” Chiang Refused to Talk. “But this would never have hap- pened at all had you been here, Madame,” he surprised me by saying. “We did wrong in seizing the ge eralissimo, but we tried to do some- thing which we thought was for the good of the country. But the general- issimo would not discuss things with us. He was 30 angry after we de- tained him that he would not talk at all. Please, you try to make the gen- eralissimo be less angry and tell him we really do not want anything, not even for him to sign anything. We do not want money, nor do we want ter~ ritory.” I told him I believed him, because it he did he would be no better than the old-time militarists. However, he had to prove that to the rest of the world by immediately effecting the generalissimo’s release without obliging him to mal “Madame,” he repeated, “I know I have done wrong, and I am not try- ing to justify myself or this action. The motive was good and it would never have happened if you had been here with the generalissimo as you usually are. I tried again and again to speak to the generalissimo, but each time he shut me up and scolded me violently.” “You do not understand the gen- eralissimo,” I said. “The generalissimo only scolds people in whom he has hopes. If he thinks people are use- less, he just dismisses them—he won't take the trouble to scold them. You always told the generaliasimo that you looked upon him as a father, and he took you at your word.” “You know I have always had great faith in you,” the young marshal said, “and my associates all admire you. When they went through the generalissimo’s papers, after he was detained, they found two letters from you to the generaliasimo which caused them to hold you in even greater re- spect. They saw by those letters that you were heart and soul with the peo- ple and therefore they know, as I know, you can adjust this situation, so {ar as the generalissimo is concerned, 20 that he can quickly leave 8ian. We wish him to leave safely and well be- cause we do not wish in any way to interfere with the generalissimo's work or warfare, since he is our leader and we wish to follow him. If he will only let us explain our ideas, everything will be satisfactory, and that you can get him to do.” Moved by Letters. I asked him what he meant when he mentioned two letters from me to the generalissimo and he said one was the suggestion referring to the raising of funds for the defense at Suiyuan. “In the other letter,” he said, “you said something to the generalissimo about your joint work for China, and that you felt that you both had fallen far short of your duty and that the nation should have made greater progress. And you said that, in order to be worthy of the confidence of the Ppeople placed in you both, you should astrive more to fulfill the vows you made on your wedding day to work for the people. These words moved us, especially when you wrote that it was by God's grace that more mistakes were not made than had been made, and that you felt you should pray more for Divine guidance.” Han-chen replied that, as far as he ‘was concerned, he would be willing to release the generalissimo immediately, Others were implicated in the affair, he explained, and he could not make a decision without getting their consent. “Well, then you had better go and tell them what I've just said.” I urged, “and if any of them want to see me, or if you think I can influence any of them, just send them here and I'll see them. I will wait up for your reply.” Now it was late at night. I waited until 11 o'clock, and, as he still did not return, I sent a telephone message to inquire of his whereabouts. I was told that he was at a meeting. I gave instructions that, after the meeting, he should come to see me. By 2 o'clock in the morning, he still did not appear, and so I telephoned again. A few minutes later he came, looking terribly harassed and heavy- eyed. He explained that, as the meet- ing ended so late, he thought I had already retired and did not want to disturb me. “What did they say?” I asked. Yang OPposes Release. “Yang and his men are not willing to release the generalissimo. They say that since T. V. and madame are friendly toward me, my head would be safe, but what about theirs? They now blame me for getting them into this affair and say that, since none of our conditions is granted, if they released the generalissimo now they would be in a worse fix than ever. There will be another meeting to- I saw that he was worn out and that nothing could be gained by pro- longing the conversation. I said, “It is already nearly 3 o'clock. We'll talk this over tomorrow. You'd better get some rest.” (Continued tomorrow.) GETS NEW COMMAND Brig. Gen. Humphrey Trans- ferred to Texas. Transfer of Brig. Gen. Charles F. 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