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It is no exaggeration to say that developments of every conceivable form and manner are going on in the interior of China. Time does not permit me to discuss all of them except the most significant ones.

The first major development is in the field of communication and transportation. It is perfectly logical and natural that great emphasis should be laid upon having adequate systems of communication and transportation, since troops must be moved, supplies must be dispatched in the conduct of the war, and above all efficient trade routes and rapid means of communicating with the outside world must be maintained.

Railway Construction

For various reasons, China has been poor in railroad mileage. In 1936, a Five-Year Railway Construction Plan was formulated, but because of the war the plan had in large part to be suspended. However, construction of the scheduled lines in the interior has been pushed forward in spite of extreme difficulties. The Hunan-Kwangsi Railway covering a distance of 360 kilometres was completed in eleven months between October, 1937, and September, 1938. Work has since begun on the extension of the line to the border of the Kwangsi Province in order to connect with Indo-China. There is already a railroad in operation between Indo-China and the Yunnan Province, so that the completion of the Kwangsi extension will provide another outlet to Indo-China.  At the same time, construction has also been started on the Szechuan-Yunan Railway which is to be Sixteen hundred thirty-three kilometres long. This line will take about two years to complete.

Highway Development

The development of highways in China during the recent years has