Coll 5/61 ‘Far East: Proposed extension to Burma-Yunnan frontier of Imperial Airways to link up with Eurasia Corporation’ [‎166v] (331/728)

does not embrace minor features. This plain is open and extensive, stretching
many miles to the south of the road and embracing Mongsit and Mongnai. On
it a site could be selected sufficiently removed from high hills and mountains to
permit of the organisation of bad weather flying. The only one of the sites
selected by Burma Government officers which .could be approximately located ^
trom the air (due to lack of data) was Loilem, and it appears certain that
Loilem itself is too much encircled by hills to be suitable for an aerodrome for
air transport purposes. The indications are that the plain east and south of
Wan Pong is likely to prove the key to the route, as the site for a main
aerodrome, equipped with wireless communication and D. F. and a main
meteorological station, which would be used for refuelling and as a haven in really
bad weather, but which would have little or no traffic significance.
( 6 ) Contrary to preconceived notions the route as far east as W r an Pong
would not lie over uncivilised country. It has an organised motor road, which
extends to Kengtung, a railway part of the way, and it passes over such centres
as Kalaw (a hill station), Taunggyi and Loilem while the country round Mongnai
produces potatoes for the Calcutta market.
(7) The Inle Lake, vieAved from a considerable altitude appears to be
shallow over an extensive area on the north, west and south sides. On the east
side it is closely bordered by a high range of hills, at least 2,500 feet above the
surface of the lake. WTien seen it was glassy calm, but in April 1936, an
Irrawaddy Flotilla seaplane crashed here, the accident being ascribed to down
currents of air. The lake does not appear suitable for the operation of large
flying boats.
( 8 ) The territory covered by the second day’s flight, which was undertaken
with the object of reviewing a section of country further south, and particularly
certain low flat areas in the neighbourhood of the Mekong River at the junction
of the three frontiers of Burma, Siam and Indo China, is as nearly impossible
for an air route as one could find—short of the Himalayas.
(9) All the country east of Loikaw, for nearly 100 miles, extending to the
south into Siam and bounded on the north and north-west by the Mongnai
Plain, consists of a high limestone massif with peaks reaching nearly 7,000 feet—
the whole an incredible jumble of precipitous hills, valleys and gorges, every
inch covered with the densest jungle. Not a flat square yard of ground is to be
seen, nor any evidence of habitation. Through this the Salween River cuts its
way in a tremendous V shaped gorge down to below 1,000 feet, at first running
in its main course due south to latitude 20° 10 / N., then W. S. W. for about 70
miles to a point 30 miles E. of Loikaw, whereafter it runs south again. The
description just given applies mainly to the country on either side of the river
where it runs W. S. W.
(10) East of the Salween River in this southern area, be., say, east of
99° E., the country falls away rapidly to altitudes varying from 5,000 to 2,000
feet, and a fairly extensive area in the region of the junction of the three
frontiers down to 1,500 feet. Unfortunately, while the lie of the land could be
seen from the configuration of the clouds, this country, which was the main
objective of the second flight, could not be observed because it was covered with
cloud. An attempt to reach Kengtung and observe the country in the neighbour
hood of the road from there west to the Salween River was also frustrated by
cloud. Judging from the map and what had already been seen, however, T con
clude, that a more southerly course in this region, i.e., a course from Wan
Pong (the main aerodrome proposed) about E. S. E. to the junction of the three
frontiers, would traverse lower and more favourable country than that along
the road to Kengtung. In this S. E. corner of the Shan States there are
believed to be a number of level areas of low T altitude, and particularlv one of
considerable extent (mostly in Siam) at the bend of the Mekong River at the
junction of the three frontiers. M. Winckler reports some “ beautiful plains ”
in this region near Chieng Sen and Chieng Rai.
B
VI. Points from M. Winckler's report.
( 1 ) The northern part of Indo-China (upper Laos) is extremely difficult
climatically and topographically, sparsely inhabited and in some parts scarcelv
administered. This refers to country in the region of parallel 21 ° N„ and north
of it.