China's Threatened Life Line.

The Chinese government depends for the transportation of necessary supplies on the narrow-gauge railway that runs from Kunming in free China to the port of Haiphong in French Indo-China. After the fall of Hankow and Canton to the invaders, the Kunming-Haiphong Railroad became the shortest route from free China to the sea. When France was defeated by Germany, Japan saw its chance to cut this line. Using pressure and threats it forced the railroad to suspend the transportation of supplies into Kunming. Now a Japanese fleet is cruising near the Bay of Tonkin, and it looks as if Japan were poised to launch an attack upon Indo-China and seize this rich French possession at the back door of China.