My father spent all of calendar 1945 in Kunming when it functioned as the eastern terminus of the Burma Road......He was aware of the old rail line but semed to indicate the Japanese had knocked it out. However, he did know the Frech connection because many people — especially business owners —spoke both Mandarin and French originating from the city's era as a trading partner with France. The raal line was the conduit for that connection. He also noted that many aspects of Kunming bore European ties, including the masonry used on downtown buildings. The affluent there before World War II often imported elegant trappings, triyng to outdo each other with architecture and furnture. The warlord of Kunming had an elegant European mansion with fountains and reflecting pools that looked like 17th century France, he said.The senior staff of the The Army's Quartermaster Corp in Kunming was invited one night to a dinner at thte wwalrod's mansion.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2020 06:51PM by david rutter.