By the reign of King Rama VI, two of Siam's three armies were strategically located in the capital. (Chaloeylakana 1988: 160-1). North of Dusit, the main barracks and associated offices of the army housed a military concentration which still dominates this area today (Seidenfaden 1928: 81-6)
In the 1920s western commentators found comfort in finding in Bangkok features resembling other European and colonial cities.