THIS WEEK YEARS AGO

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 24, 29 January 1938, Page 11 (Supplement)

THIS WEEK YEARS AGO

8y... Max? Whatman

BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE, the ill-starred Young Pretender, ended a tragic chapter in history by his death at Rome on January 30, 1788. Charles Edward Stewart, a grandson of James 11., was born at Rome in 1720, and though his education was neglected, gained fluency in several languages and some proficiency as a musician. He became of political importance in 1742, when Great Britain and France were drawn on opposite eides in the War of the Austrian Succession. Prince Charlie sought, with French aid, to regain the Crown of England, but his alliee gave him sympathy but little practical encouragement. Nevertheless, he persisted with hie scheme, and landed on the west coaet of Scotland in 1745. The clan* rallied to Mβ standard, and he gathered force on hie march to Edinburgh through Perth. After defeating Sir John Cope at Prestonpans, Prince Charlie eet out on what might have been a triumphant march to London. Promises of Englieh support failed to materialiee, and the Prince, after getting as far as Derby, decided to turn back to the Highlands. In the following year hie army was vanquished at Culloden and hie cause was lost. After many adventures, in which the Prince lived the life of a fugitive from the vengeance of the English, he escaped to the Continent. He remained in France until 1748, when he was expelled in accordance with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Subsequently he lived in Italy, and in hie later years became a confirmed drunkard. Submarine Warfare To counter the British blockade and to etarve Britain into submission, ae she wae slowly starving them, Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare on January 31, 1917, and in eo doing set the seal on the failure of the Central Powers in the Great War. So great was the heat of public resentment at thie ruthless decision that the United States, hitherto undecided, swung into line with the Allies and poured her fighting strength into Europe. Staggering losses* were inflicted in the campaign, and in April, 1917, more than 500,000 tone went down. Since the earlier activities of the U-boats they had undergone considerable development i and improvement in "all directions — speed, range of action, seagoing endurance and armament. These more modern submarines could out-range and outshoot armed merchantmen, and were capable of under-water speeds at least equal to those of plodding tramp steamers. Apart from harrying the shipping lanes, German submarines went far afield in their death-dealing. They laid mines in such distant waters as the Cape of Good Hope and Bombay, and crossed the Atlantic and sank vessels on the United States coast. Appalled at the course events were taking, President Wilson summoned Congress, and, in a denunciatory speech, demanded a declaration of war. On February 3 the severance of diplomatic relationships with Germany was a prelude to the declaration on April 2.

In Ms address to Congress, President Wilson said, "Veseele of every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, their errand, their destination, have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board—veeeels of friendly nentrale along with thoee of the belligerents." This was the beginning of the end for Germany, and though ehe extracted a heavy toll from the Allies, hers was a twoedged sword which turned to decide the war. Royal Assassination Dictatorship and unrest in Portugal 30 yeare ago led to one of history's most tragic occurrences, when King Carloe L and the Crown Prince were assaeeinated in the etreets of Lisbon, the Infanta wae wounded, and the Queen miraculously escaped injury. Surrounded by political enemies and disgruntled officials, the lot of King Carlos in the closing days of his reign was not a happy one. A dictatorship aeeumed by Premier Franco —apparently no relation of the Spanish rebel commander —paved the way to what amounted to ft political revolution in the country, and it was to him and hie associates that the tragedy was imputed. The Royal Family had just entered *n open carriage after alighting from the Tague ferryboat, on February 1, 1908. The carriage had only travelled a short distance—the King had, a few moments before been chatting to Franco—when a young man rushed out of the crowd, climbed on to the back of the carriage and fired two ehote from a revolver before he wae dragged off and killed. A man in the crowd then drew a carbine from under his cloak, and fired repeatedly into the carriage. Other men joined him. The Queen, a heroic figure in the midst of all this terror, stood up in the carriage and shielded the bodies of her husband and children. It wae too late, however. The King and the Crown Prince lay dying in the floor of the carriage, while the weeping Queen bent over him. First the King fell back and died, hie son following him a few minutes later. Three of the regicides were either shot or cut to pieces by the swords of the police. Although wounded, the Infanta Manuel, revolver in hand, escorted the carriage with its tragic burden to a place of safety. The following afternoon he took the succession oath, his proclamation to the people denouncing the crime. Early Cricket Although only two decades had passed einee the proclamation of New Zealand as a British colony, despite the scattered population, the difficulties of travel and the Maori War, New Zealanders in 1864 took their sport seriously. February 2 of that year eaw the start of a great cricketing carnival at Dunedin, when the first inter-provincial games were played and home twenty-twos played the first All England eleven to visit the country. Dunedin went mad over the carnival, and, though the cricket was not of a very high standard, the traditional good time was had by all, and for many days the young city was en fete. Immediately after the arrival of the English team, the pjayers were entertained at luncheon, and then drove in procession through the streets with the Canterbury, Southland and Otago teams. The procession was marshalled as followe: Two mounted troopers, party of horsemen from Port Chalmers, ">ort Chalmers Cricket Club, All Englinii .vl. " a coach with six white horses driven by Cabt Tree Ned, Mr. Shadraeh Jones' private carriage, match committee and tu<.

Dunedin Club, Dunedin Club players, I two coaches of cricketers, citizens in decorated private vehicles and horsemen three abreast. After the festivities, the sportsmen settled down in earnest. England beat an Otago twenty-two by nine wickets, and drew with a Canterbury-Otago twenty-two. The visitors beat a Canterbury twenty-two by an innings and two'runs and later the game month beat Otago by an innings and 51 runs. I'laving for the Englishmen were E. if. (..'race, brother of the famous "W.C.," also Tarrant, Hayward and Jackson, Papal Election While devout thousands waited in St. Peter's Square in Rome in the early days of February, 1922, eminent cardinals were gathered in the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes for the election of a new Pope. As these great dignitaries walked in procession through the Sala Regia and the Pauline Chapel, hosts of spectators crowded round them—the flower of the Roman nobility and representatives of the Italian Catholic diplomatists. After the intoning of Ibe "Veni Creator," the procession of cardinals left the Pauline Chapel for the Sistine Chapel. As they entered, the cry "Exeunt onines ,, went up, a.nd all spectators retired, leaving the cardinals and their staffs to the work of election. Twelve times the cardinals balloted, and it was not until the thirteenth voting that the new Pope was declared electee!. This was on February 5, and the announcement was made amidst scenes of wildest enthusiasm. The man chosen to follow Pope Benedict was Cardinal Achille Ratti, and he took the name of Pius XL, by which he is still known. Born in 1807, Pope Pius distinguished himself in his earlier years by his career as an educationist i and ecclesiastic. A man of great culture,! he served successively as Prefect of the j famous Ambrosian Library in Milan and as Pro-Prefect of the Vatican Library. Sent as Apostolic Visitor to Poland in 1918, he became Apostolic Nuncio when

Poland turned Republic. Pope Pins is well known for his many humane actions, and one of his finest* services in this sphere was the manner in which he secured the release of prisoners from Russia. He also pained fame sus a climber, and is a member of the Italian Alpine Club. Japanese Cruisers It is a far call from the peace-time mission which brought three Japanese cruisers to New Zealand 14 years ago to their duties to-day in the war against China. The cruisers, which formed Japan's naval training squadron, were the Asa ma, Iwate and Vukumo. They berthed in Wellington on February 4, 1024. A crowd lined the waterfront to welcome the cruisers, and the flagship, the Asama, fired a salute of 21 guns as she passed Somes Island. After a stay of a week in Wellington, the squadron paid a visit to Auckland, where the cadets were addressed by the GovernorGeneral, Karl Jcllicoe. It is interesting to recall the remarks nutde by the .7apuiic.«c commander, ViceAdmiral Sliicigoro S;iito, in an interview on his arrival at Wellington. Referring to the Great War, he said that in the stirring times then experienced the ties of friendship between Japan and Australia and Xew Zealand were greatly strengthened. In consequence of the Treaty of Washington, the AngloJapanese Alliance had gone, and inits place had come the Four-Power Treaty, which would be a great bulwark of peace. It not only served the British Empire and Japan in times of need, but it was good for the peace of the world. So it was with the spirit of friendship between Britain and Japan. Tt had not changed in the least and, if anything, was stronger than ever. Great Politician Three times Prime Minister of England, Lord Salisbury ranks as one of his country's greatest political leaders. Besides his ability in directing home affairs, in his capacity as Foreign Secretary he played an important part in the troubled affairs of Europe during the latter half of the 19th century. Born on February 3. 1830. Lord Salisbury was a lineal descendant of Robert Cecil, chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth, and first i Earl of Salisbury.