RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 71, 17 December 1928, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES

SIDELIGHTS ON CURRENT EVENTS LOCAL AND GENERAL (By Cosmos.) An aviation expert says that in ten years time travel by air will be as safe as by motor-car —which isn't saying so very much for it. » • • No wonder Christmas seems to come round quicker every year. A scientist claims to have discovered that the earth is rotating at a greater speed than usual. • • « Australians no doubt think that cricket is not what it used to be. The new sport of dodging bombs and bullets in Melbourne is spreading to other centres. It is said that it calls for much more dexterity than cricket, and is of considerably greater interest to the spectators. * « • It has been stated that five hundred authors declared themselves for Mr. Hoover, the President-elect of the United States, during his campaign. All of those authors must have had a hand in the preparation of some of the advertising matter published in support of his candidature. A few choice passages are quoted: “That dramatic setting is all too soon fading from memory. The yiars have dulled its poiignant colours, and have stilled the sobbing accompaniment to Civilisation's climactic adventure in benevolence. .. . The stage is set with graphs and charts —the click of census machines and typewriters tonelessly orchestrates his performance.” “Climactic” appears to be a new addition to the political vocabulary.

Dr. Jose Guggiari, the newly-elected President of Paraguay, who assumed office on August 15. is likely to have a difficult task ahead of him, as the old boundary dispute between Bolivia and his country threatens to end in war. Dr. Guggiari, who is 44 years of age, is a journalist, jurist, and statesman who has had a wide experience in the public life of his country. Elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1912, he served several successive terms until 1920, when he was appointed Minister of the Interior. After relinquishing his portfolio at the end of two years, he was again elected a Deputy, and also president of the Liberal Party. He also became editor of “El Liberal,” the powerful political newspaper of Paraguay.

Bolivia, the other party to the South American boundary dispute, is an inland republic, bounded by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. It will therefore be seen that she has plenty of neighbours, and many opportunities for disagreement. Perhaps it was only to be expected that disputes would arise over the boundaries with all the republics adjoining one another. The disputes with Brazil and Chile were settled by treaties in 1903 and 1904, while the trouble with Peru was finalised by direct negotiation in 1911-12: that with Paraguay, which is a long-standing dispute, was never settled, and in the absence of outside intervention, it looks as if the matter will have to be decided on the field of battle.

Bolivia nearly took up arms against Chile some years ago over a boundary dispute, but as Chile was by far the strongest opponent, she deemed it wise to give in and make the best terms possible. It appears that at one time Bolivia occupied two provinces on the coast, but under an arrangement entered into in 1884, they came under the control of Chile. The loss of these provinces made Bolivia an inland country without any sea frontage. In 1895, after long negotiations, Chile was considering the question of allowing her neighbour an outlet to the sea in recognition of Chilian ownership of the province in dispute. It was discovered, however, that while Bolivia was courting Chile, she was also meeting Argentine in secret. The upshot was a termination of negotiations, and strained feelings on both sides. In 1915, the Bolivians found it wise to yield, and a treaty was ratified which ceded the maritime provinces to Chile, in return for certain concessions. The settlement of the sole remaining boundary dispute will be followed with interest.

The Schneider Cup seaplane race, which is again arousing the interest of many, has now become the blue riband of the air. It is awarded to the country whose seaplane averages the greatest speed over a triangular course of about 200 miles, after undergoing preliminary tests in taking off, landing, and seaworthiness. The Jacques Schneider Maritime Aviation Cup, to give it its full name, was originally to be awarded to the nation which wou it three times in five years, but a movement was set afoot to make it a perpetual award, since a second trophy would not have the same value as the first Early this year, the International Aeronautic Federation decided that the permanent possession of the cup should be given to the country which gains three successive victories, the contests to be held every two years.

The first race for the Schneider Cup was held at Monaco, on April 16, 1913, when there were four entrants, Prevost, Garros, and Espanet (France), and Weymann (America). Espanet dropped out after the first round; Weymann stopped after covering 200 kilometres, but Prevost made a non-stop flight to the end, except that he crossed the finishing line on the water. The judges asked him to refly part of the last lap, but Prevost argued for about three-quarters of an hour before doing so. The delay was counted in his flying time, so that his last round occupied li hours. For the distance, he took 3hrs. 17min. 22sec. This initial victory, of 45 miles per hour, went to France, but "was surpassed during the following year, when H. Piston (Britain), covered the distance at an average speed of 86 miles per hour. The war then intervened, and it was not until 1920 that Bologna, with 107 miles per hour, registered the first Italian victory.

In 1921, his compatriot, di Brigante, increased the speed to 111 miles per hour. Baird then saved the trophy for Italv by winning the next contest for Britain, with a speed of 146 miles per hour. In 1923, Lieutenant Rittenhouse (America) turned It into a military contest, and registered an hourly speed of 177 miles. Two years later, Lieutenant Doolittle, a famous American airman, raised the speed to 232 miles per hour, and in 1926 Major di Bernhardi gave Italy another win at 246 miles per hour. The 1927 contest, as will be remembered, proved a triumph for Britain, when Flight-Lieutenant Webster won the race at the terrific speed of 287 miles per hour, after all the Italians had been forced down. Preparations are under way for next years contest, when a further speed record is anticipated.