A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 9

A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Philippine Islands The High Commissioner for tin Philippine Islands is discussing Far Eastern affairs with the Commander in-Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet. The Philippine Islands are silu.iteii 634 miles from Hong-Kong and IStMt miles from Yokohama They number 7000 in all,' of which, however, . lily 402 are over one square mile in ex tent. The main islands, 11 in num ber, are over 1000 square mile> in area.

Since 1898, when the United States occupied the Philippines after the war with Spain, the Stars and Stripes haflown over Government House at Manila, and 14,000,000 Filipinos and Spaniards who make up the population of this American possession have eii : joyed a tariff-free market for the 1.200,000 tons of sugar and the mountains of other foodstuffs which they produce annually. In addition. I hey have enjoyed a stable currency, a local government which is 98 per cent. Filipino, aud military protection—gra'is. Now, as the result of representations, which they hoped, and really thought, would never be granted, they are to tie granted their independence. ’’The only persons,” said Judge Manuel Carlos, of the Philippines, “who will gain by our independence are the Japanese. The United States will lose a lucrative export trade and considerable prestige in the Far East. When the Philippines’ .masses realise that-the only effect of independence means less money in the pay-envelope, resentment against the United States will develop. ... I have grave fears of the future if the Philippines becomes a separate political entity.” Officials in Tokio have said: “In the event of trouble arising between the Chinese and Filipinos on the islands following evacuation by the armed forces of the United States, Japan would be obliged to intervene in ordet to protect the peace and stability <>f the Far East.” Bokhara It was mentioned at the treason trial in Russia that there was an attempt to establish Bokhara as the centre of a buffer State between Russia and British territory. Bokhara was formerly a khanate (a district governed by a khan) of Central Asia, and is now part of the Soviet Republics of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. From 1865 to 1921 it was ruled by emirs, nominally independent, but under Russian control. In the latter year a Soviet revolution broke out and the emir fled to Afghanistan, and in the following year, Enver Pasha, as commander-in-chief for the emir, led an anti-Soviet uprising, but was defeated and killed. The area of the territory is about 53,000 square miles. It is hilly in the east and north-east, but flat in the north and north-west, where there are numerous lakes. Although largely desest and steppe, it has much fertile soil along the valleys of the rivers. Irrigation is also jwovided by canals. A large export trade is carried on in cotton and raw silk; wheat, hemp, tobacco, and fruit trees are extensively cultivated. Sheep, camels and horses are bred in the steppes. Gold, alum, salt and sulphur are found. Bokhara, after forming part of the empire of Persia, passed into the hands of Chinese and Turks, before coming under the suzerainty of Russia. The emir throughout the Great War remained on friendly terms with Britain and refused to join the Afghans and Bolshevists against her. Vitamin B

It Is thought that the lack of Vitamin B is responsible for infantile paralysis. Since in the early years of vitamin work so little was known about the substances, the problem of naming them wag a difficult one. They had no popular names and it was not possible to give them names, like those of other organic compounds, which would describe their chemical constitution. So. instead of being named, they were .-imply catalogued and given index letters.

The substance occurring in ricehusks, whose lack causes beri-beri. was labelled Vitamin B. Soon cohiplicafionbegan to turn up about Vitamin B. The extracts containing it were found to have effects which differed pnzzlingl.v according to their source and their manner of preparation and administration. Recently it has been made clear that there are at least two different substances concerned, which can lie separated by appropriate chemical methods; they are called vitamins Bl and 82. Both these substances, wbieji occur plentifully in yeast, in the germs and outer layers of plant seeds, and in eggs, are of the utmost importance to our nutritive processes. Lack of Bl produces l>eri-beri: lack of B2 produces pellagra (a disease which affects the skin, and sometimes the mental powers of the victim). . Gibraltar

A Spanish rebel general is said to have indicated an intention on. the part of the insurgents to take Gibraltar from the British. Gibraltar is distant 1050 nautical miles from Plymouth. The entrance to the Mediterranean at Gibraltar narrows till it is only 12 nautical milewide, so that in war an enemy attempt ing to get through would have a difficult time of it. Gibraltar is also the nearest port in Europe to South America and the West Indies. It is distant 3300 nautical miles from Bar badoes and the same distance from New York. It is thus not only ot great value for ships watching the entrance to the Mediterranean, but a!-o for cruisers patrolling the Centra: Atlantic. In virtue of this magnificent geographical position it has been most strongly fortified for two centuries. Between the British and Spanish frontiers on the peninsula is a narrow belt of neutral territory. To the we.-t of the Rock lies the harbour, which is enclosed by breakwaters, so as to be perfectly secure from attack. There are also naval docks. The town inear the dockyard. Gibraltar was seized during the war of the Spanish Succession by a small British force in 1704. From October. 1704 to March, 1705, the combined French and Spanish forces besieged the place in an unsuccessful attempt to recapture it. The Peace ot Utrecht finally left it in British hands. Another attempt to recapture it was made in 1779 in the war between Great Britain and the European Allies of the American Revolution. The siege continued for nearly four years. Gibraltar is a great and important cable station, as from it run lineto England, the Union of South Africa Malta, and Egypt. It is a free port am] is much used by shipping pas-im through the Mediterranean.