CURRENT TOPICS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 82, 5 March 1938, Page 8

CURRENT TOPICS

(By “Wayfarer.”) Haile Selassie in “Who's Who” remains Emperor of Ethiopia, but; would have no standing in Wliat hat. In Russian politics they don’t bury the hatchet; they bury the opposition - „ * * * * Admiral Suetsugu, Japanese Minister for Home Affairs, who caused a storm recently by his reported. assertion that to break Chinese resistance British aid must be stopped even at the cost of war, is a favourite in the Naw. He is a member of Japan s Supreme War Council and a strong believer in the submarine. During the 1932 troubles he commanded the Japanese Fleet off Shanghai. He was only appointed to his present post on December 13, and is responsible ioi the strict censorship and round-up ot leading Liberals. ■ * , . Dr H. H. Kung, as a result of a family reshuffle, has become Premier of China, taking over the post from his brother-in-law, Chiang Kai-shek. Both married daughters of Charlie Soong, who emigrated to America, made a fortune and returned to see his three daughters and three sons all holding key posts in Republican China. Dr. ICung, who has been Finance Alinister in the Nanking Goveminent for some years, recently toured Europe arranging big loans for China in London, Zurich and Amsterdam. Chiang, Kung and General Pai, Governor of Kwangsi, are the new triumvirate of China. Chiang is AYar Alinister and Chief-of-Staff. His task is to link-up the civil Government with the war lords who have thrown in their lot with it to resist Japan. General Pai, one of the most famous war-lords, is Commander-in-Chief. A -devout Aloslem and leader of the finest troops in China, lie was a scourge of the bandits in his province. *****

As related in the cable news, a controversy is raging in South Africa over a statement made recently by the Prime Minister of South Africa. General Hertzog, that the Afrikaans’ melody called “A’oice of South Africa” would be South Africa’s. National Anthem, and that the National Anthem, “God Save the King,” would be played only in the presence of the King’s representatives. The translation of the South African anthem is:

Out of the blue of our heaven, out of the depth of our sea, Over our eternal mountains (where the cliffs throw echoes). Through our wide desolate plains (where the groan of the ox waggon is heard), Rustles the voice of our beloved land, South Africa. AVe’ll answer to your call, we 11 sacrifice what you ask, We’ll live and die for you, South Africa.

The Duke of Aosta, second cousin of the King of Italy, has taken over his duties as Viceroy of Abyssinia. He will not have to worry about fighting rebellious natives; that is the task of General Count Ugo Cavalerro, who was brought out of retirement by Signor Alussoiini, in 1925, and became head of the Army under the Duce’s supervision. The Duke, however, will have a wholetime job in trying to make Abyssinia pay its way. The Italians claim several small gold mines are already in production, but dreams of an El Dorado are fading. The tribes are adopting a passive resistance policy, refusing to cultivate whole stretches of country. This has brought them to starvation level while the Italian soldiers are on short rations. The Duke has many friends in Britain and his appointment is thought to he an effort by Signor Alussoiini to secure British recognition of his Empire. «r m * *

A recent news item stated tliat it was Hungary’s intention to renounce the Trianon Treaty, which was signed on June 4, 1920, governing the conditions of peace between Hungary and the Allied and associated Powers. The Bela Kun revolution in Hungary delayed the summoning of representatives of that Power to the Peace Conference. The population of the country by the territorial clauses was reduced to 7,500,000 and the treaty awarded to other nations lands inhabited by 3,000,000 Alagyars. Most of the population consisted of 6,000,000 Alagyars living on the Alagyard Islands in the Seas of Slavs or Rumanians. The main offence against nationality was on the eastern border, where Rumania received the three Hungarian towns of Szatmar, Nagyvarad and Arad, and the surrounding Alagyar zone. It has always been asserted by Hungary that she has a right to the whole of the original kingdom, including all the people who lived in it. Hungary, under the military clauses, was allowed an army of 35,000 men, and she was forced, in the way of reparations, to surrender shipping on the basis of ton for ton, class for class, and to deliver live’ stock to Italy, Rumania and Yugoslavia.

In April, 1936, Germany having repudiated the Treaty of Versailles, Austria, who also was bound by the treaty, decided to apply conscription. She had been granted equality of rights in principle by the Disarmament Conference of 1932, and a further extension of her army in 1934.

Don Bradman, who is captaining the 1938 Australian cricket eleven on its tour of England, is still considered, after 10 years of international cricket, to l>e the leading batsman in the world. This year’s tour will be Bradman’s third trip to England as a member of an Australian team. The first was in 1930, when the side had as its captain AV. A!. AVoodfull, of Victoria. It was in this year that Bradman had such a wonderful season in Test matches, three times compiling double centuries. At Leeds lie made the then record score for Test cricket of 334. Since then, however, that figure has been bettered by AV. R. Hammond, who scored 336 against New Zealand at Auckland when a member of D. R. Jardine’s team. In 1934 Bradman was again the star player in the Old Country. This year Bradman no doubt will add further laurels to liis prowess and break some more records. ‘One of his leading performances was the compilation of the world’s record score in first-class cricket in 1928 of 452, not out, against Queensland. This achievement has not been approached by more than 100 runs since it was established and is likely to stand for many a long day unless, on this tour. Bradman himself accomplishes the feat. However, this is unlikely owing to the shorter hours of play-in England. It is questionable whether the Australian captain will ever approach that score again.

His most recent performance of note in the record-breaking sphere was the amassing of an aggregate which bettered Clem Hill’s for the greatest number of runs made in first-class cricket in Australia. But Bradman is Bradman, and while lie is still at the wickets anything may happen.