Notes on the News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 28 August 1939, Page 8

Notes on the News

Americans In Europe The announcement (hat the United States Acting-Secretary of State is dis.■ussing arrangements for the evacua:ion of 100,000 American citizens from Europe in the event of war serves as a reminder of the large “semi-perma-ient” American population on the eastern side of the Atlantic. Many of ;liese are people with business, poli:ical and professional occupations Arhich keep them in Europe. Another ?roup is composed of students —young people attending universities and “finishing schools,” art academies, and centres of specialized study of all 'finds. Still another large group is made up of wealthy Americans who live for the greater part of the year it famous spas and watering places in Germany, Italy and the South of France. Finally, there is the large shifting population of tourists in London, Paris, and other Continental capitals.

The largest population of Americans in Europe is found in Paris. This city attracts by far the greatest proportion of tourists as well as art students and business men. So substantial is the American population of the French capital that from the end of the Great War till early this year they supported two daily newspapers of their own—the “Chicago Tribune” and thG “New York Herald.” Of these the “Herald.” unlike other Paris newspapers printed in English, including the Continental edition of the London “Daily Mail.” was devoted largely to United States news. Till it ceased publication a few months ago it was the home-from-home newspaper of the American “exile.” Bolivian Dictatoi The death by a self-inflicted pistol wound of Lieutenant-Colonel German Busch, Bolivia’s dictator president, brought to a close on August 23 a remarkable career. He was one of a group of officers who overthrew the Government after the Chaco war against Paraguay. He first supported a semi-Socialist regime, then threw ou the seml-Socialista. German Busch was born in Bolivia but was educated in Trinidad, afterwards entering a military college. When General Hans Kundt was brought from Germany by the Bolivian Government to recognize its army in the ’twenties. Busch was given a commission, singled out as a promising officer. and rewarded with rapid advancement. He became adjutant to General Kundt. who was then Chief of the General Staff. At one time he was aide to the Nazi leader. Captain Ernst Roehin, who spent two years in Bolivia after a quarrel with Herr Hitler, and who returned to meet his death in Hitler's purge of high officials. In The Chaco War When the Chaco war began Busch became a captain at 28, major at 20, lieutenant-colonel before the war ended, chief of staff soon afterward. Meanwhile he married, had three sons, and was cited for his daring raids. His rescue of a division won him Bolivia's highest military award. He joined all Bolivian military and social clubs, and wrote a book about liis explorations. “One lesson of the inconclusive Chaco fighting was that, where they met on equally favourable ground. Bolivia’s German-trained divisions were roughly handled by Paraguay’s French-trained army,” writes an American reviewer. “Sick of the war, Bolivians were made sicker by bad times. Bolivia holds 15 i>er cent, of the world’s tin supply, and output fell from 43.300 tons in 1929 to 25.000 in 1935. Tin makes up 70 per cent, of the value of Bolivia’s exports.” After the war Lieutenant Colonel Busch headed a group of officers who seized the reins of power in Bolivia. They set up a dictatorship with Busch at the head of it, though at first the normal machinery of government was kept intact. In May the young dictator issued a proclamation not only abolishing the Senate, Chamber of Deputies, the Constitution. all courts, all legal codes, but establishing a dictatorship over Bolivian political, financial and social life. Soaring Armament Costs During the past few months the acceleration of Britain’s defence programme has acquired a momentum which is impressively reflected in the estimates of cost. The original estimate, published In February, foreshadowed an expenditure on defence In the financial year 1939-40 of £580.000,000, which represented a substantial increase on last year’s total of £100.000.000. Two months later. In his Budget, the Chancellor announced that he would need a further margin for •upplemeatarlae of £50.000.000, and he made provision accordingly. Now, the London “Daily Telegraph” points out, supplementaries have been issued for an amount, not of £50,000,* 000, but of £150.000.000, bringing the total bill for defence up to no less than £730,000,000.