PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 86

PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

HISTORY IN" THE MAKING.

JbA> th© time of -writing 1 am anticipating % treat in. the way of a lecture by Lieutenint Knox, who is risiting Australasia, mainly for health's sake, but who is also incidentally — an " incidentally" pretty ■well equal to another "mainly" — educating this outpost of the Empire on th« necessity for having a navy unapproachable by that of any other Power.

The in vita-toon sent me to-day eet me funking. First, what a pity it is that those outside our targe centres cannot have •blie benefit we enjoy in the opportunity we (possess of hearing good lectures and musicians. But my thinking took on the phase connected with Empire and world history more than- anything else. So, secondly, I drifted into worrying over history teaching. W« do not teach history. . A few isolated facts are generally picked out Jntriag o* connective train of tkwjwht

running through them — enough to satisfy an examiner, may b© ; but as very few really read history, and as many teachers do not like the subject, we grow up with little or no knowledge of the history of cur little Dominion, as little of the history of Slie Empire, and less, if it is possible, of the history of the world, and of the connection existing between the British Empire and the other great world Powers. Now, let us have a little cursory glance to see how the world is making history while we are living. In 1898—1 may be a year or so out in my dates ; I always did dislike them — Spain * fought the United States, and was stripped of all her colonies that were worth anvtbing : the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. This was\ a decided historical landmark.

About the same time Japan fought China, and when about to take possession of the spoils of war, Russia, Germany, and France stepped in, and Russia, by a 99 years' lease, took possession of what Japan coveted — Port Arthur and- Manchuria, and threatened Korea. This was followed by the Russo-Japanese war of 1905, in which Japan brought the northern Colossus tc his knees, and at a bound jumped into the front rank of the great world Powers. Two more historical land marks.

Last year and this year saw the ploughing of the oceans by the United States fleet — Hampton Roads to fhe Straits of Magellan ; Magellan to San Francisco ; San Francisco to New Zealand and Australia ; Australia to Japan and the Philippines. Another historical landmark. And we might aisk the question, What was this great display undertaken, for? Isn't it rather a coincidence that the United States fleet is within striking distance of Japan when a treaty is being made? The advent of the-United States fleet in the Pacific, the presence there, too, of a strong Japanese fleet, and the disappearance of Great Britain as a naval Power from the Pacific is certainly a/vother landmark. If we look forward another ten %ears — I am just running over a few developments during the past ten yeare — we shall see the Panama Canal opened, and perhaps Japan and the United States rivals for naval supremacy : if so, I imagine that the honours will be held by our American cousins. But another factor will come in — What about the Chinese? If China's 400 millions awake, there may be ructions But more — the successes of Japan have taught Japan, China, and the natives of India, and, indeed', all Mahommedans also, that the Western nations are not invincible. The wins of Japan have more far-reaching effects than many have any conception of.

The beginning of the present century saw ns in the throes of our South African war, the magnitude of which almost appals us as we look back. So little was its magnitude foreseen that about 25,000 men were deemed sufiicient at first to smother the rebellion, but in the end something like 300,000 were under fire, and more lay buried in the veldt than were at first thought necessary to carry on the war. So far were we from taking the war seriously that when the first little squad le*t the Garrison Hall the hops was expressed that tlie contingent would get to South Africa before tha war was closed. It lasted about three years, cost us seven or eight contingents, and the Motherland about 200 millions of money !

These landmarks stand' out because they were wars, but are there any others?

Japan is " japanning" Korea, and is trv--ng to "jaj)an" Manchuria. The treaty now being arranged gives the "open door" to all in Manchuria, but I imagine that Japan looks upon this as a bitter pill to swallow, 'though she may take it with- eastern suavity. I fancy that the United States fleet* is proving a first-class, though silent, negotiator. History is certainly beinjr made, though no gun is being fired. What about nationalism in China, India. Persia, Egypt, Turkey, and other places? China for the Chinese, India for the Indians, Egypt for the Egyptians is the cry of the Nationalist parly in each. Russia, Persia, and Turkey have been granted constitutional Government, and in these three countries limited monarchies are to dieplace despotisms. In Australia the Commonwealth came into being on the Ist of January, 1901; and last "year we were perky enough to assert that we were no longer\ a colony, but a full-blown, though diminutive, Dominion. In South Africa the same solidifying process is goin^ on. and a conference is being held at this moment to arrange for a federation of the South African colonies. I d ire say that many read the South African cab'os in last week's Witnenj and this, but did not attach much importance to them ; but a review writer looks upon the South African situation as a serious one. Perhaps I'll give you a short Chat upon it next week.

In Europe, Germany is the most disturbing factor, and there is no doubt thai if she had had a strong enough navy the Morocco question would have resulted in war. Here, again. er«it changer* have taken place, but little notice taken of them. The Kiel Canal is almost entirely a strategical one, and as Germany is constructing a large fleet ready to seize an opportunity that -will lead to German expansion* the disposition and strength of the British squadrons have been entirely recast.

Cables this week tell of a revolution progressing in Hayti, or San Domingo. A glance at ihe map shows this island in two colours, each representing a black Republic — Hayti, the larger, and San Domingo the smaller. I think lam right in saying tlwt no white man is allowed a phare in the Government. But a? the United States exorcise son'.e sort of control over the import and cxpoit duties, as the natives do very little to cultivate the soi}, and as there is bloodshed every now and then, it Ls only a question of time when the United States will step in, and either establish a protectorate or annex ife.

There is one more landmark I must notice. Austria is annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina. Why? They have been hers practically for 20 years, and why should she provoke opposition? About ten years ago we conquered the Soudan, and so strengthened our hold upon E"gypt, and at the same time by hauling down the French flag at Fashoda prevented the French from attacking us in the rear, and al the same time dissipated a French dream of Empire — by the bye, this is another landmark in the last decade, — but we have not thought fit to say that we were annexing Egypt. Why, then, ■ did not Austria let well alone ? I cannot say, but I imagine there were three reasons : (1) Ambition on the part oi Austrian statesmen, (2) a desire to liasten the time when (a) she will own the eastern part of the Adriatic down to Greece, and with it the hinterland, and (b) shs will, through Salonika, look out upon the Archipelago; but (3) the weakening of any federating movement in Turkey is probably the main object Russia and Austria, in the past, have had as tneir aim the subdivision of Turkey in Europe into a series of principalities, which could be absorbed as opportunity occurred. But these little kingdoms have been developing national instincts, and no doubt Bosnia and Herzegovina have been developing nationalism in sympathy with: Servia and Montenegro. Again, the rise of an educated Young Turkish party might result in a federation of fhe states of Turkey on much the same lines that JJie states and kingdoms of Germany, the provinces of Canada, and the colonies of Australia have federated. The action of Austria — from her point of view — is meant to weaken that sentiment, but it may have the opposite effect. Well, I have written more than I intended, but perhaps, as a result, my readers will take a larger historical outlook. If they do, they wall be the better able in the time of stress to take firm control of the reins of State and guide' the destinies of Empire aright.