14 



REVIEW OF REVIEWS. 



March 1, l'J13. 



directly responsible for the enormous 

 increase in the German military esti- 

 mates. She intends adding 30,000 

 men to her standing army, and is vot- 

 ing the huge sum of ^^40, 000, 000 to be 

 spent in military expansion during 

 the next four years. Already the 

 burden of taxation is almost more than 

 she can bear, but until some under- 

 standing between the powers is ar- 

 rived at to limit armaments, this insen- 

 sate squandering of treasure and per- 

 sonal liberty must continue. No won- 

 der those who have experienced this 

 terrible competition see with regret the 

 younger Britons entering so light- 

 heartedly into the race. France's reply 

 to the German increase was prompt 

 and vigorous. In addition to her nor- 

 mal military vote she has decided to 

 spend no less a sum than ;^23,ooo,ooo 

 during the next few years on her army. 

 In M. Poincare, elected on the second 

 ballot, she has a strong President, who 

 will take a far more active part in 

 affairs than M. Fallieres ever did. A 

 famous lawyer before he took to active 

 political life, M. Poincare has been an 

 undoubted success as Prime Minister 

 and Minister of Foreign Affairs. M. 

 Briand, who succeeds him as Premier, 

 is he preceded him, is also a man of 

 character, although his personal re- 

 putation is not so high as that of the 

 new President. The appointment of 

 M. Delcasse, France's most able Minis- 

 ter, to be ambassador at St. Petersburg 

 shows that the Franco-Russian Alliance 

 is stronger than ever. In view of tlie 

 possibility of a general European war 

 this move on the part of France will 

 not be without its effect on the Triple 

 Alliance. It is significant to learn that 

 this has been renewed two years before 

 such renewal was due. 



Ministerial Changes in Germany. 



Quick changes have taken place at 

 the German Foreign Office. Herr von 



Kiderlm Waechter, Minister of Foreign 

 Affairs, died suddenly in December. 

 He became very prominent in the Aga- 

 dir affair, and in the negotiations with 

 France which followed when Moroccan 

 affairs were being settled, without any 

 reference, by t'he way, to Morocco it- 

 self. He was succeeded by Herr von 

 Jago, the German Ambassador at 

 Rome, who had hardly taken office be- 

 fore he had to resign owing to ill-health. 

 The newly-appointed Ambassador to 

 Italy, Herr von Flotow, has taken up 

 the portfolio. It is a curious fact that 

 the legation in Rome generally supplies 

 the Fatherland with capable ministers, 

 the most notable being the late Chan- 

 cellor, Von Bulow. 



The Tragedy of Captain Scott. 



A shudder of horror ran round the 

 world when on February loth the 

 Terra Nova returned to New Zealand 

 and reported that Captain Scott and 

 four gallant companions had perished 

 on their way back from the Pole. 

 So stirred were the hearers of the 

 dread news that many absolutel\- re- 

 fused to credit it. It was only when 

 confirmation came from Commander 

 Evans of the Terra Nova, via London, 

 that it was believed. The tragedy cast 

 a gloom for days everywhere, and 

 Scott's last words, penned as he lay 

 dying in his tent onl\- 1 1 miles from 

 one of the food depots he had left on 

 his journey South, have rung round the 

 world. " Surely, surely, a great and 

 rich country like ours will see that 

 those who depend upon us are pro- 

 perly cared for." The answer has been 

 spontaneous the world over, but, as 

 usual, Australia led the way. The uni- 

 versal sympathy for the bereaved wives 

 and families of the indomitable ex- 

 plorers can fortunately find some prac- 

 tical expression and Captain Scott's 

 last wish will be amply realised. Cap- 

 tain Scott and his companions did 



