«54 



REVIEW OF review:^. 



Soiemher I, 1913. 



Aerial Defence. 



Those who regard control of the 

 air as vital will welcome the news 

 that the navy has practically taken 

 over aerial defence from the army, 

 which has had charge of half of 

 it for the last few years. This means 

 that Britain will no longer hang behind 

 European countries in preparing for 

 possible war in the air. A million 

 pounds are to be spent this year on air 

 craft, rather more than Germany votes 

 for the purpose, although not as much as 

 is spent by France. Two terrible acci- 

 dents which recently overwhelmed Zep- 

 pelin airships have caused a revulsion 

 of feeling about these huge rigid craft. 

 The accidents were unfortunate, but they 

 do not prove very much. The Zeppelin 

 is still without doubt the best lighter- 

 than-air machine which has yet been in- 

 vented. This it has again demonstrated 

 in the recent manoeuvres in Germany. 



The Mexican Upheaval. 



Matters are going from bad to worse 

 in Mexico. No reliable reports reach the 

 outside world. All are coloured either 

 Ijy the Government or the rebels. The 

 presidential elections, demanded by Mr. 

 Wilson as the price of recognition by the 

 United States, have taken place, but the 

 situation has not been improved thereby. 

 As was to be expected, General Huerta, 

 although not a candidate, received the 

 greatest number of votes, and announces 

 that he is duly elected. Bearing in mind 

 the disturbed state of the country, and 

 the inaccessibilit)- of much of it, an 

 election, the result of which was declared 

 four or five days after it was held, was 

 obviously a farce. In the United States, 

 despite up-to-date methods and rapid 

 communication, a couple of weeks 

 elapse before all the returns are in. Pre- 

 sident Wilson refuses to recognise 

 Huerta, but has warned the other powers 

 that they must not interfere in Mexico. 

 Strong pressure is being brought upon 

 the Government at Washington to in- 



Tennc.t^can.] [Nashville. 



THE RETORT COURTEOUS! 



EUROPE: "If you can't manage that child. Til 

 take charge of him myself I"' 



U.S. : " Well, madam, since you are ao com- 

 petent, you might begin at home!" 



duce it to step in and restore order. Pre- 

 sident Wilson is very loathe to take such 

 action, knowing the complications which 

 will at once ensue, for all parties in 

 Mexico would combine against a com- 

 mon foe. But no other power can move. 

 If a policeman is required. Uncle Sam 

 will have to play that role. Huerta is in 

 serious financial straits. The administra- 

 tion is nearly bankrupt, and is only car- 

 ried on bv forced loans from the banks. 

 It is significant that General Felix Diaz, 

 although a candidate for the Presidency, 

 took no part in the election whatever. He 

 can afford to bide his time. 



The Chinese Republic. 



Yuan Shih-kai was duly elected presi- 

 dent on the third ballot. This result, 

 which appears to have been arranged 

 carefully, gives the astute statesman the 

 official as well as the real overlordship 

 of China's millions. The arrangement 

 entered into by the five Powers for the 

 united control of Chinese loans has 

 ended. The ring fence they had hoped 

 to set up had already been broken down ; 

 unauthorised financiers and concession- 

 hunters had invaded the prohibited ter- 

 ritory. Each power is, therefore, now 

 free to do what it will in the matter of 



