naval base of the Austrian Empire. Maximilian, as a vigorous and able naval officer, had much to do with building up the Austrian fleet. He was, before the formation of United Italy, the Austrian Viceroy of Lombardy and Venetia, which Austria lost in 1859 and 1866. Maximilian then retired to Miramar with his wife Charlotte, daughter of Leopold I. of Belgium, the monarch chosen to rule over that small kingdom when Belgium was created and guaranteed as a neutral, inviolable State by the great European powers in 1831. At Miramar Maximilian received Mexican exiles, who asked him to go to Mexico and establish a monarchy. He at first refused, as both Francis Joseph and Napoleon III. were strongly opposed to the plan, and went instead on a botanizing trip to Brazil, then an empire. Later he allowed himself to be overpersuaded, went to Mexico, set up a monarchy, and was deposed and shot on June 19, 1867. This tragedy drove his wife insane, and Miramar became her prison-hospital. As the Italian and British monitors bombard Trieste, and as the Italian troops approach from the Carso on the north, the shells are likely to pass over the gardens and villa of Miramar. THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN "WILLY AND "NICKY" HE highly sensational group of letters THE and telegrams recently printed in The New York Herald, between the two monarchs who signed themselves "Willy" and "Nicky," will stand, perhaps, as the last chapter in the monarchical diplomacy of the world in which Kings and Emperors, in the high-handed mediaeval fashion, disposed of peoples and nations without saying "by your leave." It is, perhaps, no secret that the treacherous proposal for a secret treaty between these two Emperors, forced by the masterful and magnetic Willy" upon the weak-minded and weaker willed "Nicky," a treaty which involved the betrayal of France by Russia and the ruin of England by Germany and Russia acting in concert, was defeated by the resolute and far-seeing statesmanship of Count Witte, who became so well known to Americans at the time of the Peace of Portsmouth. On his return to Russia he discovered the treaty and, using the Berlin bankers as a lever, forced Kaiser Wilhelm to tear it up; but it appears that before it was destroyed Count Witte showed it to the famous international journalist and linguist, Dr. E. J. Dillon, who now vouches for its authenticity. The Willy-Nicky correspondence carries the world back to the days when nations and kingdoms were practically the private property of Kings and Emperors; when peoples and provinces were handed about as marriage dowries and were left in the wills of monarchs to their children. The granting of large regions of what are now the United States by Charles II. to his brother, the Duke of York, afterward James II., is an instance that comes home to us; and to that grant the largest city in the New World owes its name. * CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIA THE world war, which is touching the British Empire at all points, is deeply affecting the development of India. In the House of Commons on Aug. 20 Samuel Montague, Secretary of State for India, made an important statement -the most important, perhaps, since the Imperial Government took over the administration of India from the old East India Company in 1858. He laid down four principles which will be applied to the government of India. The first is that of increasing the employment of Indians in every branch of administration. The second promises the gradual development of self-governing institutions, with a view to the progressive realization of responsible government in India as an integral part of the British Empire. The third declares that progress in this policy can only be achieved by successive stages. The fourth lays stress on the point that the British Government must be the judge of the time and measure of each advance, and that they must be guided by the co-operation they receive from Indians, and by the extent to which it is found that confidence can be reposed in their sense of responsibility. In the period since the Mutiny, 1857 some progress has been made in the development of representative institutions in India. In 1909 the Indian Councils act established a Legislative Council for the whole of India, in which distinguished Indians representing all sections of the population take part. There are Indian members also in the Provincial Councils of Bombay, Madras, Bengal, and the other Provinces. There are elective District Boards, dealing, on the average, with populations of about a million each, whose members are predominantly Indians. Over 700 municipalities are also elective, and largely Indian in membership. So that, for the first time in the history of India, large sections of her population are receiving a practical training in representative self-government. THE * * * VAST TRADE IN EXPLOSIVES HE wonderful development of the explosives manufacturing industry in the United States during the last four years is shown in a report issued by the Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior. In the year 1913, which was a normal year, the exports reached $5,521,077. The following year, in which the European war started, the exports reached $10,037,587; in 1915, $188,969,893; and in 1916, when the entire industry had been thoroughly organized, the total was $717,144,649. The total production of explosives in the United States during 1916, exclusive of exports, was 252,708 tons, an increase of 22,000 tons over the previous year. THE RACE QUESTION IN FINLAND FINLAND was joined to Russia by the Treaty of Frederikshavn, Sept. 17, 1809, as one of the results of the fraternization between Napoleon I. and Alexander I., which followed the Peace of Tilsit, July, 1807. France, it was agreed, should dominate Western Europe, while Russia might expand at the expense of Sweden and Turkey. Finland, taken from Sweden, is still governed under a Swedish Constitution dating from 1772, four years before the Declaration of Independence, though this Constitution has several times been amended. These amendments have given Finland a single Chamber of 200 members, elected by the vote of every citizen, man or woman, who is 24 years old. Finland, until March 15 of the present year, when Nicholas II. abdicated, was bound to Russia much as Hungary is bound to Austria, by the person of the sovereign, the Czar of Russia being also Grand Duke of Finland. The present issue between Finland and Russia is whether the rights of the Czar, as Grand Duke of Finland, are inherited by the Provisional Government of Russia. In Finland, which has a population. of three and a quarter millions, the Finns themselves number two and a half millions, while the Swedes number a third of a million. But the Swedes, though outnumbered eight to one by the Finns, are strongly intrenched, forming the landed aristocracy, and they are devoted to Sweden and Teutonic culture. The Finns are one of the non-Aryan peoples, the most important of whom are the Turks and Magyars, (Hungarians,) both of whom represent successful invasions from Asia. To both Turks and Huns the Finns are related, forming a part of the group of North Asiatic peoples that stretch from Bering Strait across Siberia and northern Russia to the Gulf of Bothnia, which separates Finland from Sweden. In Northern Norway there is a small Finnish colony and a larger Lapp colony, numbering about 18,500, the Lapps being in all probability the last remnant of the oldest race in Europe, the race which was contemporary with the reindeer in France during and immediately after the glacial epoch, the race which hunted and painted the mammoth. Preparing to Fight Germany IT Military and Naval Progress of the United T is now six months since the United States declared war on Germany, but as preparations for war had been begun immediately after the breaking of diplomatic relations, the period during which this country has developed its capacities as a belligerent is somewhat longer. A vast transformation of the whole nation's activities and modes of thought has been taking place, which at times it is difficult to perceive because of our very closeness to it. But we do know that in a comparatively short time the nation has multiplied its fighting forces tenfold, and under the direction of its captains of industry created the "army behind the army" on which military efficiency is dependent. When the United States declared war against Germany, the strength of the regular army, including officers, was not quite 126,000, and that of the National Guard about 181,000, a nominal total of about 307,000. But the majority of these officers and men were not fit to take the field in a war such as is being now waged in Europe. In fact, it may be said that not a single unit was of immediate use, for the first troops sent to France with General Pershing are still undergoing training in the methods which have revolutionized the art of warfare. The Government's task was now to create practically a new army, an army trained in the light of the experience gained in Europe since August, 1914, and an army large enough to be of account in the desperate struggle with the unconquered millions led by the German war chiefs. The regular army had to be increased to the full strength authorized by Congress. But voluntary enlistment proceeded slowly, and it was not until Aug. 9 that the 183,898 men required at the beginning of the recruiting campaign were obtained, thus bringing the regular army up to its full strength of 300,000 men. In March, a start had been made in mobilizing the National Guard, which even now is below its full strength, but enlistments have been fairly steady, and when the last units were drafted into Federal service on Aug. 5, the National Guard represented an addition of 350,000 men under arms. Here, then, were 650,000 men who, in the course of a year, would gradually form the nucleus of the nation's armed forces on land. Training the New Officers These men, in common with those secured by the selective draft law, however, would be useless without skilled leaders; and even more urgent than the need of raising armies was that of training officers. Special camps for this purpose were speedily established, and men, mainly belonging to the professional and educated classes, were selected to qualify for commissions. In August nearly 30,000 of these men qualified and were commissioned; while at the end of the month another 16,000 candidates were admitted to a second series of offi cers' training camps. By this time further enlistments in the regular army and National Guard, the calling into service of reservists and the assignment of duties to the new officers brought the total of the army up to more than 800,000, as is shown in the following statement, prepared by the Committee on Public Information from Government records: On Sept. 6, 1917, there were in the regular army, National Guard and Reserve Corps of the army 72,828 officers and 741,053 enlisted men. In the navy there were 141,867 enlisted men, 41,473 Naval Reserves and 14,500 of the Naval Militia in the Federal service. There were 5,000 men in the Coast Guard and 6,500 in the Hospital Corps, making a total of 209,340. The enlisted strength of the Marine Corps was 29.971; reserves in the services, 1,070; National Naval Volunteers, 704; retired men on active duty, 14. There were approximately 12,000 officers in the navy and 1,166 in the Marine Corps. In other words, on that date the army had, including officers and enlisted men, 819,881, and the navy 254,265, making a total armed strength on that date of 1,074,146 men, all of whom are volunteers. Prior to that time there was not a drafted soldier in a single training camp. For an Army of 2,300,000 Following this statement came the announcement of the War Department's plan for an army of 2,300,000 before the Summer of 1918. The first inkling of these plans was given when Secretary Baker testified on Sept. 7 that the United States Army would have a strength of 2,030,000 on Jan. 1, 1918. Then on Sept. 19, in asking Congress for emergency appropriations totaling $277,416,000, Secretary Baker stated that the money would be required to equip and supply an army of 2,300,000 men. This was the first official announcement made by the War Department concerning the number of Americans who will be prepared for service in France during the next year. Announcement of the beginning of work on two more great army camps was made by the War Department on Sept. 7. These camps are at Newport News, Va., and Tenafly, N. J. "The camps are designated as concentration camps," an official announcement said, " and it is proposed to assemble and equip here, from time to time, troops that are awaiting orders. From these camps the troops may move to whatever locality is selected as the port of departure." Each of the new concentration camps will be capable of accommodating approximately 20,000 men, and will consist of from 800 to 1,000 buildings. The new camps will be rushed to completion by Nov. 1. Building of these camps on the seaboard is an indication that plans are rapidly maturing to send heavy reinforcements to Pershing's army in France. This army of 2,000,000 will be made up of the 687,000 drafted men in the first levy, the National Guard expanded to 470,000 men, the regular army expanded to 450,000, auxiliary troops, including engineers and aviators, of 170,000; a hospital corps of 140,000, and Quartermaster and other supply troops making up the remainder. About 70,000 Colored Troops The problem presented by the large number of negro troops in the National Army was disposed of on Sept. 10 by the announcement of Secretary Baker that the rule of the regular army would be followed in their training, that is, they will be trained in separate organizations. There has, however, been no decision either on whether the negro troops are to be sent to France to fight in distinct units, as in brigades, or will be assigned to service by regiments. The call for negroes will be postponed, so that they will be called at a separate time, giving an opportunity to the officers of the camps to assemble the organizations of which they are a part substantially all at one time. They will not be the last called, but will be called separately. Of the 687,000 men called for as the first increment of the National Army, it is estimated that approximately 70,000 are negroes. In all, the army in France will need, it has been estimated, more than 100,000 men behind the lines for use along the roads and railways or on other special work. Negro troops will be largely employed in this way. Progress of the Draft Army The progress in creating the National Army has been steady and without a hitch since the President signed the selective draft law Over on May 18. 9,500,000 young men were registered on June 5; the first quota of 687,000 men were drawn on July 20; the exemption boards then proceeded promptly with their work, and the first 30 per cent. of the first quota were ordered to report for duty on Sept. 5. On the day before the first drafted men were due in camp, parades and other celebrations were held in their honor throughout the country. The procession at Washington was led by President Wilson himself, with members of the Cabinet and of Congress and others following behind him. President Wilson issued the follow ing message of welcome to the soldiers of the National Army: The White House, Washington, D. C., Sept. 3, 1917. To the Soldiers of the National Army: You are undertaking a great duty. The heart of the whole country is with you. Everything that you do will be watched with the deepest interest and with the deepest solicitude, not only by those who are near and dear to you, but by the whole nation besides. For this great war draws us all together, makes us all comrades and brothers, as all true Americans felt themselves to be when we first made good our national independence. The eyes of all the world will be upon you, because you are in some special sense the soldiers of freedom. Let it be your pride, therefore, to show all men everywhere not only what good soldiers you are, but also what good men you are, keeping yourselves fit and straight in everything and pure and clean through and through. Let us set for ourselves a standard so high that it will be a,glory to live up to it, and then let us live up to it and add a new laurel to the crown of America. My affectionate confidence goes with you in every battle and every test God keep and guide you! WOODROW WILSON. In a letter written to Thomas L. Chadbourne, Jr., of the Mayor's Committee on National Defense, New York City, the President declared he would like to be in the trenches. The letter follows: The White House, Washington, Aug. 30, 1917. My Dear Mr. Chadbourne: Please say to the men on Sept. 4 how entirely my heart is with them and how my thoughts will follow them across the sea, with confidence and also with genuine envy, for I should like to be with them on the fields and in the trenches where the real and final battle for the independence of the United States is to be fought, alongside the other peoples of the world, struggling, like ourselves, to make an end of those things which have threatened the integrity of their territory, the lives of their people, and the very character and independence of their Governments. Bid them godspeed for me from a very full heart. Cordially and sincerely yours, WOODROW WILSON. Our Soldiers in France The million men now under arms are at every stage of training, but of course those who are most nearly ready for actual fighting are the men who were sent under General Pershing to France in June, and whose training is being completed within sound of the big guns, just behind the front. The preparation of Pershing's army for its work in the trenches is being carried out largely under French guidance, though British instructors are also helping. French and British officers have also come to the United States to place their experience at the disposal of the War Department and of the officers who are to lead the new armies. General Pershing on Sept. 1 moved his headquarters from Paris to a point nearer the American training camps. Discussing plans for the coming Winter, the General said that the American people must learn the meaning and value of patience, and not expect that the expeditionary forces landed in France can be rushed immediately to the front line trenches. When America does take her place in the line, shoulder to shoulder with the other allies, next year, she will be, General Pershing said, fully prepared to go through the Summer campaign and make the Germans feel the full weight of her military power. The announcement was made on Sept. 12 that a large section of American field artillery had arrived in France, and that considerable progress had already been made in intensive training under the general supervision of the most expert French artillerists. Preparing the Aircraft Fleet In no branch of modern warfare is skilled instruction more necessary than in the aerial service; and in both Europe and America our aviators are learning all they can from French and British experience. The United States has made one of its particular aims in the war the greatest possible achievement in aviation, and so that no obstacle should stand in the way, Congress voted the sum of $640,000,000 to be spent by the Aircraft Production Board in providing an enormous number of the most up-to-date and efficient flying machines. The appropriation was approved by President Wilson on July 24. The Sheppard Bill legalizing the Aircraft Board was passed by the Senate |