The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

= Rr St 3 Commentary on the Highlights of the Week's AVIATION HISTORY: 1938 should be a banner year for aviation in Can- ada, if we read the signs aright. The Trans-Canada Air Lines network will be completed west of Montreal to the Pacific Coast. Experimental mail flights over the Prairies and Rockies are being made this month. Schedules call for the 1,168-mile flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver, with stops at Regina and Lethbridge, to be made in % hours and 15 minutes. Transatlantic mail flights by the end of the year are also contemplated, accordingsto Transport Minister C. D. Howe. While such developments are tak- ing pldace in Canada, Imperial Airways promisés in London, England, this week, that new planes put into service within the next few months, by mid- summer in fact, will make the 205- mile air trip from London to Paris in . exactly one hour. SABOTAGE: A word of compara- tively recent origin which is being {ised more and more frequently in the newspapers these days is "sabotage". Russian engineers are arrested on charges of sabotage; the blowing up of the Breda factories in Milan is laid to sabotage by Italian workers; mysterious fires in French ships are traced to sabotage; and now sabotag- ing in Britain's Royal Air Force comes to light when it is discovered that two of the newest type bombing planes have been tampered with at the factory. ¢Sabotage" comes from the French noun "sabot", (wooden) shoe, and was first used when a re- bellious French factory-worker threw a boot in the machinery to wreck it. We mean the same thing as "sabo- tage" when we say, "throw a monkey wrench in the works". In countries such as Italy and Ger- many where workers have no voice in the Government, sabotage is fre- quently chosen as a method of pro- est, of getting back at the powers- that be. It is an attempt to slow up a gystem which they believe to have the worst interests of the working people at heart. DIVORCES UP: An increase of twenty per cent. over 1936 is shown in the number of divorces granted to Canadian couples during 1937. The | total reached 1,870 altogether, 598 of which were taken out in Ontario. British Columbia ran a close second, while in proportion of population, Quebec scored the lowest, 43. Interesting sidelight on the statis- tics; men must still bé chivalrous since twisa ne many wives sued for divorce News . . . By Elizabeth E. Eedy as husbands. Or ig it that the man in the case is more often the guilty party? Food for thought, there. AMERICAN HOUR: ing game these evenings to tune in on the short-wave set to the broadcasts in English that are coming out of Rome, Italy, and Zeesen, Germany, under the guise of news summaries. From 2RO, you hear an American girl's voice on the "American Hour," giving 'the news as Mussolini would like you to hear it and interpret it. The game isn't so amusing, though, when you stop to figure how many people there are in the world today who are being forced by a rigid press censorship to see events in just that distorted and untrue light. The same gpirit which is attempting to smother all free thought in other countries is now moving to influence people on this Continent to accept the same biased outlook, narrow view of life and world affairs. It will be disastrous if that spirit continues to gain hold. BALKANS BOW: The small na- tiong of Central Europe feeling them- selves left in the lurch by Great Brit- ain and the League of Nations are scrambling' (with the exception of Austria, Czechoslovakia) under the "protective" wings of Germany and Italy, the nearest big powers. Last week the four Balkan entente coun- ties (Greece, Jugoslavia, Rumania and Turkey) bowed to Italy, agreeing to recognize the conquest of Ethiopia and grant belligerent rights to the Spanish rebels. When it's a case of every man for himself and devil take the hindmost, we could hardly expect the small Bal- kan powers to have acted otherwise. MAYORS THREATEN: A repres- entation of Ontario's mayors met last week in Toronto's City Hall to fight the announced opposition of Hon. Nor- man Rogers, Minister of Labor, to in- creased relief payments from the Do- minion Government. Declared Mayor H. R. Cory, of Trenton: "It hag come to the point where either you are going to have a rebellion of the unemployed, or you are going to have a rebellion of the ratepayers because they can't pay more." The small taxpayer indeed is not to be envied in these days of heavy relief expenditures. It comes to the point in some cases that a man with a tiny piece of property has to help keep his next-door neighbor who is al- most as well off. A serious situation, and the Ontario mayors are right in becoming exercised about it. Democracies Dominate By Sea And Air But :Land Forces of Dictator | States Qutclass France, Britain And U.S. by Three to One. WASHINGTON.--The three major democracies hold by far the world's dominant sea power and have a slight edge in air strength, but are badly outweighed by the land armies of the Fascist powers, a survey revealed. The combined navies of the United States, Great Britain and Franch, ship for ship, are more than two and a half times stronger than the fleets of Japan, Germany and Italy. Ratio, Two To One On completion of the naval re-ar- mament programs of these six pow- ers the ratio, roughly, will be two to one in favor of the democracies. A combination of the Fascist pow- ers against the United States alone, however, would find fleet heavily overwhelmed. In the air, the democracies could send out a combined aerial armada of approximately 12,000 fighting air- planes to beat off a theoretical Ital- jan-German-Japanese combination of 11,000 airplanes. It is on the ground--with the armies which must conquer and hold land and bear the major brunt of any war -- that the Fascist powers hold an over- whelming superiority to the present armies of the domocratic countries. Armies More Efficient This advantage is nearly three to one. It is further enhanced by the fact that one of the powers, Japan, is now engaged in a major war, and Italy has just finished putting its mili- tary machine through combat service in conquering Ethiopia and in giving aid to the insurgent army in Spain. Japan's army approaches 1,500,000. Nippon is known to have 1,000,000 men on the Asiatic continent, fighting in China and acting as a bulwark in Man- choukuo against possible Soviet inter- ference. The men under arms in Jap- an proper are estimated as in excess of 400,000. Half As Many Men Italy, at the end of the Ethiopian campaign, had 1,331,200 men under arms and, in addition, an air force personnel of 203,395. Of the 1,331,200 there were 8,738,200 called up from the reserves. How many of these have been demobilized is not known. The German army is conservatively A--C the American Canada's Revenue Shows Increase Rise of $66,304,779 Shown For Ten Months' Period OTTAWA.--Total national reve- nue for the first 10 months of the current fiscal year amounted to $438,065,898, an increase of $66,- 304,779 compared with the same pe- riod last year, according to the monthly statement of the comptroller of the treasury. Total ordinary expenditures for the same period (April 1 1937, to January 1, 1938) amounted to $320,- 672,951 a decrease of $11,869,686 compared with the same period a year ago. But when cost of relief for drought and unemployment, re- lief works, expenses in Government- owned enterprises and capital expen- diture is added the total disburse- ment for the period amounted to $414,256,627, an increase of $8,966,- 820. ' Balanced Budget Nearer Every source of revenue showed an increase and the general total in- dicates that every month Finance Minister Dunning is drawing nearer the possibility of a balanced budget. while the report for the 10-month pe- riod shows a surplus over all expen- ditures of $23,000,000, this may be wiped out by the heavy special ex- penditures for various forms of re- lief and the Canadian National Rail- ways deficit before the end of the fiscal year, March 31. Heaviest increase in revenues came in the excise and income tax branches which were $29,000,000 and $18,000,000 higher, respectively. Ex- cise had accounted for $150,526,799 56 the 10-month period and was the greatest single source of revenue: As there is no State tax in Hol- land, costs of radio programs are paid for by voluntary subscriptions. By taxing private rice mills the Government of Panama will have power to control the country's rice market. Czechoslovakia's trade with other countries is the greatest in five years. estimated at 650,000 with 100,000, in- cluding an anti-aircraft force of 40, 000 in the separate airforce. Against this array of 3,381,200 armed men, the United States, Britain and France have a combined total of 1,443,000. It is an amus- 200 Canadian Pilots Fly With Royal Air Force In Great Britain--But An All Time Record Was Set In Canada In 1937, More Than 350 Licenses Being Issued to Pilots --Total Flying Mileage 1,680,000. An all-time flying record was estab- % lished by Canadian flying clubs in 1937 as club activity continued on the upswing, with more than 350 licenses issued to pilots. Many of these pilots took positions with commercial avia- tion companies, while others joined the Royal Air Force in Great Britain. This exodus of Canadian flying club pilots to the R.A.F. began several years ago, and has continued. G. M. Ross, executive secretary of the Can- adian Flying Clubs Association, esti- mated there are more than 200 Cana- dian pilots who obtained licenses through Canadian flying clubs now with the R.A.F. He said there was no preconceived plan in this movement of pilots to Britain. > A survey made by the association last year showed that more than 150 club-trained pilots and air engineers were gainfully employed in commer- cial flying operations, and since that time the number has increased. 21,000 Flying Hours The association reported total time flown by the clubs in 1937 was close to 21,000 hours, which is about 1,680, 000 miles, or approximately equivalent to 65 flights around the world at the equator. This represented an increase of 21 per cent. over 1936, 52 per cent. over 1935, and 100 percent. over 1934. The Toronto club headed the list with 2,034 hours flown. by members, Winnipeg was second with 1,878, Ham- ilton third with 1,558, and London fourth with 1,365. Ottawa members flew 1,170 hours, and Edmonton 1,148. The clubs are subsidized by the Government. Membership fees aver- age $10 a person a year. Flying in- struction fees an hour on the aver- age are $12 dual, $10 student solo and $8 advanced solo. Only licensed in- structors and air engineers are em- ployed by the clubs, and all equipment ig certified by the Government as to airworthiness. Excellent Training Program ¢"Qur club-flying plan has proved the most useful and economical plan for pilot training in the world," Mr. Ross said. "We believe, however, that a program should be launched to train at least 10,000 more pilots in Canada. It would provide a reserve for military purposes besides provid- ing a stimulus to general flying inter- est. At present there are about 1,200 pilots holding active licenses and about 800 others whose licenses have lapsed." Minerals Top Fishing Crop Production Last Year Totals Ten Million In Newfoundland ST. JOHN'S, Nfld.--Newfoundland's mineral prospects are revealed in offi- cial figures released here that showed production in 1937 had surpassed the $10,000,000 mark for the first time in the history of the island. Announcement that the value of minerals in Newfoundland totaled $10,559,782 was accompanied by notes that revealed the fact this represent: ed double the value of the codfishery, long recognized as the island's leading industry. Continued Expansion Seen Predicting continued expansion of mining in Newfoundland, it was re- called that the island's mineral pro- duction in 1854 was $2,298 worth of copper raised at Tilt Cove, the only operating mine in the country at that time. Lead-zinc-gold-copper ore from Bu- chans and iron ore at Bell Island ac- counted for $10,000,000 of the total production last year, and small opera- tions for limestone and fluorspar were carried on at Aguathuna, Humber- mouth and St. Lawrence. | News In Brief Army Increased MADRID. -- Government Spain drafted youths of 19 and men of 30 oeesnc w ktarihisee t this week to increase its army from an estimated 650,000 to a possible 780,000. a Government Carries It PARIS.--The sliding wage scale provision of the labor code was re- adopted by the French Senate last week and with speedy approval of the other articles the code was sent back to the Chamber for action on Senate changes. The Senate vote was 194-82, An amendment which would have taken the force out of the sliding wage scale provision was defeated. Pre- mier Chautemps remained in office after having threatened to resign if the provisions were not readopted. Naval Race Continues LONDON.--British and American naval experts were reported reliably this week to have completed plans for building battleships exceeding 40,000 tons, but to be awaiting final decisions of their governments be- fore carrying out technical tests for actual construction. Air Raid on Valencia HENDAYE, Franco-Spanish Fron- tier.--Insurgent air raiders made two attacks over the week-end on Valen- cia and environs, and inflicted heavy damage on the town of Gandia, 40 miles to the south, Five rebel planes dropped several bombs near the port of Valencia and nearby hamlets. Will Go To Air Conference OTTAWA.--Canada will join in a new intra-Empire Air Transportation Conference next month, when a Ca- nadian delegation will be despatched to Ireland to consult with overseas authorities there. The new development in Empire air service was revealed by Transport Minister Howe as the House of Com- mons gave third reading to a bill to enable Trans-Canada Air Lines Lim- ited to become an integral part of the company which will eventually control Empire flying. Germany Threatens BERLIN. -- Germany's only ac- tive field marshal, Herman Wilhelm Goering, last week-end rattled the sabre as he warned the Reich's air force was ready to protect the "10,- 000,000 Germans on our borders." Highlights of his address: 1. Warning Hodza to treat the Su- deten Germans in Czechoslovakia as Hitler thinks they should be treated. 2. Warning von Schuschnigg to give Austrian Nazis the liberty of ac- tion Hitler demands for them. 3. Warning Chautemps not to en- courage Czechoslovakia too much by, as one semi-official commentator put it, "clinging to the doctrines of Ge- neva and adhering to military pacts with other powers." Fascist Inspiration Dies GARDONE RIVIERA, Ltaly. -- Gabriele d'Annunzio, Italy's great warrior-poet, symbol of Italian na- tionalism and President of the Aca- demy of Italy, died unexpectedly last week in his Villa Vittoriale. A cerebral hemorrhage caused his death. He would have been 75 on March 12. D'Annunzio was the sym- bol of the nationalist dream of Fas- cism, and the inspiration of Musso- lini, it is said, Defends "Back to Niagara" TORONTO.--Denying sharply that any secret deal had been made with the Quebec power companies, Pre- mier Hepburn, before the Legisla- ture, defended the reversal of his "back to Niagara" power policy last week by placing responsibility direct- ly upon the King Government at Ot- tawa. CE of VO THE WORLD AT LARGE CANADA THE EMPIRE! | the PRESS CANADA Only "Me" Remains In view of the Niemoeller trial, and the recent Nazi purge, one remarks that when Kaiser Bill resigned it was Me und Gott, but with Hitler now it is only Me.--Hamilton Spectator. Woerld's Worst Threat This is the really most dangerous condition in the world today--namely, that the people ruled by dictators do not get either truth or common sense from their newspapers.--Ottawa Jour- nal. The Disappearing Salmon People on the Pacific coast are at last getting an answer to that old question, "Where do the salmon go?" It seems that they go into a floating Japanese salmon cannery. -- Toronto Star. Rural Fire Protection , An English inventor has produced a "fireplace" which carries extinguish- ers, a motor pump, sectional ladder and gas "bombs" capable of suffocat- ing flames. This may ultimately pro- vide a solution to the problem of rural fire protection.--Woodstock Sen- tinel-Review. Financially Able to Drive It seems to be a reasonable princi- ple that no one should be allowed to take a car on the streets or highways unless he is in a financial position, through insurance or otherwise, to meet reasonable claims on account of any damage his machine may do, either through his own carelessness or indifference or through mechanical deficiency of his car.--Windsor Star. If They Stood Together Secretary Ickes of Washington has been telling the world that the demoec- racies must stand together. They all know it. But the trouble is that large and possibly controlling influences in each of them are not yet convinced that the time has come for them to "stand" anywhere. They could have stopped Japan, without firing 'a shot, by making a "stand" in front of Man- churia--now Manchoukuo. They could have stopped Germany by making a "stand" on the Rhine and negotiating a just and orderly revision of the Ver- sailles Treaty. Once they had prestige cnough to win without war. Whether they have today is doubtful. Whether they will have on some black tomorrow is not. --DMontreal Star. Canada's Lost Visions The national vision of plenty has been so far lost, the national policy of abundance in Canadian homes has been so completely forgotten, the Gov- ernment is no longer concerned with the ability of the Canadian fishing villages to buy Canadian apples. Al- most the entire concern of party poli- tics is with the exporting business to the British or some other distant mar- ket. The Conservative vision of na- tional policy has been lost as com- pletely as the Liberal vision of freer trade. There is no longer any real dif- ference between the parties, as the Minister of Labour's admission about the key place of the protective tariff would show. Under straight party politics, the Liberals would lead along the path of freer trade: the Conserva- tives would take new steps in the na- tional policy to see that the Canadian people have purchasing power in the home market to maintain economic security. Straight party politics has come to mean nothing more than the sham fight between. Tweedledum and Tweedledee.--Ottawa Citizen. Dean's Luck: On his way home from America in the German liner Hamburg the Dean of Exeter, Eng- land, attended a ship's costume fete. He had no fancy dress, so he wore his dean's evening dress--breeches, _ cilk stockings, and scarlet doctor's gown, He won first prize. THE EMPIRE Universal Vigilance : So long as two people are killed on Scottish roads almost every day of the year, the challenge of the road casualties remains unanswered. At the same time despair of further ef- forts to reduce the casualty list is not justified. These must continue to be among the first duties of every section of the community. Motorists, for ex- ample, must realize that they control, or are supposed to control, a poten- tially lethal weapon; pedestrians must realize that they can go safely only if they go warily; and cyclists, even if they are travelling on the special tracks they profess to dislike, must remember the dangers of unsteady and careless riding. The process of reducing the fearsome total of dead and injured cannot in the nature of things be other than slow; but fit could be accelerated if courtesy, con- sideration and watchfulness were so strictly observed as to possess the quality of instinct.--Glasgow Herald, Japan's Weaknesses The British Empire and the United States combined take half of Japan's exports and supply 63 per cent. of her needs. Then, in so far as Japan's raw silk export is concerned, the United States takes 85 per cent. of it, this being the only Japanese export not dependent on imported supplies of raw materials. Japan's whole social strue- ture, it will be seen, is dependent on the American silk market. Japan is vitally dependent on imports of oil from the United States and the Dutch East Indies, and of iron and scrap from India, Malaya and Australia. Amongst other things, Japan's coal consumption is only a fifth of Great Britain's and her heavy industry is not developed proportionately to her light industry. A vital weakness for Japan in war is her primitive system of land cultivation. The productivity per acre is high, but the productivity per man is exceedingly low. The transfer of large numbers of men to the fighting forces and of women. to the munition factories is bound to cause a steep fall in production at the very time when tens of thousands of soldiers have to be provided with a more substantial diet than they exist- ed on as peasants.--Hong Kong News. Clothes Prove Favorite Buy Of Canadian Tourist Visiting the United States Returning Canadians brought into Canada $6,303,656 worth of dutiable goods under the $100 exemption clause in the Customs tariff during the ten months from April 1, 1937, to last Jan. 31, the National Revenue Department reported last week. Goods from the United States were valued at $5,537,- 765. Clothing valued at $2,974,184 was the principal item in the seven com- modities listed, including one for mis- cellaneous articles, and of this $2,- 611,793 represented clothing from the United States. Second was furniture and household appliances, with $622,- 103 coming from all countries, and $582,094 from the United States alone. Boots and shoes brought were val- ued at $576,505, with $553,302 from the United States, while radios total- led $534,833, with $532,293 from the United States. The other two listed items were automobile accessories to- talling $87,855, with $87,745 from the United States, and automobile tires and tubes totalling $80,183, with $79,- 740 from the United States. Australia has just (reed 62 per cent. of its import trade from re- trictions. Britain's new census of woodlands totalling 3,000,000 acres, will keep twelve surveyors busy for two years, SS AR With the advent of an unusually early spring thaw, Coal Creek, Oklahoma, a twenty-foot stream normally quiet, has been swollen t tent, rising out of its bed to form a sina.l lake completely covering an area half a mile wide, y gues, o anabnornial ex» xX 3 Floods Swell Twenty-foot Creek to Veritable Lake in Spring Thaw