TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8373, 6 March 1907, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Don Pedro Alvarado, the Mexican Croesus, who created a sensation a year ago by offering to pay off the national debt of Mexico, has again thrilled America by announcing that, despite the ownership of ajnine that can produce £2,400,000 atyear/ihe intends to die poor. After liberation, he has decided to give £2,000,000 to the poor of Mexico, the money to be distributed by |the Government. Each'of those found worthy J. in the eyes of jthe Government will receive a small farm or be helped to establish himself in business. Provision has been made to found free the fund, and a small amount will be given to struggling churches. It is estimated that as many as 20,000 persons will, be benefited by Don Pedro's generosity.

As was be expected, the Naval Estimates provide for a considerable reduction in men and money during the current year. This is consistent enough with the declared policy and the electionfpledges of the Liberal leaders, but"it opens the grave question whether England is not actually surrendering the Two-Power standard which for twenty years has been the central feature of her naval policy. Another important point in the new naval programme is that further construction is to depend upon the result of the attempt to limit or reduce national armaments which is to be made at the next Hague Conference. This is undoubtedly the first time that the risks of national defence and national safety have been committed to such a contingency; and we may expect thi3 new departure to be assailed with the most vehement criticism by those who regard England's naval predominance as by no means safely ensured.

The chief point of interest, so far as Nsw Zealand was concerned, in the American Ship Subsidy Bill, was the proposal to give largely increased subsidies to American steamers trading in the Pacific. ' It was understood that if the measure, as passed, contained that provision, the Spreckels Company would benefit largely,£and would be able to put better steamers into the San Francisco mail service. The Bill has become law, but without the portion relating to the subsidies to steamers trading with Australasia, and the Sprecckels'Company's hopes of additional Government assistance are therefore shattered. The New Zealand Government refuse to send any more mails by the boats under existing conditions,, and the next San Francisco steamer will be the last of the present service to arrive in Auckland. There is some talk of a new company being formed, but nothing definite is known about it, except, apparently, that Mr Spreckels, as of old, will have a large share in it.

Speaking on the study of modem history to the members of the Aldershot Military Society the other day, Lord Esher insisted upon its necessity for every officer of the British Army. In this connection he said there was no phrase that Englishmen were fonder of than that of the "Seagirt Isle." But modern history showed the phrase had lost its ancient meaning, although the "Blue water School" based their contentions upon its accuracy. The argument of the extreme blue-water school was that Great Britain required for her defence the strongest possible navy and, subject to that condition being fulfilled, her army in time of peace must be reduced to a police force. But there never was a more fatal allusion, for modern history showed that while sea-power might be the decisive it could not be the sole factor in a war for Empire. It was a grave delusion to attempt to relegate all knowledge of the European history to officers of the General Staff. '