Tuesday, February 21, 2012
First Turkish Pilot completes flight Training
On 21 February 1912, Captain Fesa completed his flight training successfully and returned to his country upon receiving the 780th and the 1st pilot wings awarded by France and the Turkish Army respectively, while Yusuf Kenan Bey returned receiving the 797th pilot wings. Eight Turkish officers were also sent to France for flight training in the same year and the two aircraft purchased from France were delivered to Fesa and Yusuf Kenan in İstanbul on 15 March 1912. So, in early 1912, the Turkish Army had its first pilots and aircraft, and through the inauguration of the Air School (Flight School) in Yeşilköy (İstanbul) on 3 July 1912, the Turkish Army started to provide in-country training for its pilots.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
German Reichstag Elections Concluded
German Reichstag Elections Completed
Voting in elections for the German Reichstag was concluded, with the Socialists having the largest number of seats—100 out of 397, and the Radical and National Liberal parties having 44 and 47, for a total of 191, still short of a majority. Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg was able to find a new government.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Turkish Chamber of Deputies Dissolved
The Turkish Chamber of Deputies was dissolved, three days after a proposed constitutional amendment would have allowed Sultan Abdul Hamid II to dissolve Parliament in time of war. The proposal failed to receive more than 125 votes out of 188 that would have been necessary in the 376 member chamber.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
French Census 1911
On this date, January 12, 1912, the results of the French Census of 1911 were released, showing 39,601,509 residents, and increase of 349,264 from the 1906 census of 39,252,245. The next census, including the formally lost provinces of Alsace and Lorraine included the forthcoming enumeration: the total population of France according to the 1921 census would be 41,475,523. Taking into account the deaths directly due to the war were estimated at about 1,750,000.
The returns of the 1921 census were expected to show a corresponding decrease.
From the 1912 boundaries, France may have had less deaths, however these deaths included territorials. For example 12,000 deaths were from Vietnam.
The returns of the 1921 census were expected to show a corresponding decrease.
From the 1912 boundaries, France may have had less deaths, however these deaths included territorials. For example 12,000 deaths were from Vietnam.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Durbar of King George V
The Great Coronation Durbar of December 12th,1911
The Colonial Capital of Calcutta is moved to Delhi, as the British attempt to counteract Indian Independence and Home Rule movements. Anti-colonial sentiments would be exploited by the Central Powers in WWI, as well as drive alliance strategies. Watch the events surronding the crowning of King George V as the Emperor of India, in the third and last Durbar of 1911.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Political Chaos Threatens China
From the New York Times, December 5, 1911. News of the Independence Struggle in China. Note the author's assessment of the attitude towards suspected attrocities between Eastern and Western cultures. The same Western culture that would wage chemical warfare in a few short years.
The revolutionary juntas here are now marking time, awaiting the arrival of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, who is expected at any mmoment. It is hoped that he may prove to be the leader that every one is seeking.
The fall of Han-Yang last week proves to have been due entirely to the wholesale desertions of rebel troops enrolled in the Hu-Nan Province. Some say that the soldiers were bought by Yuan Shi-Kai, but most attribute the jealousies between the people of Hu-Nan and Hu-Pe.
The breathing spell following the facical termination of the Nanking campaign, coupled with the armistice at Hankow, affords an opportunity to look at the whole situation. The complete collapse of the Imperial Governement is regarded here as imminent, and there is nothing yet stable to take its place. The revolutionists have thus far been incapable of affecting any cohesion among themselves, and unless Sun Yat Sen proves to be the man of the hour, they will be found far less efficient if called upon to take on the responsibility of a national Government.
The cost of the struggle thus far has been far greater than is easily realized. Apart from the losses of the battlefield, it has plunged a majority of the provinces into poverty and famine, it has stopped all commerce and trade, crippled agriculture and industry, and diverted almost every penny of tax revenue from the purpose of peace.
The moral effect upon the people is another serious matter. Reports from the interior indicate the that conditions everywhere are growing worse. Briganage is almost the only profitable profession left to a people hitherto peaceable and orderly. Millions are starving within a radius of a few hundred miles of Shanghai. In increasing number there come to this city accounts of robberies and violence, and even the killing of Europeans has ceased to be exceptional. Close observers are more and more uneasy regarding the safety of foreigners in the immediate future.
The situation is complex. Facts are hard to get at. Both sides are financially close to bankruptcy and realize that their first need is to establish credit. In the hope of obtaining assistance abroad they are unsparing in the use of legitimate and illegitimate means to influence opinion. News is sensored and colored to suit the purposes of those in control. Some of the accounts of barbarities and atrocities have been exaggerated, but it must be remembered that many things which make the Occidental shudder cause no disturbance to the nerves of the Oriental.
A group of reformers is now holding a convention here, claiming to represent the entire country. The delegates assert that they are authorized by fourteen provinces to act as a provisional legislative body. The convention has accomplished little so far, owing mainly to the lack of cohesion which has been evidence at Wu-Change and Nanking. The begging attitude of the Peking Government elicits only sneers from the delegates, who have devoted much of their time to the selction of a capital city for the proposed republic.
Wu Ting-Fang, who was formerly Minister at Washington, and has allied himself with the rebels, says that all existing differences between the factions will be reconciled. He declares that the final meeting of the National Convention will be held at Nanking, which has beenselected as the future capital of the Republic of China.
POLITICAL CHAOS THREATENS CHINA
Insurgents Unable to Agree - Hope That Sun Yat Sen Will Prove Able to Lead Them.
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Cost of Struggle Terrible
Famine and Poverty in Most of the Country - Foreigners No Longer Safe - Industry Crippled.
SHANGHAI, Dec. 5 - Each day brings keener apprehension that China is drifting into political chaos. Although the fundamental aims of the revolutionary movement are worthy, they are brought to naught by lack of cohesion, lack of funds, and lack of a real leader. The situation inspires most pessimistic forebodings.The revolutionary juntas here are now marking time, awaiting the arrival of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, who is expected at any mmoment. It is hoped that he may prove to be the leader that every one is seeking.
The fall of Han-Yang last week proves to have been due entirely to the wholesale desertions of rebel troops enrolled in the Hu-Nan Province. Some say that the soldiers were bought by Yuan Shi-Kai, but most attribute the jealousies between the people of Hu-Nan and Hu-Pe.
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| China 1911 |
The cost of the struggle thus far has been far greater than is easily realized. Apart from the losses of the battlefield, it has plunged a majority of the provinces into poverty and famine, it has stopped all commerce and trade, crippled agriculture and industry, and diverted almost every penny of tax revenue from the purpose of peace.
The moral effect upon the people is another serious matter. Reports from the interior indicate the that conditions everywhere are growing worse. Briganage is almost the only profitable profession left to a people hitherto peaceable and orderly. Millions are starving within a radius of a few hundred miles of Shanghai. In increasing number there come to this city accounts of robberies and violence, and even the killing of Europeans has ceased to be exceptional. Close observers are more and more uneasy regarding the safety of foreigners in the immediate future.
The situation is complex. Facts are hard to get at. Both sides are financially close to bankruptcy and realize that their first need is to establish credit. In the hope of obtaining assistance abroad they are unsparing in the use of legitimate and illegitimate means to influence opinion. News is sensored and colored to suit the purposes of those in control. Some of the accounts of barbarities and atrocities have been exaggerated, but it must be remembered that many things which make the Occidental shudder cause no disturbance to the nerves of the Oriental.
A group of reformers is now holding a convention here, claiming to represent the entire country. The delegates assert that they are authorized by fourteen provinces to act as a provisional legislative body. The convention has accomplished little so far, owing mainly to the lack of cohesion which has been evidence at Wu-Change and Nanking. The begging attitude of the Peking Government elicits only sneers from the delegates, who have devoted much of their time to the selction of a capital city for the proposed republic.
Wu Ting-Fang, who was formerly Minister at Washington, and has allied himself with the rebels, says that all existing differences between the factions will be reconciled. He declares that the final meeting of the National Convention will be held at Nanking, which has beenselected as the future capital of the Republic of China.
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