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Seipel (IGNATIUS Chancellor of Austria)

IGNATIUS, Chancellor of Austria, continued in control of the Government during 1923, and largely through his efforts the loan of 130 million dollars was granted to Austria through the League of Nations. Dr. Seipel is a Roman Catholic priest and is leader of the Christian Socialist party. He has proved himself to be among the most able of European leaders since the war.

SHIPPING BOARD. In October, 1923, Chairman Farley of the Shipping Board announced a new plan of operating the five lines of Government vessels which run between the Atlantic Seaboard and the United Kingdom. These are known as the U. K. lines and previously had been operated by five different companies as managing operators. By the new plan the operation was taken over by a subcommittee of the Shipping Board. This was the beginning of the "direct operation" of ships promised in June, 1923, 1923, by the Shipping Board, if it were found impossible to sell the ships outright.

SLEEPING SICKNESS. An outbreak of sleeping sickness (encephalitis lethargica) occurred in New York in the first month of 1923. Over one hundred deaths resulted. This malady is not to be confused with the African sleeping sickness, which is the result of the bite of the tsetse fly. The sleeping sickness known in the United States is a frequent ac- SPAIN ment. A Senatorial investigation into the alleged activities of the Soviet Government in the United States was ordered and was begun in December. In September, the old Cheka or extraordinary commission for the suppression of counter-revolution, which was the chief agency for the detection and punishment of alleged conspirators against the Government, was abolished and its its place was taken by a new department with even greater powers, including a comprehensive secret service. The last members of the American Relief Administration left Russia on July 21, having completed their work. It was announced that the crop conditions were such that Russia would probably be self-sustaining in 1924. Trade conditions still continued to be unfavorable in 1923. The total imports of Russia amounted in that year to $10,356,948, and the exports to $965,- 280. compan_ment of influenza and other winter diseases. The so-called Mayo serum discovered by E. C. Rosenow of the Mayo Laboratories, Minnesota, brought about recovery in many cases.

SPAIN. Spain in 1923 became a virtual dictatorship. On September 13 Primo de Rivera, Marquis of Estella, Captain General of Barcelona, issued a manifesto of revolt against the Premier, Señor Alhucemas. This action followed the defeat of the Spanish forces in Morocco, which, it was charged, was due to radicalism and corruption in the army. Leading officers under the leadership of De Rivera formed an organization and signed an ultimatum to the Premier. As this was ignored, De Rivera seized the city of Barcelona on September 13 and began revolt against the Government, which spread throughout the country.

The King refused to support the cabinet and punish the leaders of the revolt, and on September 14 the minister resigned and most of the members of the cabinet fled. King Alfonso then invited General de Rivera to take charge of the government and the latter became Premier on September 15, with a directorate of six generals. A new cabinet was named and the King dissolved the courts, leaving to General de Rivera the responsible power whose decrees would have all the force of laws. Among the first acts of the new dictator were the cancelling of STAR MAP railroad subsidies, the establishment of a credit of 10,000,000 pesetas for the cultivation of cotton; another of 20,000,000 for irrigation purposes. He also began negotiations of a new commercial treaty with the United States. In December, following a conference with Benito Mussolini in Italy, General de Rivera modified the military régime by the introduction of expert civilians in the various departments of the government. STAR MAP. The greatest star map in the world was brought nearly to completion in 1923. This is being made at the Paris Observatory after thirtysix years of labor. It records photographically 300,000,000 stars and other heavenly bodies which are visible through the most powerful telescopes.

Only about 6,000 stars can be seen with the naked eye. This map is the outcome of international cooperation among the astronomers of eighteen nations, who met in 1887 and agreed to subdivide the work.