The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-09-26
CANALS IMPORTANCE
is over ESTIMATED
French Maritime Expert Says
Panama Will Never Enjoy
Trade of Suez.

Paris Special: The passing of the Pana-
ma canal hill INTO law has given rise to
the discussion of the eXaggeration of the
Importance of the canal itself to the
worlds shipping. One Of the leading
maritime authorities in France, NJ. Jose
Moselli, says in this connection that the
enormous advantages of the new canal
are on consideration greatly diminished.
They are, he says, not sufficient to bring
to Panama the trade enjoyed by Suez, for,
While the voyage from Europe to the east
via Panama would be some Is days short
er, this advantage would be more thar
counterbalanced by the difficulty Of OBJ
tanning freight, BY the Suez route YES
sells tap Egypt, India and China, where
freights are profitable and abundant,
while there would not seem to be much to
be picked up by the Panama route. On
the return ships might make a slight de-
tour to Chile and load nitrate, but at
$3.50 per ton this would not appear very
attractive.
From the passenger point Of view, the
Panama route would only benefit travel
ers between Europe. the west coast of the
United States and Australia. European
passengers for Chile would arrive Just as
quickly by going direct to Buenos Ayres
and taking the Transandean railroad.
AS to nitrates and saltpeter of Chile
not very profitable ~freight-it is to be
presumed that the sailing ships which
carry 1t now will continue to use the Cape
Horn route, not only to avoid the canal
dues. but also because Gains are fire.
quent and durable in the gulf of Panama.
There remains the question of coal.
Seventy-ive per cent of existing cargo
steamers carry between 5000 and 5000
tons. Their speed is small and their coal
consumption calculated for medium dis
tances. But between Panama and Asia or
Australia there is the whole Pacific ocean
to be crossed, Is to 20 days navigation.
Only very rich freights would permit such
an expense.
From all this, concludes M. Moselli, it
appear that the prime Importance of the
canal Is s~trategical, in that 1t permits the
United States fleet to operate indifferentIy
on either shore of the continent. Thanks
to the new canal, the American fleet will
be able to accomplish in two or three
weeks a journey which formerly required
three months and that, without doubt,
will hasten the settling of counts which,
sooner or later. must take place between
the United States of America and Japan
for the hegemony of the Pacific.
Officers of the French army reserve
have been given by the minister of war
the choice of resigning their membership
In certain societies or losing their COM
missions. Alevandre Millerand has just
sent a circular to reserve officers all over
the country pointing out that member.
ship Of the so-called military lagues is in
compatible with discipline. One of the
leagues is Masonic and another anti-Ma-
comic. and they had their origin in more
or less ramless societies for the promotion
of comradeship, but each of them has ac-
quired an aggressive political character
within recent years.
Mulaf Hafd, ex-sultan OF Morocco, has
graduated rapidly in the pleasures of his
lClrOnSan hosts at Vichv during bjE
cure" One evening he was taken behind
the scenes of the Casino theater after
seeing the first act CT a ballet, and he
complimented the dancers with f1attering
enthusiasm. Earlier in the evening he
had given his first dinner party, and in
the afternoon he had figured at a recep-
ton held In his honor by the municipality
Both as host and guest he bore himself
with much charm of manner, and as a
writer of graceful sentiments in ladies'
albums he has already proved himself
hard to equal.
A knowledge of live stock is another of
the ex-sultan's accomplishments. He in
spected a herd of nivernaise COWS with an
unerring eye, picked the three best and
ordered them to be sent to his house in
Tangier. He even began to milk one of
them to make sure that his Judgment was
not at fault. He also purchased two black
cats and a collie dog. For his children he
bought a hundred dolls in Bourbonnais
costume, a mechanical p.ano-player, a
erry-go-round and an extraordinary
| quantity of toys.
He presented a handful of gold to a con-
jurer who performed the venerable trick
Of making a globe of goldfish disappear
before him, and the fame Of his OPEN
h~andedness spread far and wide. When
ever he was known to be in his apart
ments, dozens of hawkers were to be seen
lowering round the gate, watching for a
chance of catching his eye.
The ex-sultan was taken to the Mar
settles cathedral, and managed to slip five
louis into the land of a blind beggar on
the steps as he went in. After presenting
the Cathedral clergy with Is louis for the
poor, he came out and mounts in the
elevator to the Basilica, distributing on
the way five louis to a postcard merchant
and five louis to the elevate boy. From
the Basil.ca the party went to the Ca
sine, and the orchestra happening to play
his favorite "Sambre ct Meuse'' march,
was rewarded with five louis, the distribu-
ton of largesse concluding with two louis
to another blind beggar at the door of the
Casino.
BY this time the disgust of the sultan's
financial adviser was changing to panic,
and he was heard to express the opinion
that at this rate, we shan't get far"
AT the present rate of exchange a louis is
worth about 81, so that it will be seen that
the ex-sultan's munificence for the after
noon amounted to the respectable total of
$50, out Of the pension of 500 a day the
French government allows him. The eve
ming found Mulai Haf1d In a music hall,
and a short glimpse of the chorus girls
behind the scenes cost him the balance
of his days pay and $50 to boot.
----
Her Opportunity.
From the Fliegende Blaetter.
Young Husband-What a glorious
day. 1 could dare anything. face any
thing, on a day like this!