Evening star., 1928-12-31

modified In September. Generally
speaking, Russia was in a healthier con-
dition than at any time since the revo-
luton.
Under the rule of President Mustapha
Kemal, Turkey moved steadily onward
toward modernization. Islam was de-
creed to be no longer the state religion,
and late in the year the government Or
dered the substitution of new alpha
bet, with Latin characters instead of
Arabic. The status of women continued
to improve. The Assembly passed a
new law of nationality containing many
interesting features.
| NationaIists Win Victory.
Victory of the Chinese Nationalist
was won after long and hard fighting
and despite the opposition of Japan.
! Marshal Chang TSo-lin, Manchurian
war lord, was forced to abandon Pc
king on June 8, and on his way to
Mukden his train was bombed and he
was fatally injured. The NationaliSts
established complete government and
constituted Marking the capital of the
republic. Chang Kai-Shek their gen.
eralissimo, was elected president of the
Council. The name OF Peking was
changed to Peiping, meaning Northern
Peace" The United States took the
| first step toward recognition of the new
government by negotiating a treay
granting China tariff autonomy. Great
Britain, Germany, France and Italy all
began negotiations with the Marking
government Japan alone holding aloof
because of her claim that her old
treaty with China was still in effect.
In Kansu Province, Western China
there was an uprising of MohammedanS
and more than 100000 persons were
reported to have been slain. Famine
conditions in Shantung and Chihli
Provinces continued practically unre-
| lieved, and in September 1t was re-
ported that $500, 900 persons were facing
starvation
Hirohito's formal enthronement as
the 124th Emperor of Japan, which took
place on November 10, was preceded,
accompanied and followed by success
sion of extraordinary ceremonies, in ac-
cordance with immemorial custom.
These spectacles were witnessed by
many thousands of Japanese and by
throngs of tourists from all parts of the
world. In September the heir pre-
sumptive to the throne, Prince Chichibu,
was married to Miss Setsuki Matsu-
daira, descendant of one of Japan's
most ancient families, but herself a
commoner. She Is we'll known in Wash
ington, where her father was Ambas-
sador from Japan until recently. The
first universal suffrage election in
Japan was held on February 20, the
government winning by a scant plu-
rality.
ObregOn Assassinated.
| Gen. Alvaro Obregon, being the only
surviving candidate for the presidency
of Mexico after the recalcitrants had
been suppressed, was elected on July
| /, to take Office on December /. But
on July II, as he was attending BAN
Quet in his honor, he was assassinated
| by a young native named Toral. The
crime created great sensation and the
trial of the murderer and his alleged
accomplices was watched with immense
| interest. In November Toral was con-
victed and condemned to death, and
nun, Mother Conception, who was ac-
cused of being the intellectual author"
| of the crime. was condemned to 20
years in prison. Tt was up to the Ma
| tional Assembly to choose provisional
President to serve IA months from De-
| cember L. and, President Gales refusing
| the job, 1t was given to Emilio Portes
| Gil. The government showed rather
more leniency toward the Catholics
than In the previous year, and on Sep
| ten1ber II 1t ordered all churches re-
opened. However, all through. the