Evening star., 1934-05-12
Latin American Fascism.

movements of one brand or another.
Thus far, despite their recurrent do
mestic upheavals, the Latin states
have been immune from such violent
eruptions as have upset Old systems
of government in Europe, the repub-
lican idea has survived.
Now comes news that Chile IS on
the verge of a concerted effort to
create Fascist state. An urgent
summons to all patriotic Chileans to
join in meeting the present grave
political and economic menace to the
nation" has just been issued by the
| Fascist party over the signatures Of
hundreds of prominent citizens. A
Sunday mass meeting has been called
at Santiago for tomorrow. for discus
sion of q program to extend Fascist
activities throughout the country.
Although unarmed and numerically
not as strong as the republican
militia, which contains 50,0C0 men
with military training, the Fascist
party has been making rapid strides
N Chilean politics in recent times.
1t apparently owes its growth to the
arrival in the Senate of Col. Marina
duque Grove well-known national
politician and leader Of the Socialists.
Both the Fascists and the republican
militia seem to regard Col. Grove as
one of the principal menaces to the
present regime.
The Fascist manifesto calls upon
the people to abandon political diff
ferences and unite to save the re-
public from disintegration and eco
| nomic ruin. The Fascists declare
| they favor no one political group, but
are determined to oppose the excessive
demands of extreme Left leaders Of
the Socialist type. The present ad-
ministration OF President Alessandri Is
engaged In putting through a Chilean
recovery program on new deal lines,
including extensive government aid in
the development of national indus
tries. 1t Is not yet clear whether the
Fascists see "the menace to the ma
| ton in the Alessandri policies or in
the plans attributed to Col Grove and
his Socialist supporters.
In any event, Chile seems to be on
the brink of another political crisis
in the wake of the many storms which
she has periodically weathered during
the past two or three years. 1t will
be interesting to observe whether the
| Chileans will seek their salvation In
Fascism and to what extent the Mus
solini type of state appeals to other
Latin American communities.
Dust in the Air.
Yesterdays dust storm, which dark
ened the atmosphere in Washington
and was even more in evidence
! throughout the Northeastern section
Of the country, was not altogether an
exceptional phenomenon. Such far.
carried clouds Of pulverized material
have caused widespread dimming OF
the light Of the sun frequently in the
past. This dust came from the
drought parched farm lands of the
Middle West, where the lack of rain
has dried the soil and high winds
have secured the surface, carrying
enormous volumes Of fine particles
over a wide area. Smoke from forest
fires has similarly been borne by winds
over immense spaces, sometimes caus-
ing dark days" In far remote cities
The most notable instance of dust
being carried far away from a source
Of disturbance known In modern his.
tory is that of the demolition of the
volcano Of Krakatoa, in the Sundal
Strait, between Sumatra and Java, In
the Summer of 1883. In the course
Of an eruption an explosion Of tre-
mendous force occurred, presumably
caused by the entrance of a grea,
volume Of sea water into the vent
of the volcano and its transformation
into superheated steam. The entire
island was destroyed and vast body
of fine dust was emitted, being car.
ried to great distances by the winds
1t was computed that the column oi
stones, dust and ashes shot into the
air for height of more than seven
teen miles. For many weeks this dus,
fioated about, being diffused over the
space between 80 degrees north lati'
tude and As degrees south. 1t was
carried eventually over North and
South America. Europe. Asia. Soutl
Africa and Australia, virtually
throughout the world, and thu
phenomenon of exceptionally brilliant
sunrises and sunsets was observed ir
all lands for weeks.
Compared with the disturbances
caused by the explosion of Krakatos
the dust storm from the parched farm!
Of the Middle West that has just oc'
Cured was a mere zephyr.