128
14
political leaders, including M. Vukitchevitch himself, and even M. Raditch had been called upon to try his hand. The latter, who can always be relied on for the unexpected, having decided that he could not compete himself, proposed the formation of a coalition under the Premiership of a non-party man from out- side the Skupshtina, preferably a soldier. This suggestion of a dictatorship so alarmed the politicians of all parties, that the bickering between the different factions came speedily to an end, and M. Vukitchevitch once again took the reins of office. M. Marinkovitch remains Foreign Minister, and the Ministry of the Interior has been entrusted to the leader of the Slovene clerical party, Dr. Koroshetz. The first day's sitting of the Skupshtina after the formation of the new Cabinet was enlivened by a free fight caused by M. Raditch's accusations against the Government of imposing the rule of their police upon the whole country. It appears doubtful whether the present Government will remain in office for any length of time, and fresh elections are probable. in the not far distant future.
1:
ļ
15
PART II.
General Intelligence.
DENMARK.
The Government's new proposals for reorganising and reducing the naval and military forces are meeting with general opposition, in which the most prominent officers of both services are taking leading parts.
At a big national meeting in Copenhagen on 1st February the following resolution was put and carried by an enthusiastic audience :-
"
The sanction of the Government Defence Bills would involve so thorough and radical a depreciation of our already weak defences that Denmark could not possibly secure her neutrality and loyally fulfil her international obligations. The independence and very existence of Denmark would be in danger. The assembly therefore protest against the enact- ment of this Bill in its present form."
The Bill, which is essentially a compromise in the direction of economy, appears to be likely to meet with the usual fate of proposals which do not satisfy either of two distinct and entirely opposite views.
It is of interest that in connection with the campaign against the Defence Bill reference has been made in several public speeches of the absolute necessity for Denmark to maintain close friendship with Great Britain in all circumstances.
FRANCE.
Glowing accounts of the performances of the new French cruisers have appeared in the Press lately, and the following is an account given by Rear-Admiral Pirot, on board the Lamotte Picquet, to a Press representative.
C
There have never been such perfect engines as those of the three Lamotte Picquets; you can state this boldly in English as well as in French.
或道
+
Our English friends are good enough seamen to be well aware of this. Here is a striking example :- -The Duguay Trouin left Brest on 22nd February, 1927, in such a gale that everyone thought she would be obliged to return to harbour. Instead of that she continued her cruise through the storm without any difficulty, steaming at 17 knots, and, better still, she met the 26,000 ton British battleship Marlborough, which was being absolutely swamped by the heavy seas. The Duguay Trouin had the satisfaction of steaming past proudly at 18 knots, to the huge astonishment of the British officers in their disabled (en panne) mastodon.
129