SIGNS 'TIMES T E WOR PROPHETIC WEEK LY UROPE has a power — a mysterious, secretive power — selling murderous material to the nations. Now it is known that Sir Basil Zaharoff has been this "mystic knight whose irons stir the fires of war" under Europe's caldron of seething hate and envy. Clemenceau once called him "the Sixth Power of Europe." During one week last summer the tentacles from this man's forces were felt in America when a Senate Committee in Washington began to investigate Zaharoff's connections here, and to strip off the mantle of mystery surrounding his super gun-selling activities. We followed the news accounts, but the greater portion of the unknown remained unsolved. The rule he adheres to is— "never to say anything concerning myself." Sir Basil is now eighty-five years old, and is still a mystery man. It was in 1887 when he first started his career by rustling business for the arms firm of Nordenfeldt. At that time he sold to Russia, Turkey, and various Balkan nations, all of whom were eager clients for his death-dealing wares. From that early date until now he has covered the territory efficiently,—the best atmosphere for business being the ghastly chill of war. The covering of mystery around Zaharoff is complete. It is not definitely known when or where he was born. He says he was born in 1850, but he does not name the birthplace. Some name the Asia Minor town of Mughla; the date, October 6, 1849. Others say Constantinople,—having for his father a Turk and for his mother a Greek. These same biographers can find no proof for his claim that he was "educated in London and Paris." To-day he strolls feebly about Monte Carlo,—an old man in ill health. His daily automobile ride through the countrysides brings him in contact with the peasantry, with whom he often chats about United States infantrymen, stationed on Governor's Island, New York, charge in attack formation protected by gas masks. Sir Basil Zaharoff, , international arms manufacturer The Supersalesman of Death by HOWARD JENNINGS their crops. They regard him as a kindly old country gentleman; they do not know him as the purveyor of machinery which has brought death to their sons and fathers on the battlefields of Europe's many wars. Those who know him now say he takes more interest in the flowers about his château than he does in the world's affairs. His life's work is finished; secretaries relieve him of all business, rarely asking advice on MERLIN L. NEFF problems affecting his business. A small por- tion of life lies ahead of him, as he puts off Two Billions Two billion dollars' worth the use of liquor." Such statements by the the same pall of death which he brought to for Booze of liquor is estimated to editors are appalling. Have they overlooked soldiers in such a businesslike manner when have been consumed in legal channels dur- the countless news dispatches which have he was the "czar of the world's war making." ing the first year of repeal, the American come to them on the teletype from every Physicians attend him constantly, interested Business Men's Research Foundation states. part of the United States? Have they been to preserve the short span of his life ahead; "These figures are the more arresting when heedless of the drunken drivers, the sordid but the world looks on, more interested in they are compared with the $2,000.000,000 crimes, the increased drunkenness, which the years of the life behind that he has lived which Federal and state governments are have followed the act of repeal? Do they so luridly, for when Zaharoff was in his said to have paid for relief purposes during have the audacity to say that what they prime, Lord Beaverbrook once said of him: recent months." This $2,000,000,000 for print in their papers in the form of adver- "The destinies of nations are his sport, the liquor would have purchased some 3,000,000 tisements they are not willing to back up in movements of armies . his special delight. new automobiles. If this money had gone principle? In the wake of war this mysterious figure for furniture, clothing, dresses, shoes, food- moves over tortured Europe." stuffs, etc., there might have been a sound His main•address has been in Paris. There basis for recovery from the depression. Richer There were forty-six citi- kings and statesmen have come to the resi- America was told she might drink herself Poor Poorer zens of the United States dence at 53 Avenue Hoche, where vast arms back to prosperity, but figures, facts, and with incomes of more than $1,000,000 each bargains are said to have been sealed with the present situation show how foolish this in 1933 against only twenty in 1932. The Zaharoff. These stately customers always reasoning has turned out to be. internal revenue statistics show that all in- returned,—munitions wares were much in comes above $25,000 were on the increase, demand. but incomes of $5,000 and less were on the Inhabitants on decrease. In other words, the rich are grow- Dealings With All Nations "Are the planets in- Other Planets habited ?"has of ten been ing richer and the poor are growing poorer. It was after the highly profitable dealing the question asked astronomers. To-day Dr. Attt, with the Balkans that his eye centered upon Gustaf Stromberg of the Mount Wilson his beloved Greece. He sold that nation a Observatory declares that "life as we know Trained to submarine. But the fact that Greece was According to the ruling of it may well exist on numerous other planets." his beloved country did not prevent him Slaughter the Supreme Court, more It may be possible, he thinks, that there are from pointing out to the Turks the necessity than 100,000 youth in American land-grant other planets revolving around the suns of of new equipment in order to offset the colleges are required to take military train- the Milky Way where living beings dwell. Greek menace. This the Turks realized, and ing. This recent decision makes it impos- Can one imagine such a universe filled with they ordered two submarines. sible for young men who are conscientious suns, a myriad planets, and on these planets Then in the Boer War, generous impar- in their objections to fighting to remain in tiality was demonstrated. For a certain price countless living beings, all having come into these institutions without studying the "art Zaharoff provided the Boers with war de- existence by sheer chance or evolutionary of war." Every year Congress appropriates vices; the products for filling the order were process? Truly "the heavens declare the about $4,000,000 for this instruction. To made by the English-owned Nordenfeldt's, glory of God." such ends have the designs of true educa- and helped to swell the British casualty tion been prostituted by this nation. Educa- lists. Yet for all this sordid international tion should have as its purpose the training Newspaper The race for the "funniest" career that Zaharoff had chosen to follow of men to live, not to slaughter! "Funnies" newspaper in the country for a livelihood, King George V did not continues as one journal announces a twenty- hesitate to decorate the man for "war serv- page comic section, and a rival publisher ices" in 1918. Later, in 1921, the king e~lexico Sets counters with twenty-one pages of comics. The two most luxurious knighted Sir Basil, and permitted him to Example gambling houses in Mexico wear the cocked hat and plumes of the Order It might be suggested that the intellectual tastes of the American masses and the pres- City which have been the rendezvous for of the Bath. the city's night life have been closed by the Back again at the time of this war sales- ent moronic trend may soon lead the editors of daily newspapers to produce a paper of new president of the republic, Lazaro Car- man's earlier activities, we find that at the denas. These resorts are now to be re- start of the twentieth century the Russo- comic strips, with a few news items crowded in here and there for good measure. modeled into schools or community centers Japanese War rolled in heavy profits for instead of dens of vice. Perhaps American munitions firms which had merged some Atta, officials would do well to follow our neigh- time before, and for which Zaharoff was Succumbed to About the time that Pro- boring republic's example in abolishing not only salesman but also an executive. Filthy Lucre hibition was repealed, the rather than licensing gambling, race-track Succeeding international conflicts raised him betting, and night-life establishments. higher in profits and power. Chicago Tribune stated: "Advertisements of whisky, brandy, gin, rum, and similar liquors AA& International Honors will not be accepted by the Chicago Tribune Divorce Occasionally some news of his business with the repeal of Prohibition." But there Recent statistics show that the Declines trickled before the public eye. The authors has been a change of heart in the managers divorce rate has been diminish- of "Merchants of Death," Engelbrecht and of this newspaper in recent days. It has ing—slightly—since 1929. It is generally Hanighen, report that he supplied Spain announced that it will throw its columns agreed that this is due not to any revival of with $25,000,000 worth of murderous war open to liquor advertisements, apologetically morals, but to the fact that divorce is now material to be used in killing American sol- stating that it has "observed the reasonable a more expensive luxury than many people diers in Cuba.