Today -100: October 14, 1911: Of revolutions, aerial warfare, and bathtub suits

The leader of the Chinese Revolution, Sun Yat Sen, is in Chicago raising money while the fighting is going on, although his people were pretending he was in China, where rebels have proclaimed a republic. Sun Yat Sen is calling for China for the Chinese, a republic, a president – hint hint – elected by universal suffrage, bans on opium, slavery and foot-binding, and equal rights in land. The NYT has just figured out that this is a real revolution, carefully planned out, and not just the usual outbreak of disaffected violence. It says, “Hitherto the movements against the Manchu dynasty have been intensely reactionary, and especially have been animated by bitter opposition to foreigners in every direction.”

For some reason, Italian nationals are being killed in the Ottoman Empire, including 13 railroad workers in Syria (this may well just be a rumor). Italy is threatening to attack Smyrna and Salonica if this continues.

Italy is planning to drop bombs on Libya from dirigibles and airplanes.

Headline of the Day -100: “Government Wins the Bathtub Suit.”