Page:EB1922 - Volume 31.djvu/818

778 were purposely neglected under the Russian regime in the frontier area, Kovno itself being then a first-class fortress.

Railways. The lines which existed under the old Russian Empire were converted by the Germans during their occupation from Ru ssian 5-ft. gauge to German 4 ft. 8 2 in. The total length is 720 kilometres. Double lines are: Wirballen-Kovno-Koszedari ; Janov-Shavli v Koszedari-Jewie (to Vilna). Single lines are: Koszedari-Janov- Shavli-Murajevo-Lusha (to Mitau); Radzivilishki-Ponevez-Jal- ovka-Kalkuni (which joins the Vilna-Dvinsk double lineal Kalkuni); Murajevo (Musheiki)-Ringen (to Mitau with ballasted track for second line) ; Suvalki-Pinsk-Olita-Daugi (to Orani), which joins a double line at Orani. The following new single lines totalling 288 km. were built by the Germans during their occupation : Shavli- Pozeruni (to Tilsit) ; Shavli-Meiten (to Mitau); Memel-Bajohren- Skudi (to Prekuln and Mitau).

Waterways. The length of the Niemen from Olita to the German frontier (village of Polejki) is 266 kilometres. The river, which is navigable for 8 months in the year, has been internationalized under the Treaty of Versailles as far as Grodno (extreme point for steamer navigation). Its width varies from 75 to 325 yd. as far as Kovno and thence to the Baltic from 185 to 650 yards. Its average depth is 3 ft. and its average speed of current 2j m. per hour. The Vilya is navigable from its mouth at Kovno to Janov (40 kilometres). The Niaviaza is navigable from its mouth, northwest of Kovno to Bobri (25 kilometres).

Currency, Weights and Measures. Alone among the Baltic states Lithuania had as yet no national currency in 1921. Legal tender were the " Ostmark " (originally introduced by the German Military Administration of the Army of Occupation, " Militarisches Verwaltungsgebiet Ober-Ost "), which in Lithuania proper ranked pan passu with the German " Reichsmark," and other German fidu- ciary currency to a total not less than one milliard marks.

The weights and measures were still Russian, but the introduction of the metric system was contemplated in 1921.

Laws. In all cases where special enactments had not yet been made the laws of the former Russian Empire were considered valid. __ Political Parties. The Seim (Constituent Assembly) in existence in 1921 was elected in April 1920 by universal, direct, equal and secret franchise. All men and women who were 21 years of age and all soldiers who were 18 years of age were entitled to vote. The Seim comprised 112 members, of whom 59 were Christian Democrats, 29 Popular Socialists, 14 Social Democrats, 6 Jewish party, 3 Polish party and I German party. The Peasants' party combined with the Popular Socialist party, while the " Workers' Federation " and the " Yeomen's Union " (these being but the small landowners) formed part of the Christian Socialist governing bloc. Legally recognized parties which were not represented in the Seim were: (a) the Progressive party (Pajanga) ; (b) the Liberal party (known as the Santara Union); (c) "Landlords' Association" (which com- prised only large landed proprietors). The Social Revolutionary and the Communist parties were not legally recognized and were un- represented. The president was chosen by the governing party, the Christian Democrats; the first vice-president by the Popular Socialists; the second vice-president by the Christian Democrats.

The Government which took office in June 1920 was a coalition Cabinet of the Christian Democrat and Popular Socialist parties plus three ministers who did not belong to any party. The Opposi- tion was formed of the Social Democrat and the Polish parties. The prime minister was Dr. K. Grinius (Peasants' Union) ; Minister of Finance, Trade and Commerce and Communications, E. Gal- vanauskas (non-party) ; of Foreign Affairs, Dr. J. Purizkis (Chris- tian Democrat); of War, Dr. Shimkus (Popular Socialist); of the Interior, K. Skipitis (Santara); of Education, K. Bizauskas (Chris- tian Democrat); of Justice, V. Karobis (non-party); for Jewish Affairs, M. Soloveicik (Democrat); for White Russian Affairs, D. Siemasko (non-party) ; and of the department of Agriculture, Alexa (Popular Socialist).

Army. The serious disadvantage under which the Lithuanian army suffers is the shortage of the officer class, but the sturdy, phlegmatic peasants should, under good leadership, make good fighting material. The army in 1921 was organized in 4 divisions, each division normally containing j, regiments of infantry, 3 field batteries and I squadron of cavalry. The 'total number of units were, in the infantry, 28 regular battalions, I reserve battalion and 3 battalions of Frontier Guards; in the cavalry some 8 squadrons; in the artillery 9 field batteries; in the engineers I electro-technical and I auto battalion, a pioneer company and a railway operating company plus an aviation corps, or a total of about 1,200 officers and 35,000 men. This was the maximum expansion possible under the conditions prevailing in 1920-1, of a crisis in the political relations with Poland ; but the maintenance of this establishment for any length of time appeared to be impracticable, since on this basis the army absorbed close on 60 % of the revenue of the State, viz. some 460 million German marks.

Climate. The climate of Lithuania is, on the whole, more moder- ate than that of other parts of Russia in the same latitude. Winter sets in normally at the end of Nov. and lasts till the end of March. The rivers are frozen from Dec. to Feb. Spring begins at the end of March. June, July and Aug. are considered the summer months. Autumn begins in Sept., light frosts occurring at its close.

BIBLIOGRAPHY. Joseph Ehret, La Lithuanie (1919, also in Ger- man); L. Gaigalat, Litauen (1917, also in French); Victor Jungfer, Kulturbilder aus Litauen (1918); A. Jusaitis, The History of the Lithuanian Nation (1918); Etat Economique de la Lithuanie (1919); P. Klimas, Liettwa, jos gyventojai ir sienos (1917); P. Klimas, Le Developpement de I'Etat Lithuanian (1919, also in German); T. Norus and J. Zilius Norus, Lithuania's Case for Independence (1918); Mgr. C. Propolanis, L'Eglise Polonaise en Lithuanie (1914) ; Albinas Rimka, Lietuvos ukis pries didji kara (1918); Russian Poland, Lithuania and White Russia, Handbook No. 44 prepared under the direction of the Historical Section of the Foreign Office (London 1919); Stasys Salkauskas, Sur les confins des deux mondes (1919); B. Skalweit, Landwirtschaft in den Litauischen Gouvernements (1918) Ludwig Sochassever, Memel, der Hafen von Litauen; K. Verbelisj La Lithuanie Russe (Geneve Edition Atar); W. St. Vidunas| Litauen (1916); A. Voldemar, Relations Russo-Lithuano-Polonaise's (1920) ; idem, Lithuanie et Pologne (1920). (W. L. B.) LIVERPOOL, England (see 16.804). The pop. of the city had increased from 684,958 in 1901 to 753,353 in 1911. The municipal area, which covered 16,619 ac. in 1911, was extended in 1913 so as to include the townships of Allerton (1,589 ac.), Childwall (830 ac.), Little Woolton (1,389 ac.), and Much Woolton (792 ac.), making a total area (exclusive of 2,883 ac. of river-bed) of 21,219 acres. The estimated pop. of this area in 1919 was 781,948 and the ratable value in 1920-1 was 5,114,256. The death-rate per thousand was 17 in 1919 almost the lowest on record for the city but the death-rate from zymotic diseases remained proportionately high (0-96 per 1,000) and, under the insistence of the Home Office, it was decided to establish an experimental disinfecting station for the disinfection of all imported dangerous wool.

The city in 1921 was divided into 39 wards with 36 aldermen and in councillors, and the total number of municipal electors according to the 1920 register was 283,760. The n parliamen- tary divisions are: the Scotland, Exchange, W. Toxteth, E. Toxteth, Edge Hill, Everton, Kirkdale, Walton, W. Derby, Fairfield and Wavertree. The electors numbered 355,755.

Under the Housing of Working Classes Acts, 1890-1909, 1,510 insanitary dwellings were demolished during 1910-5. During the period 1916-9, owing to conditions created by the war, no proceedings were taken, but in 1920 the Housing Com- mittee were again giving attention to the pre-war schemes for demolition and rebuilding in various insanitary areas and had entered into contracts for the erection of 2,730 houses on the Larkhill Estate and 2,000 at Allerton.

The water-supply up to 1920 was derived in the proportions of 65% from Lake Vyrnwy, Riverton 29% and wells 6%, but, to meet the urgent need of an additional supply, the construc- tion of a third main pipe from Lake Vyrnwy (to be followed by a fourth) was decided upon and the crossing of the Mersey

to be effected by laying pipes in the bed of the river. The average daily supply from all sources in 1919 was approximately 43,000,000 gallons.

Among important buildings completed since 1910 are the prom- inent Royal Liver building of 17 storeys and a tower 295 ft. high and the Cunard building, both near the landing-stage. The latter, in the Roman Renaissance style of the Farnese Palace at Rome, was opened in 1916. On July 5 1921, the Prince of Wales unveiled the bronze equestrian statue of King Edward VII. by Sir W. Gos- combe John, erected on the river front between the Cunard building and the landing-stage.

At Liverpool University the foundation stone of a new engineering aboratory was laid on Oct. 22 1910. The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, in the same year, endowed a chair known as the Dutton Chair of Entomology, and in 1911 the cost of building a cen-
 * ral hall for the Undergraduates' Union was undertaken by Capt.

3ilmour. Sir William Hartley presented a wireless telegraphic nstallation for the purpose of experiment and research in 1913, and a plant for tests in connexion with the erosion of metals was estab- ished. A certificate in architectural design and a diploma in oph- thalmic surgery were also instituted.

The work of building the cathedral (see ARCHITECTURE), which lad practically ceased during the war, was being vigorously carried 'orward in 1921. The original design has been considerably revised and modified- by the architect, Giles Gilbert Scott, A. R. A. Owing to the exigencies of the site on St. James's Mount the building lies north and south, the rubrical " east " thus pointing south. The general plan, which is marked by much individuality, consists of a jreat central space 200 x 72 ft., formed by a central tower with the crossings of two pairs of transepts; a choir in three bays; and a nave