News of the Week

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 28, 1915

— Two-cent postage between the United States and the Bahamas went into effect January 1. This marks another step in the movement for a two-cent rate throughout the Western Hemisphere.

— On January 9, General Villa gave Brigadier General Scott, chief of staff of the United States Army, his word that he would prevent further border fighting, which, since the Madero revolution in 1911, has been a menace to residents of American border towns.

— San Diego's unique exposition, recalling the early days of the Spanish occupation of Southern California and the primitive Indian period of that interesting section of the country, was formally opened last Friday by President Wilson by wire. Secretary McAdoo attended the exercises in person, giving the event national recognition. The exposition, which will remain open until January 1, 1916, is intended to be cultural in its effect in picturing vividly the various stages through which Southern California has passed.

— Retaining the literacy test, to which Roman Catholics have solidly and vehemently objected, the Senate on January 2 passed the immigration bill by the extraordinary vote of fifty to seven. The paragraph which has been so strongly opposed is as follows: “That after four months from the approval of this act, in addition to aliens who are by law excluded from admission to the United States, the following persons shall also be excluded from admission thereto; namely, All aliens over sixteen years of age physically capable of reading who cannot read the English language or some other language or dialect, including Hebrew or Yiddish.”

— If any confirmation were needed of the numerous assertions that Pres. Charles M. Schwab of the Bethlehem Steel Company had landed huge war contracts in England, it was supplied by the arrival, January 11, of eighteen British army officers, who will act as inspectors for the proper fulfillment of the orders. The force is in charge of Col. C. E. Phipps, lately with the forces at the front under command of General French. Each member of the party was supplied with passes, which will admit him into the plant at any time, day or night, and with credentials which authorize him to have all necessary voice in the process of manufacture of the war munitions.

— The rulers of the sturdy little kingdoms of northern Europe have been not a little perplexed and embarrassed by the great war. The commerce of their kingdoms has been very seriously interrupted by blockades and by submarine mines in the open seas and harbors. A large number of their ships have been lost through striking mines. There have been phases of the struggle which make the observance of neutrality difficult. They are determined, however, to keep out of the great struggle. There has been a recent conference between the kings of the three nations and their foreign ministers, at which a program of close cooperation was agreed upon. The alliance formed, it is intimated, is one which is expected to be perpetuated after the war is over. The full details are not given to the public. It is understood to practically provide for “a strong nation with three independent families.”