Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 23, 1908

— News from the Caucasus reports the opening of a mammoth oil gusher at Baku, flowing at the rate of 120,000 barrels a day.

— Sixteen children were trampled to death, and forty others were injured, several fatally, in a mad rush for better seats at an entertainment given in the public hall at Barnsley, England, January 11.

— Henry Farman, the French aeronaut, January 13, won at Paris a prize of $10,000, by making a circular kilometer in an air-ship heavier than air. The time was one minute and twenty-eight seconds.

— On January 13 the United States Supreme Court upheld the anti-liquor law of Kansas, by affirming the decisions of the Supreme Court of that State in a number of cases in which the law was involved.

— Nearly 200 persons, mostly women and children, were burned or trampled to death in a fire and panic in the opera-house at Boyertown, Pa., January 13. The performance was a benefit concert given for a Lutheran church.

— The Dutch troops, after a severe fight on the island of Flores, Malay Archipelago, have captured the stronghold, the native loss being 130, while the Dutch loss was slight. The most of the chiefs have surrendered.

— The United States battle-ship fleet arrived at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 12, and was escorted to anchorage in the bay by a Brazilian cruiser. Elaborate entertainments were provided by the Brazilian government and local authorities.

— A revolutionary expedition composed of Haytians who have been in exile, effected a landing at Gonaives and occupied the place, and is marching against the capital Port au Prince, Hayti. The government has dispatched a large body of troops to meet the revolutionists.

— Mulai Hafid was proclaimed sultan of Morocco at Fez, January 4, and the former sultan formally deposed, and a holy war proclaimed. Much uneasiness is felt in France over this new turn of affairs. Report comes of a fierce ten hours' engagement near Settat, January 15, between the French column under General d'Amade and the forces of one of Mulai Hafid's chiefs. The French were victorious.

— The Italian possessions in Somaliland, East Africa, have for a few weeks past suffered from raids by Abyssinians from over the border. The Italian representative at Lugh went to the aid of the people with a force of armed natives; but was defeated, and withdrew to Lugh, which was captured, with heavy loss on both sides. The Italian minister to Abyssinia presented a protest to King Menelik against the violation of the existing treaty between Italy and Abyssinia. Representatives of France, Great Britain, and Germany supported Italy in this protest. The king, expressing his sorrow, has ordered the recall of the Abyssinians from Lugh, the punishment of the guilty, and the payment of an indemnity.

— January 15 the Manitoba provincial government assumed possession of the Bell system of telephones. The purchase price is $3,300,000. The system will be administered by a commission of three men of long experience with the Bell company.

— The electoral census now being taken in Cuba will probably not be completed before April or May. If completed, municipal elections will be held in June, and the general election six months later. In transmitting to the Senate, on January 14, the report of Governor Magoon, of Cuba, President Roosevelt says that 'we can now definitely announce that one year hence, by or before Feb. 1, 1909, we shall have turned over the island to the president and congress to be elected next December by the people of Cuba.'

— The Transvaal government has passed an Immigration act, which practically prohibits the immigration of Orientals into the Transvaal, and requires the Hindus already in the country to register and indentify themselves by a system of finger prints before their licenses expiring December 31 would be renewed. This new regulation was approved by the colonial secretary, because, as he says, he was threatened with a rebellion if he refused. Already the courts of Pretoria and Johannesburg have imposed sentences of two or three months' imprisonment upon several prominent natives of India for refusing to submit to the humiliating personal requirements of the law. Thousands of Indians in both cities have by mass meetings and public processions protested against the laws, which they claim are applicable only to criminals and slaves. Six thousand Indians have already left the Transvaal, rather than submit to imposed conditions of residence. Grave fears are entertained for the effect the application of this law will have upon the populace of India, where public feeling against the British is already at a dangerous tension.

— An effort is being made in Prussia to abolish the old system of voting, and to substitute in the kingdom universal manhood suffrage, and the secret ballot. On January 10 a liberal member of the Landstag interpellated the government on the subject, and many speeches in favor of such a move were made. Prince von Bülow, the imperial chancellor, replied that such a change would not be for the good of the state, and would not be permitted in Prussia. The Landstag supported the government. Outside the parliament building large crowds shouted for universal suffrage and denounced the chancellor until dispersed by the police. The following Sunday the demonstrations were renewed throughout Berlin. The socialists met in their 600 local organizations, and organized street processions numbering some 40,000, which were increased by nearly as many more sympathizers. They marched through the streets, attempting to reach the emperor's palace, the chancellor's palace, and the parliament buildings. The police who had been massed in public buildings, dispersed the mobs, using the flat of their swords. Some clubs and stones were thrown. No one was killed, but one hundred or more were injured by being struck or trampled upon.