Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 2, 1908

— The Spanish steamer “Larache” struck on an uncharted rock off the Spanish coast on June 23 and went down. She carried 195 persons, all told, of whom 85 were drowned. Of these a considerable number were women.

— Hon. Grover Cleveland, twice president of the United States, once governor of New York, and for a number of years the only living ex-president, died at his home at Princeton, N. J., on June 24. Mr. Cleveland was born at Caldwell, N. J., March 18, 1837, and was 71 years, 3 months, and 6 days old at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife and four of his five children.

— The Chemical and American Exchange National banks of New York City, because of the new banking law, have returned to the national treasury all the government deposits held by them. This new law, passed at the last session of Congress, compels the banks which hold the national currency to pay interest at the rate of one per cent per annum on all such deposits. These are the first banks so far which have refused to pay the interest specified.

— For a number of weeks it has been believed that a conspiracy was on foot in New York City to start a revolution in Cuba to overthrow the present government. Secret service men have been working for weeks to unearth this plot, and apprehend those who are at the head of it. Considerable quantities of arms and ammunition have been shipped to Cuba, and some shipments destined for that island have been seized by government officials at New York.

— It is reported that Germany intends to spend several millions in fortifying Heligoland as a naval base for North Sea operations. Reports also state that Emden, the nearest German harbor to the English coast, is also to be fortified, and Wilhelmshaven is to be brought up to date as a torpedo-boat station. This contemplated action is significant in view of Germany’s displeasure at the recent conference between the king of England and the czar of Russia.

— In spite of the protests of consumers and retailers alike, the Beef Trust has again advanced the price of meats on an average of five cents a pound for all cuts. It is claimed that many of the retailers, because of this advance in meat prices and because of the falling off in patronage on account of the higher prices, will be compelled to close their places of business, and yet there is no hope held out of any decrease in the prices during the present season.

— On June 13 another expensive experiment was made upon the monitor “Florida” at Hampton Roads, Va. Members of the President’s cabinet were present to witness the torpedo attack upon this vessel. A white-head torpedo, carrying 220 pounds of guncotton, was discharged against the hull of the monitor below the water-line. The explosion tore a large hole through the heavy plates of the vessel, but failed to sink her on account of the perfect working of the bulkheads in the water-tight compartments.