Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 10, 1908

— Two Japanese steamers collided off the port of Chefoo, China, November 30, and it is reported that 700 persons lost their lives.

— About one hundred Filipinos were drowned by the sinking of a coasting vessel off San Fernando, Philippine Islands, November 24.

— The American battle-ship fleet under Rear-Admiral Sperry left Manila, December 1, on its return voyage. The fleet returns by way of the Suez Canal.

— The shah of Persia has established a council of state in place of the recent constitution. This will be composed of forty members of the conservative aristocracy.

— The president of the Longshoremen’s Union, Mr. D. J. Keefe, has been appointed to the position of commissioner general of immigration, to succeed the late Frank P. Sargent.

— The treasurer of the United States, in his report for 1908, records a deficit of $58,070,201, the ordinary revenues of the country being that much less than the usual annual expenditures.

— A very important agreement has been entered into between representatives of this government and the government of Japan, in which each nation declares its own purposes in the Pacific, and its intention to recognize and respect the rights and purposes of the other. While not in the nature of a treaty, the agreement is looked upon as a pact amounting almost to the dignity of such a document. It is thought that this will help to maintain the peace of the world.

— The largest postal deficit in the history of this country is that for the past fiscal year, just reported by the postmaster-general, the receipts for the year being $16,000,000 less than the expenditures.

— After the first of January the cost of letter postage to Germany, where letters go direct from an American port to a German port, will be two cents an ounce, the same as the present rate to England.

— Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria celebrated, on December 1, the diamond jubilee of his coronation. So great was the crush of the crowds on the streets in the evening, that four persons were killed, and more than one hundred severely injured by being trampled upon.

— One hundred thirty-eight miners lost their lives in an explosion in the Rachel Mine, Marianna, Pa., November 28. This was known as the model mine, and was supposed to be as nearly safe as it was possible for a coal-mine to be made.

— The revolution in Haiti has been successful so far as the overturn of the government is concerned. Pres. Nord Alexis was compelled to accept the protection of the French flag in leaving the palace to embark on a French war-ship. Considerable pillaging and rioting followed the departure of the president. This was finally put down by General Poidevin, after twelve persons had been killed by the soldiers, and many wounded. General Simon, who is marching on the capital with 5,000 troops, is expected to be proclaimed the new president. There are five foreign war-ships in the harbor of Port au Prince, and in case of further rioting each war-ship will land a company to restore order.