p. 17 | News and Miscellany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1914

News and Miscellany

Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press

— It is reported that night riders are again active in Kentucky, and the situation is so serious that State troops may be ordered out.

— It is reported from Madrid that the council of ministers has fixed the strength of the Spanish army for 1915 at 140,763 men. This is an increase of 18,000 over the present peace footing. The naval strength for 1915 was fixed at 15,000 men.

— Mr. F. E. Smith, who since the outbreak of the war has been censor for the British Press Bureau, has resigned his office and gone to the front. His successor as censor is Sir Stanley Owen Buckmaster, who, like his predecessor, is one of the foremost lawyers of England.

— On November 7 it was officially announced that the German fortress of Tsingtau had surrendered to the Japanese and British forces. The capture of Tsingtau loses to Germany her last foot of possessions on the Asiatic mainland, as well as her last strategic position outside of the German Empire in Europe.

— The United States Treasury Department reports that the customs receipts for the month of October were $14,000,000 less than for the same month a year ago, and the internal revenue was $6,000,000 less, making a total falling off of $20,000,000 in the revenue of the government for that month. This decline is attributed to the conditions brought on by the outbreak of the war in Europe.

— Battles of the Panama Canal builders against the earth slides, and the construction of fortifications to guard the great waterway, are described in the report of Col. George W. Goethals, U. S. A., governor of the Canal Zone, to the Secretary of War, made public recently. The report shows that the canal’s cost so far has been $353,559,049.69. Of this amount more than $12,000,000 has been appropriated for fortifications.

— Westminster Abbey has been insured against air craft risks for about $750,000 by the famous Lloyd’s. No amount of money can be made to represent the real value of this historic shrine. There would be no possibility of restoring its treasures, if they were once destroyed. London is on the constant watch for a Zeppelin raid, a peril which has long been threatening.

— The English ship “Discovery” is preparing for a long search for uncharted rocks and a new and special study of the perils of the sea. Foster Slackhouse, who will command the expedition, will chart the islands and rocks in every sea and ocean, and give the exact location of each which is now in doubt. The ship “Discovery” was built by the British admiralty. The project is commanding world-wide interest, and it is said that some of our American scientific societies will offer to share in the expense of the seven-year cruise. The expedition is regarded as one of the most important ever undertaken.