Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 23, 1909

— Twelve men and one woman lost their lives by the sinking of the schooner “Governor Ames” off Cape Hatteras on December 14.

— Judge Horace H. Lurton, of Tennessee, present circuit judge of the Sixth Circuit United States Court, has been appointed by President Taft to the place in the United States Supreme Court made vacant by the death of Justice Peckham.

— At Reedyfork, near Greensboro, N. C., on December 15, a fast passenger-train left the track at a trestle, plunging down the embankment and wrecking a number of the cars. Twelve persons were taken from the wreck dead, and twenty-five were more or less seriously injured.

— The Arbuckle Sugar Company has voluntarily turned over to the United States government the sum of $695,573 of back duties which had been fraudulently retained. It is stated that the government will prosecute the ones responsible for the fraud, notwithstanding the restitution of the money.

— On the morning of December 17 King Leopold of Belgium passed away, his system being unable to rally from the effects of a surgical operation performed a few days previous to his death. He had reached the age of 74 years, 8 months, and 8 days. While his rule of the Kongo has been most severely criticized by all humanitarians outside the Catholic Church, his rule of his home land is not generally criticized. He died as he had lived, a member of the Catholic Church, which has stood sponsor for him in his rule in the Kongo country. His successor is Prince Albert, born April 8, 1875.

— Advices from Managua, Nicaragua, dated December 16 state that President Zelaya of Nicaragua has resigned from the presidency of that country, having placed his resignation in the hands of the Nicaraguan congress. The congress will select one to fill the position of president until another is elected. Dr. Jose Madriz, judge of the Central American Court of Justice at Cartago, is recommended by Zelaya for the position, but he is not acceptable to those in charge of the present revolution, and his occupancy of that position it is believed will be opposed by the United States government. The American government will insist upon the arrest and trial of the retiring president for his part in the shooting of two Americans who were found in the ranks of the revolutionists.

— A company of wealthy men in New York have formed a syndicate for the building of Wright aeroplanes. They will expect to begin delivering aeroplanes by the first of next May.

— The government of France has decided to follow other countries in the building of “Dreadnaught” battle-ships. It is purposed to build each year two vessels of this pattern, equal, if not superior, to any battle-ship afloat.

— Count Reventlow, the eminent German naval expert, writing in reference to the outbreak of war, says: “In naval warfare the period of straightforward, honest declarations of war or open preparations for war, has gone by forever. It will certainly be the object of the assailant to begin hostilities by a surprising, and if possible a demoralizing, blow against the enemy. The next naval war will begin with such a breach of international law, and at a moment when the enemy least expects an attack.” Ever since the opening of the Russo-Japanese War, military men have come to feel that such would be the case. This, with the increased preparations for war in all countries, can not fail to increase greatly the feeling of unrest in the world. The nations will look with suspicion upon one another more than heretofore, and the people will be from now on more than ever in continual dread of war.