Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Aug 4, 1904

— It is rumored that President Roosevelt will be asked to intervene in the meat strike, and take some measures to force a settlement, as was done in the great coal strike.

— England has been joined by the United States in protesting against the seizure of the vessels and cargoes of neutral nations by Russian ships of war. The sinking of the “Knight Commander,” a British ship, by a Russian cruiser, is regarded as unjustified by any rules of international warfare, and much feeling was aroused over the incident, which for a time threatened to bring on war.

— The friction between France and the Vatican has at last reached the point of open rupture, the pope having refused to accede to the last demand made by the French government, in the matter of the summoning of certain French bishops to Rome. The French representative at the Vatican will now be recalled, and the papal nuncio at Paris will be dismissed. This will terminate all diplomatic relations between France and the papacy.

— The Russo-Japanese war is marked by almost daily fighting between portions of the opposing armies in Manchuria, but the “great decisive battle” which in the newspaper reports has been imminent for a month or more, still holds off. The general movements of the armies show that the advantage in the fighting continues to be with the Japanese, who have been almost uniformly successful in the important engagements. Port Arthur still holds out, but it appears evident that the siege is being pressed with the intention of forcing an early capitulation, this being of the greatest importance to the Japanese in order that Admiral Togo’s fleet may be released from Port Arthur, and be free to prevent further raids by the Vladivostock squadron, which have demoralized shipping interests on a vast scale. It is stated that the latest raid by this squadron resulted in holding up in port for ten days 200,000 tons of chartered shipping, at a loss of over $7,000,000.

— The work of the assassin has again shocked the civilized world, the victim in this instance being the Russian minister of the interior, M. von Plehve, who was killed by the explosion of a bomb while riding in his carriage in St. Petersburg, July 28. Several other persons near him at the time were killed or fatally injured. The bomb was filled with a very powerful explosive, as was shown by its effects, the paving stones under the victim’s coach being reduced to powder, and every window within half a mile being broken. Minister Plehve and his coachman were killed instantly. The assassin was severely injured by the explosion, and was taken to a hospital. Another man carrying a bomb similar to that used by the assassin was arrested. Next to the czar, Minister von Plehve was regarded as the most powerful man in the empire. The czar was prostrated by the news. The assassin, who is believed to be connected with an international association of anarchists, declared that more assassinations were to follow.