Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 20, 1906

— More earthquakes are reported in Chile, and sharp shocks also have been reported in the island of St. Vincent.

— The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, which closed its fiscal year on September 11, announces the largest receipts in its history, $913,169, a gain over the previous year of $161,020.

— Advices from Hayti state that the Dominican insurgents have captured the city of Dajabon, and that the government troops left there to defend the city have joined the rebels, who are now threatening the port of Monte Christi.

— A “boxer” outbreak occurred in the province of Shansi, China, on August 18. The band got control of the city of Tsoyunhsien, overawing the officials, and threatening the lives of the missionaries. A German army officer succeeded in rallying the Chinese soldiers, and expelled the boxers.

— Without warning the side of a mountain above the town of Kwareli, in the Caucasus, broke away and swept down upon the town, burying 250 persons alive, besides numerous head of cattle. Many acres of growing crops were also destroyed. Fifty-five bodies had been recovered at the time of sending the dispatch.

— And now Germany is building a battle-ship which is to surpass the great British “Dreadnaught.” It will be a vessel of 19,000 tons’ displacement, and will carry sixteen great guns, each of which will be forty-six feet in length, and will carry projectiles two hundred and eighty pounds heavier than any now used in the German navy.

— A plot to assassinate the emperor of Germany was narrowly frustrated at Breslau, September 11. The three anarchists who were arrested for complicity in the plot savagely resisted the arresting officers. It was their design to strike down the emperor while surrounded by his troops at the great review which was then in progress.

— A peculiar and unexplainable phenomenon occurred at Cincinnati on August 20. The heat was intense and the sky cloudless, when a blinding flash of lightning startled the inhabitants, followed by a deafening report. Trolleys and telegraph lines hummed with the intense electrical vibration, and the fuse of a street-car was burned out. The concussion broke windows, and seemed to shake the buildings.

— The fifteenth Universal Peace Congress was inaugurated at Milan, Italy, on September 15. The hall was crowded with delegates from all parts of the world. After the opening address, the following message from President Roosevelt was read by the American consul: “To the members of the Peace Conference, Milan: ‘Giving utterance to the aspirations of the American people that the great cause of peace among nations shall prevail, and sharing the hopeful desire of my countrymen that the labors of the present international peace conference at Milan will mark a further advance toward realizing the aims of the advocates of universal peace, I congratulate the conference upon its auspicious meeting.’” The reading of the message was greeted with cheers of enthusiasm.

— A decree of the Chinese government has just been published to the effect that “the development of telegraphs and posts in the empire of China has necessitated that a uniform system of Romanization of Chinese city names should be adopted, and for this purpose a special committee has been appointed.” This committee is composed largely of distinguished foreigners.

— A great strike of street-car men is now in progress in Tokyo, Japan, and the troops have had to come to the assistance of the police in maintaining order. There is a decided complaint of the people in general as well as of the street-car men against the company, because of a considerable increase in the fares charged, while it is known that the company is paying large dividends.

— In the Sound off Oyster Bay, on September 3, more than one third of the fighting strength of the American navy was reviewed by President Roosevelt. It was said to be the most imposing pageant the Western hemisphere had ever witnessed, and the report states that it marked the advent of the United States into third rank among the nations of the world as a fighting, but peace-loving power.

— The Pan-American Congress at Rio de Janeiro, on August 22 unanimously adopted the report of the committee on the “Drago Doctrine.” It recommends that the governments concerned consider the idea of inviting The Hague Peace Congress to take up the matter. The sentiment of the congress seemed to be that the forcible collection of debts owing in one nation to citizens of another was inadmissible.

— August 21, through the secretary of the Kongo Reform Association, forty British missionaries addressed an appeal to the British foreign minister, asking that the British government take immediate steps to establish consular jurisdiction in the Kongo Free State in order to protect British subjects there. They claim that it is impossible to obtain independent witnesses in cases which have been brought against British subjects, owing to the facilities of the Kongo officials in intimidating witnesses.

— The emperor of China has published an edict promising China a constitutional government as soon as the people are prepared for it. The edict says: “Since the beginning of our dynasty there have been wise emperors who have made laws suited to the times. Now that China has intercourse with all nations, our laws and political system have become antiquated, and our country is always in trouble. Therefore, it is necessary for us to gather more knowledge and draw up a new code of laws, otherwise we shall be unworthy of the trust of our forefathers and the people.”

— A few days ago some Japanese sealers who were believed to be poaching on one of the Aleutian Islands were shot by American guards. The matter is now under consideration by the two governments. In the meantime a company of Japanese have been arrested on one of the Pribilof Islands, accused of poaching seals. It has been feared that trouble might arise between these two countries over the recurrence of these matters.

— A strike riot occurred in San Francisco, Cal., on September 10, when 150 men who had been brought to that city to break the street-car men’s strike were being marched across the city to take the ferry across the Bay. Bricks and stones were hurled at the men by the angry mob. The strike-breakers were surrounded by an armed guard in addition to a considerable number of police. The threatening attitude of the mob led some of the guard to use their revolvers. About twelve persons were treated at the hospitals as a result of the disturbance.

— The reports of the week indicate no improvement in affairs in Cuba. The government has withdrawn its offer of amnesty to the rebels, and is actively preparing to put down the revolt by force. The insurgents are blowing up railroad bridges and threatening important towns. Four American cruisers have been ordered to Cuban waters to protect American interests there. The rebel leader Guerra has suffered defeat at the hands of the government forces; but the reports from the different provinces indicate that the forces of the insurgents are increasing in numbers. Plans are being carried out for the defense of Havana, and martial law has been proclaimed in that city.

— Another terrible slaughter of Jews is reported from the town of Siedlce, Russia. The massacre was believed to have been carried on with the connivance of the officials of the city, as no effort was made to check the outrages. Persons not belonging to the Jewish faith had been warned to hang icons (holy pictures) outside their windows. Houses not so marked were given over to the fury of the Jew-haters. By actual count 140 dead bodies were picked up in the streets, and it is stated that a great many more were hidden in cellars. No one was allowed to minister to the wounded, doctors were not permitted to enter the city, and the dead and wounded were left in the streets together. The murderous work went on for three days, September 8, 9, and 10. The work of destroying estates by the peasants continues in spite of the punitive expeditions sent out by the government, and the wholesale arrests made. A London correspondent at Warsaw reports that the condition there is a veritable reign of terror. As many as twenty policemen have been killed by terrorists in a single day. The police themselves patrol the streets guarded by soldiers. A dispatch from St. Petersburg states that terrorism is expected to increase as a result of the government’s determination to suppress it by violence. A renewal of the revolutionary agitation at Cronstadt has necessitated the disarming of all sailors in the fortress.