Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Nov 3, 1904

—The revolution in Paraguay is reported to be lagging from lack of funds.

—Sixteen recent mysterious deaths of men who frequented saloons in a certain locality in New York City are believed by the coroner of the district to have been caused by wood alcohol in the whisky which the men obtained at the saloons.

—A seven months' session of the Cuban congress, which is said to have accomplished nothing, closed in Havana, October 20. A decision of the supreme court will be required to determine whether any measure passed by the congress was legitimate.

—By a vote of 325 to 237, the French Chamber of Deputies, on October 22, in a somewhat stormy session, sustained Premier Combes in making a formal rupture of diplomatic relations with the Vatican, by the recall from Rome of Ambassador Nisard. The premier, in a speech, declared that the separation of church and state in France had become inevitable.

—Another of those underground catastrophes which make coal mining a hazardous occupation, took place at Tercio, Colo., forty miles west of Trinidad, October 28. Between thirty and sixty lives are reported lost. The explosion, which was of terrific violence, is supposed to have been caused by dust. Several persons were injured by falling debris which was blown out of the openings of the mine.

—A report from China, which the London Telegraph publishes as reliable, states that “the political outlook in China is worse now than prior to the ‘Boxer’ outbreak in 1900. Wide-spread operations of secret societies, he says, show a dangerous recrudescence of anti-foreign feeling. Drilling of large bodies of well-equipped troops is proceeding night and day in many districts of southern and mid-northern provinces, and the Chinese authorities are buying wholesale all kinds of military equipments and stores.”

—The sailing of the Russian Baltic fleet for Asiatic waters was attended the past week by an incident that, on account of the possibilities which it threatened, completely overshadowed in importance the events of the campaign in

the far East. When in the North Sea, the Russian fleet passed at night close to a fishing fleet from Hull, England, and for some reason opened fire on the fishing boats, sinking one, killing two fishermen, and wounding others. Great excitement and indignation filled England when the event was reported, and there was much talk of war for several days. The Russian war-ships steamed away after the bombardment of the fishing fleet, and were not heard from until they reported at Vigo, Spain. The Russian admiral claimed that he had been attacked by torpedo-boats, and that his ships had fired only to repel this attack. After considerable negotiation between the English and Russian governments, it was decided that the matter should be referred for adjustment to a court of five admirals, in whose decisions both countries agree to acquiesce. No fighting of consequence has been reported the past week between the armies in Manchuria or at Port Arthur.