p. 22 | Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 25, 1904

Current Mention

— Turks and Albanians are reported to be at war in Macedonia, at Babajhosi. A force of 2,500 Turks was defeated, and was besieged by 20,000 Albanians. Later the besiegers were attacked and routed by Turkish re-enforcements. The loss of life has been heavy.

— It was reported from Porto Rico, February 17, that an American war-ship fired on the Santo Domingo insurgents at Pajarito, near Santo Domingo city, and afterward landed troops at that place, presumably to protect American interests threatened by the anarchical conditions in the island.

— Among the reports that are reaching this country from Europe relative to the attitude and movements of Russia, is one from St. Petersburg, published in the Frankfurter Zeitung, a Berlin paper, to the effect that Russia is preparing for war with England on account of the English invasion of Tibet. Russia has protested to Great Britain against the latter’s move northward into that section of Asia.

— The chairman of the General Loss Committee of the fire insurance companies in this country announces that the property loss in the Baltimore fire is, as nearly as it is possible to estimate it, $125,000,000, of which sum about one half is borne by the insurance companies. The number of buildings destroyed is estimated by the insurance experts at between 2,400 and 2,500. The loss on buildings alone is estimated at $50,000,000. The total assessed value of all taxable property in the city before the fire was $491,000,000.

— Authentic news from the scene of hostilities between Russia and Japan still continues scarce. From the reports it appears that the Japanese are besieging Port Arthur, and that the Russian fleet has sustained heavy loss, the Japanese fleet having full control of the Gulf of Pechili. The Russian and Japanese land forces are gathering for a battle in northern Korea, but the present location of the opposing armies is unknown. Great military activity is noted on the part of England, France, and Spain.

— Another great coal strike appears to be imminent, this time affecting the bituminous instead of the anthracite fields. President Patrick Dolan, of the United Mine Workers of America, says: “There will be a strike of 170,000 bituminous coal miners in April unless their demands are complied with.” The controversy is over a question of wages. The miners want more pay than they received in 1902, which is the rate the operators propose to allow. The committees of the operators and miners will meet again February 29, at which time a definite decision will be reached.