NEWS AND NOTES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 19, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 20.

FOREIGN.

—Two wealthy Hebrews of Bagdad now own all that remains of the ancient town of Babylon.

—Germany continues to despatch troops to Kaiou-chau, having sent 1,400 soldiers to that place on May 4.

—The insurgents operating in Sierra Leone, West Africa, have attacked another American mission and murdered the missionaries.

—A report from China states that on the evening of May 9 serious riots took place at Shansi, in the province of Hupeh. The custom house and several foreign buildings were burned.

—Russia and Japan have signed a protocol, by the provisions of which each agrees to abstain from interference in Korean affairs, and to recognize the independence and sovereignty of Korea.

—It is reported that Admiral Montijo, the commander of Spain’s defeated fleet in the Philippines, was murdered by enraged Spaniards while fleeing from the fort of Cavite to the city of Manila.

—A report from London states that a Spanish torpedo-boat destroyer was completely destroyed by an explosion while guarding the entrance to Algeciras Bay, and that her crew of fifty-five men went down with her.

—The Porto Rican revolutionary junta in New York declares that there are 70,000 Porto Ricans who will take the field against Spain whenever Admiral Sampson’s fleet shall begin operations against that island.

—Owing to a fear of serious international complications growing out of the present war between the United States and Spain, Great Britain has begun the work of erecting fortifications at St. Johns, Newfoundland.

—It is reported that Captain-General Augusti, of the Philippines, is planning the recapture of the forts recently taken by the American squadron at Manila, and that an expedition is being fitted out in Spain to re-enforce him.

—The price of bread is rising to such figures in Germany that the poor are already suffering. The prices in Berlin have increased 15 per cent., and the socialists and radicals are making much political capital out of the circumstance.

—The opening of the first Cuban Autonomist Congress took place at Havana, on May 4, with great military display. Captain-General Blanco had charge of the ceremony, and everything possible was done to give brilliancy to the occasion.

—A despatch from Havana states that four American warships attempted to land troops at Cienfuegos on May 11, after bombarding the town; but that the invaders were driven off, sustaining considerable loss. This despatch is from Spanish sources.

—It is stated that the government of Hawaii has signified to the United States its intention of assisting in the prosecution of the war against Spain in every manner possible. If this is correct, provisions and fuel may be had by American warships at Honolulu.

—It is reported from Porto Rico that Captain-General Nunez has ordered the execution of over 300 persons who are supposed to be in sympathy with the insurgents on that island. Many prominent persons have been arrested, among them the wife of the chief of police.

—It is reported that Spain, in her desperate strait for securing money to prosecute the war, has declared all church property government property, including the golden treasures in many famous shrines and cathedrals. The report states that a large sum has been realized from this source.

—A despatch from Cadiz, Spain, states that the Spanish fleet which left the Cape Verde Islands ostensibly for the West Indies has returned to Spain. The object of this move is not apparent, and military strategists assert that in this Spain has made a move which will be disastrous to herself.

—A report is in circulation in Havana that four American cities, Boston, Mobile, Charleston, and Pensacola, have fallen into the hands of the Spanish. There is much rejoicing over this news in the beleaguered capital of the Antilles, and Spain’s sympathizers there show their joy in processions and banquetings.

—The scarcity of bread in Spain is giving the government much anxiety. The different provinces have refused to ship wheat to Madrid on account of its scarcity. Bread riots are numerous and dangerous to the government, and are only put down by the sharp work of the soldiery at the cost of many lives. In an attempt to prevent a rise in the price of bread, the government is negotiating for a large supply of cheap flour from Belgium.

—On May 7 the representatives of China paid over to the representatives of Japan $55,000,000 at the Bank of England, which is the balance of the war indemnity which China has had to pay Japan. The Japanese troops will at once begin the evacuation of Wei-Hai-Wei. The date at which England will begin the occupation of that place is not yet settled.

—The riots in Italy are assuming such proportions that the provinces of Florence and Naples have been proclaimed in a state of siege. Martial law has also been proclaimed at Livourno, Pisa, Sinca, Massa, Grosseto, and Spezzia. A report from Milan states that on May 5 between 100 and 200 were killed at that place, a larger number on the 6th, and still more on the 7th. Hundreds are wounded and dying, the new bullet used by the soldiers having the effect of explosive balls. It is believed in many quarters that these riots are the premature ebullitions of a carefully planned revolution against the government.

—A terrible riot is reported to have taken place at Logrono, Spain, on May 11, in which the rioters, headed by women, defeated a regiment of Spanish cavalry. The report says: “Troops of cavalry, lined up with drawn sabers across the street, checked the progress of the rioters. In a moment horses were rearing and trampling among the shrieking multitude, and the glint of the sun on the sabers was turned to red as they rose and fell like flails. Then it was that the women showed themselves to be better men than their brothers. Brandishing their axes, they rushed in among the horses, slashing at the riders. The onslaught was so fierce that men and horses turned and fled, followed by the triumphant mob, shouting in delight at its victory.”

DOMESTIC.

—The village of Randsburg, Cal., was nearly destroyed by fire on May 6. The loss is placed at $125,000.

—Work has begun on a telegraph line from Vancouver to Dawson City by way of Skaguay, Wrangle, and Dyea.

—The Senate, on May 5, passed a bill authorizing the President to furnish arms and ammunition to the Cuban insurgents.

—Late arrivals from Alaska bring reports of an epidemic of scurvy in Dawson City, due to improper food, or a lack of variety in diet.

—Miss Helen Gould, of New York, has given to the government the sum of $100,000 for the equipment of a regiment of cavalry to operate in Cuba.

—A report from Alabama states that two attempts have been made to poison the water supply of the troops in camp at Mobile. Neither of these plots proved successful.

—Two thousand persons were rendered homeless by a fire at Duluth, Minnesota, on May 8. The loss falls chiefly upon the poor of that city, and is estimated at $100,000.

—While the pope of Rome is blessing the arms of Spain, the Catholic bishops of America have directed the priests throughout the United States to pray for the success of the American arms.

—Mrs. Mary T. Burt, the well-known chief of the New York W. C. T. U., died at her home in New York City, on May 4, having spent the last eighteen years of her life in active work for the temperance cause.

—On May 8 the American torpedo-boat Winslow engaged three Spanish gunboats off the bay of Cardenas, Cuba, putting all three to flight. One of the gunboats being disabled, was taken in tow by the others.

—In recognition of the great victory of Commodore Dewey in Manila on May 1, President McKinley has raised him to the rank of rear admiral and cabled to him the thanks of Congress and the American people.

—The city of San Francisco is soon to have a large searchlight to assist in its defense against a foreign foe. This light is one of the largest in the world, and was on exhibition in Chicago during the World’s Fair.

—The House Committee on Foreign Affairs is considering the advisability of presenting a resolution for the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands. It is stated that the sentiment in favor of this step is rapidly growing.

—The price of wheat continues to rise in all the markets of the world, and the pinch of famine is beginning to be felt, and will be more keenly felt among the poor of all nations in a short time if the price continues to rise.

—A report is in circulation that at the beginning of the present war President McKinley let contracts for the building of 100 torpedo-boats and six torpedo-boat destroyers, to be paid for out of the $50,000,000 appropriation voted by Congress.

—The French mail steamer Lafayette was seized by an American war vessel on May 4 while attempting to enter Havana harbor. The vessel was ordered released on the following day, as permission had been given by the State Department for this steamer to unload her cargo at Havana.

—Another league has been started in America. It is the American Women’s Patriotic League, and its members pledge themselves to buy nothing which comes from France, because of the attitude of the French people toward America in the present crisis.

—The government has chartered twenty-seven steamers to transport troops to Cuba, and other vessels are being secured for this purpose. Two companies of soldiers have been sent to Cuba with a large supply of rifles and ammunition for the Cubans, making the second expedition of the kind that has left Florida on such a mission.

—The Senate committee on Finance has practically decided to eliminate the tonnage tax on foreign vessels entering American ports from the proposed war revenue bill, in order to avoid irritating European countries. Several of the European powers made objections to this feature of the bill because of the hardship which it would work upon their shippers.

—A. C. Brice, United States consul at Matanzas, Cuba, has reached Chicago, and reports that there were about one hundred American citizens still in Matanzas when he left, for whom he was unable to obtain transportation. These, he says, must almost certainly die of starvation or at the hands of the Spaniards, as they have no means of protection and no way of escape.

—One of the worst floods which has ever visited the valley of the Arkansas River is now in progress there. Many towns along the banks of the river are submerged, and farm buildings are afloat. Thousands of persons have been driven from their homes, and in Crawford County it is stated that hundreds of thousands of dollars damage has been done to buildings and plantations.

—The Secretary of the Navy has sent to the Secretary of the Treasury for transmission to Congress, to be included in the Urgency Deficiency Bill, the estimates of appropriations required to complete the service of the present fiscal year and the next fiscal year, ending June 30, 1899, amounting to $18,480,000. This is in addition to the $34,019,998 asked for by the Secretary of War last week.

—A devastating cyclone passed over northwest Iowa on the night of April 30, killing a number of persons and destroying much property. The hail which accompanied the cyclone did great damage to standing crops. On the same night severe storms raged through portions of Oklahoma, Indian Territory, Missouri, Illinois, and South Dakota, inflicting considerable damage upon crops and buildings.

—An International Temperance Congress will be held at Prohibition Park, Staten Island, N. Y., from July 1 to 6 inclusive. The object of the Congress is to secure an exchange of views so that the different classes of temperance workers may become better acquainted with the work and purposes of one another. Among the work laid out for the congress will be the discussion of plans for united effort along such lines as influencing physicians to cease prescribing alcohol for internal use; securing a lower rate of life insurance for those who do not use liquor; the elimination of the liquor influence from the surroundings of students who attend colleges and universities; securing temperance instruction in the Sunday-schools; agitation for total abstinence as a qualification for teachers in the public schools and officers in the army and navy. All temperance organizations are allowed a certain number of delegates to the congress.

—Preparations are speedily progressing for the invasion of Cuba, and the regulars recently mobilized at points in the southeast are proceeding to points of embarkation. It is believed that these will be followed very soon by about 50,000 volunteers. Troops are concentrating at San Francisco for transportation to the Philippines, and it is reported that 25,000 men will be sent to those islands as fast as they can be transported. The cruiser Charleston has been placed in commission and will sail at once with supplies of ammunition for Admiral Dewey’s fleet. The decision to begin active operations in Cuba at once is believed to have been arrived at on the reception of information that Spain’s Cape Verde fleet had returned to Cadiz. Later returns from the naval engagement at Manila state that eleven of the Spanish vessels were burned or sunk by the American fleet, and that the fortifications at Cavite were reduced and the forts captured. The Spanish captain-general at Manila places the loss of the Spaniards at 618 men.