News and Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 3, 1898

Foreign.

—Spain is said to be seeking allies among the Spanish American republics to aid her in case she should go to war with the United States.

—It is proposed by the Agrarian element in Germany to make the exclusion of American importations one of the planks in the coming elections.

—Rev. W. H. Emberly, formerly of the Wesleyan Chinese mission, while selling books in Chefoo, was so seriously assaulted on January 15, that he had to be escorted by soldiers to Chi-Ming.

—A terrible explosion of fire-damp occurred in the colliery at Hammerly, Prussia, on February 17, and it is believed that fifty persons perished, while many others are seriously if not fatally injured.

—On February 17 a large tract of ice on the coast of the Gulf of Finland broke adrift and carried 200 men and a number of horses out to sea. After an exciting experience the men were rescued.

—There are now in Japan 197 kindergartens, with 390 teachers. Forty of these schools are in the city of Osaka alone. Japan has now 600 newspapers and periodicals where two decades ago she had none.

—Russia has begun the transportation of troops by water to her fortifications at Vladivostok, 2,000 soldiers with sixteen cannon having passed through the Bosporous bound for that station on February 16.

—The French are mobilizing troops in Tonquin, to co-operate with the squadron on the arrival of reinforcements; but whether the point of attack will be the island of Hai-Nan or the border villages of Siam, is not known.

—It is stated in Madrid on the highest authority that Spain will never consider any other concessions in Cuba than those embraced in the scheme of autonomy which is now being tried. This is said to be the final decision of the government.

—The Chilian ship Alacama, bound from Australia for San Diego, was abandoned at sea about February 9. Three of her crew were picked up by a tug, but the remainder are supposed to be either adrift in the boats or at the bottom of the ocean.

—The transatlantic steamer Flachat, bound from Marseilles for Colon, was wrecked on Anaga Point, Canary Islands, on February 16, and forty of her passengers and crew went down with the vessel. A portion of the passengers were rescued.

—Señor Paolo y Bernabe, the new Spanish minister to the United States, who takes the place left vacant by De Lome’s resignation, was given a farewell audience with the queen regent on February 20, preparatory to his departure for Washington.

—Russia, France, and England, with Germany’s assent are now proposing Prince George for the governorship of Crete, with the proviso that he renounce all allegiance to the throne of Greece. It is thought this arrangement may be acceptable to the sultan.

—It is reported from London that the Chinese loan of $80,000,000 has been arranged for with the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank of London and the German Asiatic Bank, and that the loan would not have been concluded had not Germany insisted, to prevent Russia obtaining it.

—Oom Paul Kruger, president of the Transvaal Government, is imbibing the spirit of preparation for war, and, according to a Cape Town correspondent of the Daily Mail, “is mounting guns at Johannesburg, and conveying Maxims, shells, rifles, and cartridges to that point in an offensive and ostentatious manner.”

—Continual rumors of approaching conflict come from the frontiers now in dispute between England and France in West Africa. The latest advices from that vicinity are to the effect that the French have established a military post on British possessions. Both countries are laying claim to rich territory, and the outlook is declared to be serious.

—The Japanese Government has refused the requests of China for an extension of time on the payment of her war indemnity, and the Japanese Times, the organ of the Japanese Government, states that if the indemnity is not paid on time, the result will be the inaugural of an epoch in the eastern crisis, more important than anything which has yet occurred.

—A London Times correspondent writing from Pekin, states that the Chinese Government has decided to open all her inland waters to navigation, under regulations to be framed subsequently. The agreement is to come into operation within four months, and promises a wide expansion of trade. It will no doubt be of material help to the missionaries in opening work in new fields.

—Japan, distrusting Russia’s activity at Port Arthur, recently pressed China for assurances that Russia would evacuate the port in the spring. The Chinese minister at St. Petersburg, in attempting to secure this assistance from the Russian Government, evoked the statement from Russia that the Russian vessels would remain at Port Arthur longer than originally designed. This is regarded as an intimation that Russia intends to retain the port permanently.

—It is reported that renewed activity is now manifest among the Cuban insurgents in the field, as a result of the disaster to the battle-ship Maine and the belief that war would follow. The conditions in the camps where reconcentrados are herded are said to be growing worse and worse. In the city of Matanzas 14,000 are absolutely without food or shelter. Clara Barton, who is now working among the sick and starving Cubans, is said to be fairly overcome with the scenes of horror and desolation in the stricken island.

—M. Emile Zola, the famous French novelist, has been sentenced to pay a fine of 3,000 francs and serve one year in jail for the part which he has taken in advocating the innocence of Dreyfus and the guilt of those who were instrumental in convicting him. This sentence deprives him of his citizenship and brands him as a felon. When sentence was pronounced upon him, the crowded court-room became a veritable pandemonium of jeers and curses for the prisoner, and shouts of approbation for the army. Outside of France the conviction is most general that Dreyfus is innocent and a great injustice has been done the one who championed his cause.

—The report submitted to the Porte concerning the outrages perpetrated by the sultan’s subjects upon the Bulgarians, rehearses the most shocking brutalities. Villages were surrounded, arrests made, and the prisoners were tortured by hot irons thrust into their mouths; their legs were broken; splinters were driven under their nails; their naked feet were placed on hot stoves; they were hung up by the hands or feet over fires; some were tied to horses’ tails, while others were beaten to death. The special victims of the Turks were the schoolmasters. Bulgaria’s sharp demands upon Turkey have checked the outrage for the time being, and investigations are still proceeding.