News and Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 18, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 11.

FOREIGN.

—Austria is mobilizing her troops, and has ordered a detachment to put itself in readiness to proceed to the seat of trouble in Crete.

—The German socialists are greatly excited and incensed over a recent speech of the emperor, in which he declares his intention of uprooting socialism to its last trace.

—Reports from Hierapetra state that the Italian admiral has shelled the position of the Cretan insurgents, compelling them to retire from an attempted attack upon that city.

—A despatch from Rio Janeiro states that the “fanatics” under Conselheiro have defeated the government troops, killing Colonel Moreira Cæsar, three other officers, and 200 men.

—During the past twelve months $15,000,000 has been contributed to the foreign missionary work. This is about $1,000,000 more than was contributed for the same work during the previous year.

—A despatch from Manila, Philippine Islands, states that an engagement has recently taken place between the Spaniards and insurgents, in which the latter were defeated with a loss of 200 men.

—It is said that the Orthodox Church of Russia is the wealthiest church in the world, and that it could, without impoverishing itself, pay off the whole national debt, which amounts to $200,000,000.

—General Antonio Ezeta, who has figured so conspicuously in Central American politics for a number of years, is now reported dying in Panama. Reports of his death have already been received, but lack confirmation.

—Advices from Samoa state that a strong body of natives, led by Tamasese, formerly the king, were threatening King Malietoa at Apia, the capital. It was reported that the foreign consuls would be powerless to quell the disturbance.

—The Spanish minister to Mexico has requested that the Mexican Government prevent the further collection of funds for the Cubans in that country. It is the opinion of the Mexican press that the Spanish minister has exceeded the limits of prudence.

—General Weyler has returned again to Havana, and it is reported that his much-talked-of military expedition in Matanzas and Santa Clara provinces was a complete failure, the insurgents having evaded him at will, inflicting severe loss upon his columns repeatedly.

—As a result of the recent earthquake shocks along the west coast of Mexico, especially in the vicinity of Calcutta, the bottom of the ocean for miles along the shore has been elevated so that coasting vessels have been compelled to change their course.

—Advices from Russia state that great numbers of Russian Jews are now emigrating to different parts of Africa. So great is the exodus from certain parts of Russia that the Jewish male population is greatly diminished, and business in the shops is carried on by the Jewish women.

—An American professor in a Peking university makes the statement that if the Methodist Church in America was as liberal in proportion to its numbers as the Chinese church of which he is pastor, $15,000,000 would be contributed yearly to the missionary work by that denomination alone.

—Consul-General Lee has been officially notified that there has been no one yet selected to take his place in Havana. He has been promised “fair treatment” by the new administration, and assured that all reasonable demands which he may make will be backed by the authority of the United States Government.

—The revolution in Uruguay, which it is believed was fomented by Brazilian monarchists, is assuming serious proportions, and an attack upon the capital is expected soon. The rebel leader, Saraiva, now has under his command about 9,000 men, and the number is being rapidly increased by opponents of the established government.

—Fighting is still going on between the Turkish troops and Cretan insurgents, with the advantage rather in favor of the latter. Greece has replied to the ultimatum of “the powers,” refusing to withdraw her troops from Crete, and placing upon “the powers” the responsibility for the war which seems inevitable. The foreign admirals have compelled the Greek newspaper correspondents to leave Crete, and have also expelled the Greek vice-consul. Russia, Germany, and Austria are in favor of the coercion of Greece; but England’s support, if given, will be done reluctantly, and without the approval of the English people. France has refused to join the concert of powers for the time being, on account of the pressure of public opinion. Italy stands aloof for a similar reason, altho her admiral is in command of the combined fleets in Cretan waters. It is not likely, therefore, that “the powers” will assume an offensive attitude toward Greece for the present; but the motley array of soldiery on the Graeco-Turkish border may precipitate a climax at any moment which would involve all Europe.

—There are three plagues now raging in Mexico—smallpox in the eastern part, la grippe in the western, and black vomit in the city of Oaxaca. In the latter place the scourge has reached such dimensions that the people are in a panic. The reports state that hundreds are dying, and that none who are attacked recover.

—Osman Digna is now engaged in mobilizing his Arab forces to meet the advance of the Anglo-Egyptian expedition up the Nile. Egyptian spies report that the Dervishes are reluctant to fight against the expedition, and are only driven into the army by fear of the death penalty, which will be imposed upon those who refuse to serve in the ranks.

—A New York telegram from the Philippines states that the situation in the islands is now worse than ever before. The native soldiers are deserting, and there has been an increase in the supply of firearms among the rebels. The natives have flooded certain portions of the country and prevented the moving of artillery. In a recent engagement the Spaniards lost 300 men.

—German Vice-Admiral von Hollmann stated in the Reichstag on March 5 that he considered the situation in Europe so serious as to compel him to plainly state the intention of the government to make such changes and additions in the navy as to place it in a condition to meet the strongest forces on the sea. The Diet was asked to vote 358,000,000 marks within the next two years for this purpose.

—Preparations for hostility between Greece and Turkey are now being hurried forward with all possible speed. Crown Prince Constantine, of Greece, has started for the Turkish frontier to take command of the Greek troops. Greek transports have landed great quantities of war material in Thessaly, and all available vessels are being pressed into service. Reserves are arriving in Athens by the thousands, and are being hurried to the front amid the enthusiasm of the populace.

—On February 26 an important battle was fought between the Spanish and insurgents in Cuba, in which the former were completely defeated after a hard fight. General Garcia directed the rebel forces in person, and the situation for the Spanish was so desperate that their commander narrowly escaped capture. Over 1,000 Spaniards were left on the field of battle, and the remainder were dispersed in the greatest disorder. This is considered the most important battle of the war.

—The situation in Spain is now reported to be extremely critical. The government is confronted by two revolutions, one by the followers of Don Carlos, the pretender to the throne, and the other by the advocates of a republican form of government. General Martinez Campos states that the Cubans are now stronger than ever, and that to subdue them will require 600,000 men and an expenditure of $400,000,000. The national treasury, however, is empty, and Spain’s last attempt at creating a loan was a failure.

—While an Italian mail steamer, armed with the necessary papers, was passing through the Dardanelles, she was fired upon by the forts on shore, notwithstanding the fact that she had displayed the signals usual on such occasions. Altho the Italian fleet is taking an active part in the naval display in Cretan waters, the whole nation is incensed over the attempt at coercion on the part of “the powers,” and demonstrations in behalf of the union of Crete and Greece are being held in the country. The German embassy and colleges at Rome are being repeatedly and strongly hissed by the Italians.

DOMESTIC.

—Rome, New York, suffered a $200,000 fire on March 5.

—A large filibustering expedition is said to have left the New Jersey coast on March 8 for Cuba.

—Sylvester Scovel, the American newspaper correspondent who has been for some time imprisoned in Cuba, is now at liberty.

—Two hundred railway postal clerks left Chicago by special train on March 9, to attend an annual meeting of men of their vocation in San Francisco.

—President McKinley, on March 6, issued a call for a special meeting of the fifty-fifth Congress of the United States, to convene on the 15th of March.

—Capt. John D. Hart, owner of the filibustering steamers Laurada and Bermuda, has been refused a new trial, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

—The widow of Henry Ward Beecher died at Stamford, Conn., on the morning of March 8, as a result of a severe fall sustained on Thanksgiving day. She was eighty-five years old.

—A large strike of garment-makers is now on in New York on account of the starvation wages which they have been receiving. It is expected that at least 15,000 of these laborers will go out.

—An avalanche at Park City, Utah, on March 7, destroyed mining property to the extent of $50,000. Eight miners were buried in the rushing mountain of snow, four of whom were instantly killed.

—The national convention of horticultural societies met at Washington on March 5, to recommend appropriate legislation for the prevention of the diffusion of noxious insects and fungi in the United States.

—A union elevator belonging to the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad, at Peoria, Ill., was destroyed by fire on March 4. The building contained 90,000 bushels of grain. The entire loss is estimated at $350,000.

—The government of Peru has refused to allow the claim of Victor H. McCord, an American citizen, for $200,000 damages for false imprisonment. Secretary Olney had made a peremptory demand for the settlement of the claim.

—By the explosion of a large gas main at the corner of Tremont and Boylston Streets, Boston, on March 4, six persons were instantly killed, and fully 100 more or less seriously injured. The gas main was weakened by electrolysis.

—The damage to property along the Ohio River and its tributaries by the recent rains and flood is estimated to be over a million dollars. The Alabama, Warrior, and Tombigbee Rivers are also at a dangerous height, and many factories and stores at Memphis are severely damaged.

—The great Leadville strike, which began on June 1, 1896, was officially declared off on March 9. It is estimated that it has cost the camp $4,000,000, exclusive of the expense to labor organizations in other parts of the country who have contributed to the support of the Leadville strikers.