News and Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 30, 1896

FOREIGN.

—Despatches from China state that that government is ordering war ships of all classes on a large scale.

—On January 18 Germany, and Germans elsewhere, celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the proclamation of the German Empire.

—Madagascar has been declared a French possession—by treaty, it is said. But all the world knows how France has been bringing about a treaty in that island.

—The Italian invasion of Abyssinia has thus far proved rather disastrous, the invaders being severely cut to pieces by King Menelek’s warriors. It is now announced that 6,000 additional troops have been ordered from Italy.

—The great ordnance survey map of England, containing over 108,000 sheets, and costing during the last twenty years about $9,000,000 a year, is nearly completed. The scale for the towns is ten feet to the mile. The details are so minute that the largest scale maps show every hedge, fence, ditch, wall, building, and even every isolated tree in the country. The plans show not only the exact shapes of the building, but every porch, area, doorstep, lamp-post, railway, and hydrant.

—A new set of Spanish officers has taken charge in Cuba. Camilo Polavieja is the new governor general, and General Weyler, the captain general. Campos has resigned under pressure, as it is intimated that his plan of campaign was not vigorous enough. Generals Pando and Marin are to figure from now on in the Spanish moves. During the week past the tide of victory has seemed to favor the Spanish, and a late despatch states that Gomez, the insurgent leader, has been severely wounded.

—The United States has also taken a hand in the troubles in the Transvaal, in the line of demanding courteous treatment for the Americans imprisoned by the Boer Government on charges of conspiracy in the late Jameson raid. The principal prisoner is John Hammond, a prominent mining engineer, who is accused of extending an invitation to Jameson to come to Johannesburg. Inasmuch as Jameson has been released to the English, it is a very pertinent inquiry why Hammond, whose offense is small compared to the raiders, should not be released from confinement on bail.

—It is widely reported that an offensive and defensive alliance has been effected between Russia and Turkey. This of course raises speculation to an intense pitch in European countries, especially in England. It would mean that Turkey is practically the vassal of Russia, and that the latter power could march her troops where she pleased, and move her fleet into the Mediterranean at will. The way would then be open for France and Russia to demand British evacuation of Egypt. England at present appears to be standing alone and on the defensive. The troublesome report is not yet confirmed.

—A new and marvelous photography, the discovery or invention of Professor Roentgen, of the Wurzburg University, is receiving wide notice in the press and scientific journals. By this process, which employs a peculiar and powerful light, bones are photographed through the flesh, and objects are pictured through boards. Even metals yield up to view their fiber and internal texture. These are only a few of the wonders ascribed to the invention, whose utility in various ways, perhaps chiefly in the medical profession in the case of fractured bones, can not fail to be well-nigh measureless.

—Miss Clara Barton, president of the American Red Cross Society, with a number of associates, has left this country to interview the sultan of Turkey, and obtain permission, if possible, to distribute funds and relief supplies in Armenia. It is stated that the sultan refuses to allow this work to be done in the name of the Red Cross Society, but will permit private individuals to do so. A despatch from Arabekir reports 2,000 more Armenians slain in a recent riot. Considerable time has been occupied in the Senate the past week in the discussion of the Armenian massacres, and what steps shall be taken to protect American interests in Turkey and her possessions.

—All England is now in mourning over the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg, son-in-law of Queen Victoria, who accompanied the expedition that recently marched into Ashantee. The prince was not the only one, however, of the English who succumbed to the West Coast fever. The expedition, from the English point of view, was successful. Coomassie, the capital, was entered without a battle. King Prempeh has vowed allegiance to Great Britain, and promises to stand by the former treaties, grant commercial advantages to English traders, and discontinue his head hunting and human sacrifices. Then there is the indemnity that England demands of him to pay the expenses of the expedition, 50,000 ounces of gold. The golden salve heals many a wound.

DOMESTIC.

—The large American wooden ship Roanoke, just in harbor at San Francisco, reports three men killed and sixteen wounded by accident on her trip from New York.

—A despatch from Long Branch, N. J., states that the large new American liner, St. Paul, is ashore at this point in the sand. The 700 passengers were taken ashore, and it is hoped to save the ship.

—Detroit is doing its own electric lighting, at a saving of $17,000 for every three months. Besides this improvement, owing to municipal control, the city has a farm scheme for the unemployed, and has inaugurated a three-cent fare on street railways.

—Chicago’s Board of Education has decided to discontinue the departments of singing, drawing, and physical culture. This does away with special teachers. Grade teachers will become instructors in these lines. It is calculated that $100,000 a year will be saved by this action.

—Mr. Allen, Dr. Talmage’s associate in the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, has resigned, thus opening the way for Mr. Talmage to occupy the pulpit in the morning, which it seems was his desire to do. The resignation also gives to the remaining preacher an increased salary.

—The Postmaster General has issued an order providing for house collection of mail in cities having the free delivery system. In order to give the plan thorough trial, only about twenty-five cities will at present adopt the new scheme. The plan where tried shows a real saving of time to the carrier.