FOREIGN | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 2, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 14.

FOREIGN.

—The Italian senate has voted 100,000,000 lire to carry on the war in Abyssinia. In the meantime peace negotiations are under way with Menelik. It is now said that the African king demands a large indemnity as one term of peace.

—M. Berthelot, French minister of foreign affairs, has resigned. This move is believed to have been brought about by Russian criticism of his conduct of French policy in Egypt, and an expression of lack of confidence by other members of the cabinet.

—The predicted rise in price of sugar due to the devastation of plantations in Cuba has showed itself in London. There the price has advanced from $2.10 to $3.10 per hundredweight. Heavy demands are being made upon sugar-producing sections everywhere, and prices in the United States may be expected to rise soon.

—On March 13 a meeting occurred between Queen Victoria of England and Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria. The meeting was their first, and to most people is interesting because of that fact, seeing their kingdoms are only a few hundred miles apart—and the length of the reign of each, the former having been 59 years on her throne, and the latter 48 years on his.

—The Egyptian Debt Commission has voted £500,000 to defray the expenses of England's proposed advance on the Soudan. Just how far the matter will go is hard to say at present, as it is reported that the Russian and French members of the commission protested, and voted against the proposition. But already England has thrown out an advance guard towards Dongola, and the latest report is that it has met a body of Dervishes, and suffered defeat.

—The news comes from Cuba that Pinar del Rio, in the extreme western province of the island, was taken by the insurgents under Maceo, on March 27. The city, which has been considered the western stronghold and relief center of the Spanish, is a place of 20,000 inhabitants, and was garrisoned by 4,000 troops. The attacking force was 9,000, well armed, and assisted, it is believed, by American artillery men. The rout was complete, but, as usual, the insurgents chose not to take possession at the risk of attack by a superior force. The city was given to the flames, stores captured, and the wily chief has left for parts unknown. Later news will probably give more details.

—The proposed route of the Nicaragua Canal is from Greytown, on the Atlantic side of the San Juan River; thence to the San Carlos River; thence three and a half miles to Lake Nicaragua; across the lake and through the valley of the Rio del Medio and the Rio Grande to Brito, on the Pacific Coast. The whole distance of 170 miles involves only 27 miles of excavated canal, the rest of the way being by rivers and Lake Nicaragua. This lake is 105 miles long by an average width of 40 miles. Three locks only on each side of the lake are said to be necessary, with a dam at Ochoa, on the San Juan. Who will see the enterprise through? is the question now troubling those interested in the project.

—President Hippolyte, of the Haytian republic, is dead. He was chosen president in 1890, after successfully defeating Legitime and putting down the revolution of 1889. His election was virtually a victory for the pure-blooded blacks, as he had no mixed blood in his veins. Legitime was the star of the Creoles. The administration has been characterized by severeness towards state offenders, several conspirators having been summarily shot, but in private life the president was described as a mild-mannered, genial, well-educated gentleman, of benevolent disposition. The ending of his rule, which period was one of peace for Hayti, again awakens fears for the island, as politics are not very firmly organized, and a political fight may bring on another revolution. A British war ship has already proceeded to Port-au-Prince to look after British interests in the island.

—Japan is evidently making an effort to compete with Great Britain for a share of the carrying trade of the world. A line to Bombay is already arranged which will compete with the Pacific and Oriental Company. A line is to be opened to Austria, and an agent is on his way to England to place an order for 6 steamships, of 5,000 tons each, which, with one of the same size already starting, will be put on a European line. The island kingdom has undergone a mighty reformation in the last generation, and is still changing, and bids fair to take its stand among the great nations of the earth. Already its manufactured articles are pushing into the great foreign markets and causing consternation among other manufacturers because of their high grade and cheapness. Just what shall be done in the revision of laws so as to afford what is believed to be necessary protection to home producers, and at the same time recognize Japan on an equality with other powers under the "most favored nation" clause of treaties, is a question agitating politicians at the present time.

—The trial of Jameson in England has drawn attention from South Africa, which for the time being appeared to have resumed a comparative state of quietude. But it appears from reports from that section that every preparation is being made to make a further and real crisis, which it is confidently believed will come when England has disposed of the Jameson affair. The Boers are resolved to effect their recognized independence, and to this end are aiming, and it is reported have made an alliance with the Orange Free State. To add to England's anxiety, the Matabele in two districts have revolted and fallen upon white settlers, many of whom are reported killed. Fugitives are seeking refuge in Bulawayo and Gwelo, whither a detachment of volunteers with a Maxim gun have been sent from Cape Town. This sudden move of the natives is quite probably due to the repulse of Jameson. England seems just now to have a heap of trouble on hand.

—The present strength of the Cuban insurgent army is estimated closely at 43,000 men, altho the Cubans claim there are 60,000 in the field. No doubt many would join the army were it not for lack of arms. Of the army proper, not counting local bands, two-thirds are well mounted, and about half are well armed. The others have shotguns, revolvers, or only the machete. Some are armed with muzzle-loaders, and lead is so scarce that telegraph wire chopped into short lengths often serves for the charge. Besides these small arms the insurgents have a number of field pieces captured from the Spanish troops. A recent despatch announces the safe landing of arms, ammunition, and a body of volunteers by the steamship Bermuda, which successfully evaded officials in New York two weeks ago. The stores will be of immense assistance to the rebels. They consist of 4,000 repeating rifles, 1,000,000 rounds of cartridges, 4 Hotchkiss rapid-repeating guns, 2 Gatling guns, 2,000 pounds of dynamite, thousands of matches, several hundred rubber coats, which will be useful as the rainy season comes on, and a supply of money for the purchase of provisions. This expedition, with that of the Three Friends, which has landed nearly as large a quantity of stores, will enable the insurgents to meet the Spanish more on an equality than before. Captain-General Weyler has issued another proclamation to the effect that henceforth he will treat the Cuban forces as bandits because of their runaway methods of fighting. Just what he will do in his wrath it will be interesting to see. The world at large has supposed the general was doing his best, but from his words evidently he has not been. He now proposes to annihilate the Cubans, it seems. He will quite probably learn to his amazement that the smaller and poorer armed forces, after inflicting what damage they can, will in the future, as in the past, have the audacity to refuse to stand up and be shot down according to his military ideas.