News and Notes by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 29, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 17.

News and Notes

By Editor

FOREIGN.

—Smallpox and typhus fever are now raging in the island of Crete.

—The English Volunteer Rifles have captured the stronghold of Gamazap, Bechuanaland.

—Premier Canovas states that he will wait for confirmation of the news of Cuba's pacification before instituting the promised reforms.

—A despatch from Montevideo states that the Uruguayan rebels have again defeated the forces of the government under General Munez.

—The Brazilian Government is massing a strong body of troops, and intends soon to capture the position of the rebellious "fanatics," and put an end to the struggle.

—The Amur Gazette states that the Chinese Government has made it obligatory for all cadets in the military and naval schools in China to learn the Russian language.

—General Weyler has issued an order to the Spanish columns in Pinar del Rio to destroy all Cuban hospitals and kill all persons found inside. The troops are doing this.

—On April 20 a gang of laborers on the Red Mountain Railway, near Rossland, B. C., were overwhelmed by an avalanche, and six of the company were instantly killed.

—A union has finally been consummated between the Congregational Union and the Evangelical Union Churches of Scotland, under the title of the Congregational Union of Scotland.

—The Chinese Government has signified its intention of establishing a new set of treaties with other governments, which will enable her to adjust her revenues to the nation's needs.

—The rebellion in Honduras is assuming considerable strength. A provisional government has been established, with its capital at Puerto Cortez, and General Arturo Lopez as its supreme chief.

—The long-disputed question between England and Mexico over the boundary between Mexico and the colony of Belize, was settled on April 20 by the Mexican Senate ratifying the boundary treaty.

—A party of ninety-one Chinese have gone to Cuba to work the deserted sugar plantations, under guarantee of steady employment by the Spanish Government, and the paying of traveling expenses.

—The North Island of New Zealand is suffering from an extensive flood. The Napier district is almost entirely inundated; great damage is reported, and twelve persons have lost their lives in trying to rescue others.

—Patriarch John Joseph Nouri, who claims to have discovered the ark on Mount Ararat, April 23, 1892, is now reported to have been recently restored to the kingship of Chaldea, from which he had been unlawfully deposed.

—Twenty-five thousand natives of Gazaland, South Africa, are now reported to be in open revolt against the Portuguese Government. The location of the principal revolutionary center is only forty miles from the Transvaal.

—The president of Switzerland has been chosen as arbitrator of the boundary dispute between Brazil and French Guiana. The territory involved includes rich gold-mining districts, and exceeds in extent the in dispute between Venezuela and Great Britain.

—The famous Bazin roller ship, of which so much was expected in the matter of speed, has had her trial, and was not a success. The inventor expected the vessel would travel sixty miles an hour; but the report states that she made barely one-fifth of that speed.

—Protestantism is making considerable progress in Mexico. Where fifty years ago there was neither school nor church of the Protestant persuasion, there are now 441 churches, with 171 pastors, 164 evangelists, 244 teachers, and about 50,000 professing Protestants.

—Prince Hohenlohe, Germany's imperial chancellor, has tendered his resignation to the emperor, for political reasons. In view of the critical situation in Europe at the present time, the emperor refused to accept the resignation of his chancellor; but the prince seems determined, and has left for Paris.

—General Weyler has recently been investigating the administration of affairs in Santa Clara province, and sensational developments are reported. The governor, eluding the authorities, escaped with his stealings, amounting to about $250,000, and is now believed to be in the United States. The grossest corruption is reported in all departments of the government of that province. Extraordinary assessments were collected from merchants and property holders under threat of arrest as political suspects; appointments were sold to the highest bidder; and systematic blackmail to the extent of hundreds of thousands of dollars was levied upon gambling-houses run in defiance of law. General Luque, who has resigned his post, says that Cuba is lost to Spain through the mismanagement of General Weyler.

—A despatch from St. Petersburg states that the czar has issued an order providing for the transportation by rail of all convicts sentenced to imprisonment in Siberia. This will do away with the long and tedious journey by foot, which has caused so many deaths and so much suffering.

—The Spanish press campaign against dishonest military administration in Cuba, and reports of the suffering among the soldiers for lack of food, has caused the Spanish Government's last attempt at recruiting volunteers for the war to be a complete failure. Only 200 men enlisted. It is believed that when the rainy season sets in, Spain will begin to withdraw her troops from Cuba.

—England's expedition to the regions of the Upper Nile, which was ostensibly directed against the Dervishes, has turned out to be against the encroachments of the French in territory over which England claims suzerainty. The French expedition up the Mobangi River and the English expedition up the Nile, have both for objective points the country of the Dervishes and regions thereabout, and trouble is anticipated.

—On April 18, 200 Spanish guerrillas attacked a Cuban hospital near the village of Guanche, in which 100 sick and wounded soldiers were receiving treatment. The guard of ten men was soon cut down, and a horrible massacre began of defenseless men and innocent women. Only three, who were left for dead, escaped to tell of this cowardly crime, which, with hundreds of others of like nature, must live in the annals of history to shame the posterity of Spain.

—The English telegraph line to India passes through Persia, and recently, on account of a drought, the natives, headed by their priests, tore down all the telegraph poles and wires, believing them to be the cause of the lack of rain. Singularly enough, heavy rain fell immediately afterward; and, notwithstanding the heavy punishment inflicted by the Persian Government upon the ringleaders, the masses persist in their convictions that the telegraph is the invention of the devil.

—A band of Spanish guerrillas, which had been wantonly murdering "pacificos," was captured by a company of Cubans, placed in a small building, bound hand and foot, and the building set on fire. All were burned alive, there being fifty-five in the band. The despatch says, "The screams of the poor wretches were awful, but the Cubans stood by and taunted them with their recent murders, and refused to let one escape." Such is war, as it has been taught to the Cubans by the Spaniards themselves.

—English activity in military affairs in South Africa and in military preparations at home, coupled with the tone of the English press and the defiant attitude of the Transvaal Republic and Orange Free State, seem to indicate beyond a doubt that the "dogs of war" will soon be loosed in South Africa. One influential English paper says: "We are going to fight for gold mines and territory, if they can not be got without fighting. Every nation has to play pirate at times, and let us play boldly when we do."

—The American Board of Foreign Missions reports that not for years has the religious interest in all its various stations been so marked as at the present time. All the stations in the Zulu mission are said to be rejoicing in revivals. The mission in Gazaland reports great success since its recent establishment, and the natives of the West Central mission are energetically and devotedly proclaiming the good news of salvation to their friends and neighbors. The stations of the American Board in China are also reporting cheering success, and inquirers are increasing beyond the possibility of caring for them. In Armenia they report the breaking down of barriers between the Gregorians and Protestants, and thousands are said to be seeking the Gospel who have been wholly indifferent or absolutely opposed to it heretofore.

—On April 18 the sultan of Turkey declared all diplomatic relations with Greece broken off, and authorized the commencement of hostilities. The first regular battle of the war was fought for the possession of Milouna Pass. The Greeks fought with great courage, but were unable to withstand the slow but steady advance of the Turks. Hafiz Pasha, one of the most prominent Turkish generals, was killed in this battle. The war-cry of the Turks is, "All who love Allah must advance," and they are reported to be "fighting like demons." The Greeks are reported to have captured Prevesa, on the Gulf of Arta. The Turks, in an attempt to capture Reveni, on April 19, were repulsed, and Edhem Pasha, commander of the army, narrowly escaped capture. Two divisions of the Greek army entered Turkish territory on the 19th and captured Damasi. Two Greek steamers have been sunk by the Turks. Correspondents on the 20th reported the fortunes of war evenly divided, the Greeks having captured Vigilia and taken a considerable number of prisoners. Latest reports state that the Turks have captured Tyrnavo, the last outpost between them and the Greek headquarters at Larissa, and as we go to press an independent report from Salonica to the New York Herald states that Larissa also has fallen. No accurate account can be given of the numbers of dead and wounded on either side. The Turkish commander admits that his losses have been heavy, and it is known that the losses on the side of the Greeks have been equally severe. The Turks seem to have the advantage on the eastern border, and the Greeks are more successful in the west.