p. 14 | News and Notes by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · May 13, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 19.

News and Notes

By Editor

FOREIGN.

—Great Britain's drink bill for 1896 was $740,000,000, or $20 per capita for her entire population.

—A petition has been presented to the Australian Commonwealth, asking that God, as the Supreme Ruler, be recognized in the Constitution.

—It is reported that an ordinance has been promulgated in Japan urging the people to eat more meat, in order to increase the height of succeeding generations.

—The Italian Geographical Society has received news confirming the report that the Botego expedition, which had been sent into Abyssinia, had been massacred.

—The revolution in Honduras is said to be gaining ground. It is reported that the majority desire De Sota for president. Many Americans are aiding and participating in the revolution. The commander of the army is an American.

—A law has been enacted in Norway which makes young ladies ineligible for matrimony until they are proficient in knitting, baking, and spinning. Certificates must be procured covering these accomplishments before a girl can marry.

—Advices from the Gold Coast Colony, in West Africa, state that the entire party of Lieutenant Henderson, who was visiting the chiefs of the Hinterland for the purpose of making treaties with them, has been captured by Samory, a powerful West African chief.

—Trouble is now anticipated between Nicaragua and Costa Rica over the boundary between the two countries. Nicaragua is hurrying troops to the frontier to prevent any attempt of the Costa Ricans to invade her territory, and is recruiting men from all over the republic to reenforce her army.

—Advices from Ecuador indicate that the revolution there is gaining new impetus. Mountaineers in all parts of the state are said to be joining the insurgents in large numbers, and are raiding towns and villages, seizing food, stores, and ammunition. The government forces so far have been wholly inadequate to meet the emergency.

—Reports from Jamaica state that a disastrous earthquake visited the entire group of the Leeward Islands on the morning of April 29, causing great damage to property and much loss of life, and the trembling of the earth's surface was almost continuous from Friday night till the following Monday morning, the most disastrous disturbance occurring on Sunday.

—The Transvaal Government is still making active preparations for defense against the expected military attack of Great Britain. The continental powers, Germany, Austria, France, and Russia, are preparing a remonstrance to the course of England in South Africa, and representatives of these powers claim that England will not be permitted to annex the Transvaal nor to destroy its independence.

—The terms of peace which Turkey has offered Greece are: The restoration of the boundary as fixed by the treaty of 1831, which gives to Turkey all of Thessaly; the evacuation by Greece of all points which she now holds in Epirus; the withdrawal of the Greeks from Crete; the acceptance of the Porte's plan of autonomy for Crete; and the payment of a war indemnity large enough to cover the expense of mobilizing the Turkish forces.

—The condition of affairs in Cuba remains unchanged in general, altho frequent encounters are reported between the insurgents and the troops. The port of Banes, which the Cubans had seized, was evacuated April 30 after a combined land and naval attack. A few days since a Spanish column discovered a quantity of dynamite which the Cubans had concealed. The discovery was made by the explosion of a part of the dynamite, which resulted in the death of 100 of the Spaniards. The remainder of the explosive was destroyed by the troops, who set on fire all combustible material in the vicinity of the first explosion. The belief is general among the pacificos that the purpose of the government is to exterminate them by starvation, and there is said to be daily evidence to support the belief.

—One of the most terrible disasters of modern times occurred in the city of Paris on the afternoon of May 4. The flower of French aristocracy was assembled together, for the purpose of charity, in a bazaar or fancy fair, which was held in a wooden building constructed to represent a street in old Paris. Duchesses, countesses, and other ladies of note were acting as salesladies in the various booths, and fully 1,500 people had crowded into the doomed structure. The exits were few, and, at the cry of fire, a panic ensued, and men, women, and children were trampled and burned to death. In twelve minutes from the breaking out of the fire the roof collapsed, burying hundreds who were still struggling to escape. The prefecture of police estimates that fully 250 perished in the conflagration, while over 200 are more or less seriously injured. The dead include several members of royal families.

—On May 5 a desperate battle was fought between the Greeks and Turks in front of the Grecian line of defenses stretching from Volo and Velestino to Pharsalos. An entire division of the Turkish army was repulsed before Velestino in the morning, after several attacks. Great loss of life is reported from both sides at this place. In the afternoon the engagement was begun in front of the Grecian position at Pharsalos, and was likewise unsuccessful. The Turkish defeat at this place was attended with great slaughter. There was no lack of bravery on either side, and the battle was probably the most sanguinary of the war. There are frequent rumors of intervention by the powers, but as yet no definite action has been taken by them. M. Ralli, the successor of M. Delyannis, expects to continue the war, unless further examination of the Greek preparations and defenses convinces him that it would be inconsistent to do so. The situation in Epirus seems now to be rather more favorable to the Turkish arms, and in many instances the Greeks have abandoned their positions and retreated without waiting for an engagement.