International

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 15, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 11.

International.—Great Britain has at last withdrawn her opposition to France building coal sheds on the coast of Oman, altho the British admiral had compelled the sultan of Oman to cancel the concession he had given France. . . . Negotiations are proceeding between England, Germany, and the United States over the settlement of the Samoan difficulty. China has refused Italy's demand for the lease of the port and Bay of San Mun, wording her refusal in such a way as to offend the Italian minister. It is supposed that England is backing Italy, and that the latter government will take forcible possession of the port she covets. Italy's demand included the cession of three islands. . . . Prince Henry, brother of the emperor of Germany, has been given command of the German Asiatic squadron in place of Admiral von Diedrichs, whose lack of diplomacy nearly occasioned a quarrel between the German and American squadrons at Manila last year.

It is reported from Shanghai that the notorious Chinese rebel Nui has been captured and fifty-two of his body-guard killed. . . . It is reported that a battle recently occurred in Northern Macedonia between Albanian Mussulmans and Turkish troops, in which several hundred were killed on both sides. The sultan has ordered the execution of all prisoners taken by the Turks. . . . All the colleges, universities, and high schools of St. Petersburg went on a strike March 1, on account of the conduct of the police toward them. . . . The Khalifa, who was defeated at Omdurman by General Lord Kitchener, has again assembled a formidable army and is marching North to meet the Anglo-Egyptian forces. . . . The rebellion in the central Chinese provinces is reported to be rapidly assuming alarming proportions. It has extended to five different provinces. In pitched battles with imperial troops 4,700 of the rebels have been killed. Viceroy Chang has a foreign-drilled regiment armed with modern small arms and rapid-fire guns, which are doing fearful execution among the rebels.

The government troops of Venezuela have defeated the rebels at Moro Cayes. . . . President Alonso, of Bolivia, has met another serious defeat at the hands of the insurgents. . . . The German school ships Charlotte and Stosch have been despatched to Tangier, Morocco, to enforce the demands of the German Government for the payment of an indemnity to certain German subjects who suffered during a riot in Morocco. . . . Italy has determined to despatch a squadron of five war ships to San Mun Bay, China, to enforce her demands for concessions there, and secure reparation for the insults contained in China's refusal to accede to her demands. . . . The Spanish cabinet, headed by Sagasta, has tendered its resignation to the queen regent, and the resignation has been accepted and another cabinet chosen. Diplomats declare that the new cabinet is founded on sand and that the kingdom of Spain is on the brink of an internecine war.

The Philippines.—Five additional regiments of regular infantry have been ordered to Manila, most of whom have had experience in Indian campaigns. Admiral Dewey has called for a number of light-draft gunboats for service among the islands of the Philippine archipelago, and, altho several such vessels are on their way to Manila, others will be sent. . . . On March 3 Rear-Admiral Dewey was made an admiral, the highest rank in the navy, a rank which was created for him by Congress, and which has only been held by two other officers in the American navy. Sampson and Schley were both made rear-admirals, with the latter two points in advance. Hobson was advanced from No. 1 on the list of assistant naval constructors to the rank of lieutenant-commander, which will make him a captain at the age of thirty. His advancement amounts to 250 numbers in the line of the navy.

Colonel Smith, in command of the military district of the island of Negros, has been ordered to form a company of 200 native police, and put them under military discipline. . . . On March 3 an American gunboat and a battery of field artillery bombarded Guadalupe, near Manila, killing about 50 of the natives. . . . On March 7 a forward movement was made by the Twentieth Infantry and the Nebraska and Wyoming troops. An engagement with the natives followed, lasting two hours, in which a large number of the latter were killed, probably about 250. Two Americans were killed and a number wounded. . . . The wives of American officers who arrived in Manila recently on army transports have not been allowed to land, except for a few hours, on account of the danger from the native Filipinos. . . . An advance was made on March 6 by General Hale's brigade on Santolan and Mariquina. The natives were driven from their position and compelled to retreat, having suffered considerable loss. Eight Americans were wounded. The natives on the same day attacked the Oregon regiment, which was guarding the water-works, but were repulsed with a loss of thirty killed.

Casualties and Calamities.—A powder magazine blew up near Toulon, France, on March 5, killing 54 persons and injuring 130. So terrible was the force of the explosion that buildings within a radius of five miles were wrecked. . . . Seven persons were killed in a Russia railway carriage on March 5 by the explosion of a carboy of benzine. . . . The number of deaths from the bubonic plague in Bombay, India, is increasing rapidly. Over 900 deaths have occurred in one week, notwithstanding the vigorous measures which had been taken to stamp it out. . . . On March 5 the city of Charleston, W. Va., was reported almost entirely flooded. Four feet of water surrounded the State capitol. Many are suffering from the effects of the flood, and hundreds of families have been driven from their homes. . . . A severe wind-storm accompanied with rain and hail visited Georgia and Alabama on March 5, doing much damage to property. Some hailstones were found which measured seven inches in circumference. . . . Five men and one woman lost their lives in a snowslide at White Pine, Colorado, on March 3. . . . A farmer named John Gilbert, living near Abilene, Kansas, recently beat to death his whole family, consisting of his wife and four children. . . . The British steamer Labrador, from St. John, New Brunswick, for Liverpool, was wrecked off the north of Ireland on March 1. All her passengers were saved. . . . A severe earthquake shock was experienced at Yokohama, Japan, on the morning of March 7. There is reported to have been considerable loss of life and property.

Domestic.—On March 1 the House passed the Senate Army Reorganization Bill, thus averting the possibility of an extra session of Congress. On the same day the Senate voted to reduce the amount paid for armor for battle-ships to $300 per ton, instead of $445, as voted by the House, and authorized the Secretary of the Navy, in case he could not buy armor at that price, to construct a plant and manufacture it. For this purpose $1,500,000 was placed at the Secretary's disposal for the building of the plant, and $2,000,000 for its operation. . . . The Rivers and Harbors Bill was passed on March 4, carrying a provision for the inspection of the various proposed canal routes across Central America. This provision is regarded as a small step in advance for the canal, but must delay its construction for a considerable time. The belief is quite general that the defeat of canal legislation during the present session was almost wholly due to the opposition of the railroad interests.

The sessions of the fifty-fifth Congress closed at noon March 4. The appropriations authorized by this Congress amount to $1,566,890,016.28, of which sum $484,582,083 is directly chargeable to the war with Spain. . . . Joseph H. Choate, United States Ambassador to Great Britain, arrived in England on March 1, and was cordially welcomed by English officials. . . . The Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes, which was sunk inside Santiago harbor during a bombardment, was raised on March 2.

New Trusts.—The Consolidated Traction Company, with a capital stock of $15,000,000, filed articles of incorporation at Springfield, Illinois, March 4. This is looked upon as the first step toward a combination of all the street-car lines of Chicago. . . . The United States Cast Iron and Foundry Company was incorporated at Trenton, N. J., on March 3. Its authorized capital is $30,000,000. . . . The Union Bag and Paper Company was formed at New York, March 2. Its capital stock is $27,000,000. Many of the firms operating smelters, and refiners of precious metals, have united, with a capital of $46,000,000. . . . A gigantic casket trust is in process of formation, whose intention is to materially raise the price of coffins and caskets.

Cuba.—A despatch from Havana states that Cuban patriotism is at last satisfied. The Cubans have marched through the streets of Havana with their arms, and General Gomez has received military honors from General Brooke. A grand banquet was held in Havana on February 27, which was participated in by American and Cuban officers. There was much felicitous speech-making and expressions of good-will from both sides. . . . Between 2,000 and 3,000 men have suddenly been thrown out of employment in Santiago province, on account of the recent orders of General Brooke reducing the amount to be expended on public works.

Fires.—It is reported that in a fire which occurred at Muncie, Indiana, on February 26, twelve persons lost their lives. . . . A fire at Muscogee, Indian Territory, on February 23 destroyed nearly half of the village, entailing a loss aggregating nearly half a million dollars. . . . Two destructive fires occurred in Chicago on February 23, one resulting in a loss of $200,000, and the other in a loss of $225,000.