p. 13 | News and Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 2, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 47.

News and Notes

FOREIGN.

—There is now under contemplation a project for building a railroad from the Red Sea to the top of Mount Sinai.

—The expedition which King Oscar sent into the Arctic Ocean to search for Professor Andrée has returned, finding no trace of him or his balloon.

—The Competitor prisoners were released at Havana on November 18, by order of the Spanish Government, and are now in the United States.

—The German Government is planning to send a fleet of war vessels to Chinese waters to reinforce the fleet now holding the port of Kao Chau, on the Shantung peninsula.

—A disastrous cyclone swept through Melbourne, Australia, on November 19, destroying a large amount of property. Many churches and prominent buildings were ruined, and several persons seriously injured.

—Paris and Berlin now have a pneumatic-tube mail service connecting the two cities. The distance between the cities is 750 miles, but mail matter is shot through the tube from one city to the other in thirty-five minutes.

—The British expedition recently sent against the slave-trading prince of Idau in west Africa has been successful in its mission, having captured and burned the stronghold of the prince and dispersed his followers, with heavy loss.

—The powers of Europe are now discussing the advisability of blockading Constantinople or making a naval demonstration in the Dardanelles, in order to force the sultan to grant autonomy to Crete, and withdraw the Turkish soldiers from the island.

—China has appealed to Russia to oust Germany from the fortifications which she has seized on the Shantung peninsula. It is said that at the time of the landing of the German forces China had already taken steps to make reparation for the murder of German missionaries, and that those guilty of the crime were then under arrest.

—On September 1 three murders were perpetrated by the Solomon islanders upon foreign traders. The traders promptly organized an expedition and punished the natives by burning two of their villages, killing some of them, and taking a number captive.

—The trial of the Mexican city officials for the collusive killing of President Diaz' assailant closed on November 22. Ten of them were condemned to death, one to eleven months' imprisonment, and one was set free. The cases of the condemned have been appealed.

—Dr. Henry Frank, pastor of the Metropolitan Independent Church, preached a sermon to his congregation in New York recently, in which he took for his texts one quotation from the Gospel by John and one from the forty-sixth chapter of Buddha, giving each equal prominence with the other.

—Professor Falb's prediction that the earth would come into collision, on Nov. 13, 1899, with Tempe's comet, has been disproved by the computations of the astronomers of the Vienna observatory. When nearest the earth the comet will still be 18,000,000 kilometers away, or about 11,000,000 miles.

—The Spanish governor of the Philippines has reported to his government that the rebellion there has been subdued, two of the three principal leaders with their followers having surrendered. Rizal, the brother of the one who planned the rebellion, is still in the field with his followers, refusing to submit.

—The situation in India does not improve with the prospects of a winter campaign. There is a considerable increase in the activity of the tribesmen. They seem to be well supplied with food, and have no lack of ammunition. The British troops sent to operate against them are said to be suffering from the cold.

—A mutiny has occurred in the British expedition that was ordered into the lake country in central Africa. The mutineers, assisted by 150 Mohammedan tribesmen, attacked the camp at Usoga, killing 18 officers and men, and wounding 30. They were finally beaten off with a loss of about one hundred.

—The Mexican Government has despatched a company of troops to Tiburon Island in the Gulf of California, to punish the natives for the recent massacre of two Americans. It is reported that a military station will be established on the island for the purpose of compelling the Indians to sign a permanent treaty of peace.

—A New York Sun cable from London states that a radical change has taken place in the foreign policy of the British Government; that no more concessions are to be granted to the United States; that France is to be dealt with rigorously in Africa; and that vigorous independence is henceforth to mark the course of England in the politics of the world.

—Bishop William Taylor, the well-known missionary to central Africa, has signified his intention of returning to America. This is due principally to his failing voice. Last year Bishop Taylor was retired, at the age of seventy-five, but soon after made another journey to the scene of his labors, during which he was instrumental in the conversion of 1,400 natives.

—The republic of Uruguay finds itself in much the same condition as that of Brazil. The trouble in both republics is due to plots by the vice-presidents against the lives of the presidents. In both cases these conspiracies have been unsuccessful. President Cuestas, of Uruguay, is president ad interim, having taken the place of Señor Borda, who was assassinated some months ago.

—General Weyler arrived in Barcelona, Spain, on November 23, and was greeted by large crowds. Disclaiming political aspirations, he declared his aim now should be the amelioration of the condition of the laboring men of Spain. It is reported that he will hold aloof from both Republicans and Carlists, and pose as the champion of national production. So far no demonstrations dangerous to the established government of Spain have occurred in connection with Weyler's return.

—The greatest fire that London has experienced since that which followed the plague in 1666 occurred on November 19 in what is known as the Manchester district, near the general post-office. Conservative estimates place the losses at $10,000,000. Nearly six acres were burned over, which was covered by closely-packed warehouses. On the following day, November 20, about two acres were burned over in Paris, entailing a loss which is placed at $800,000. On November 21 a fierce fire visited Melbourne, Australia, causing a loss upon which the insurance companies are required to pay $3,650,000.

—Marshal Blanco has been authorized by the Spanish Government to sign a credit for $100,000 to be devoted to the immediate relief of the suffering peasants of Cuba who have been gathered into the towns by the troops. Blanco has also offered large sums of money and positions of honor in the Spanish army to Cuban officers who will use their influence in bringing about peace in the island. All the English prisoners held in Cuba have now been released, and it is reported that all American and French prisoners will be liberated within a few days. A Spanish official report states that during the last ten days the insurgents have lost 225 men killed, including a major and a colonel. The report of Spanish losses for the same time gives the number killed as two officers and thirty-five soldiers.