IN THE ORIENT by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 16.

IN THE ORIENT.

By Editor

No serious engagement has yet occurred between the warring powers. The Japanese have continued to advance, and the Russians to withdraw, until the Japanese have possession of all Korea. Some reports indicate that the Japanese have crossed the Yalu into Manchuria. There are grave fears in Russian official circles that the fall of Port Arthur is near at hand. There is very little of the channel now free, and the next attempt of the Japanese will probably block that, bottling up the fleet, if it remains inside. This would be followed by land operations against the fortress.

Japan now has more than a quarter million of troops in motion, while the Russian general expects to have 500,000 in the field soon to confront them. Japan has ordered two great battle-ships to be built in England, which will be larger and more powerful than anything now afloat, and it is reported that Russia has purchased six war vessels, it being her intention to raise her fleet to a position where it will be superior to Japan's, then concentrate the different squadrons, and give battle to the Japanese.

United States Senator Burton, of Kansas, has been convicted in the U. S. District Court at St. Louis, of receiving illegal fees as an attorney. In pronouncing sentence, Judge Adams said: "Your conviction necessarily results in your punishment. Its importance, in my opinion, is not confined to its effect upon you. Your exalted station in life and the character of your offense give unusual significance to your conviction. It demonstrates that the law of the land is equal to any emergency, and that it can be administered, regardless of the personality or station of the accused. It also demonstrates to all the people that public office can not be used for self-serving purposes, and that public office is not a sure or safe passport to private thrift." The sentence imposed is a fine of $2,500, and six months' imprisonment. The conviction carries with it a disability to again hold office under the government of the United States. The case has been appealed to the Court of Appeals.

A car containing sixty-three Indians was run into by a mail train near Maywood, Ill., on the 7th inst. Three of the Indians were killed, three were fatally injured, and twenty others were more or less seriously hurt. They were on the way to Washington to visit the President. Chief White Horse, in charge of the Indians on the train, was fatally injured. The bodies of the Indians who had been killed outright were laid on the prairie beside the track, Chief White Horse being carried with them. He said he knew that death was near, and requested that he be placed near his dead companions. The chief was propped up, and sat stoically while physicians worked over his injuries. He smoked a pipe quietly, and showed no signs of the pain he must have been suffering.

The most important event of the week was the signing of the treaty between France and England. Concessions have been made by both sides, and differences of long standing, and which have caused much irritation, have thus been settled. Great Britain has made more concessions than France; but this was deemed necessary, in order to obtain a stable basis for peace with that nation, in view of the conflicting interests of England and Russia. With this treaty signed, and all probability of difficulty with France out of the way, it is the general opinion that England will hold Tibet.

The clergymen of Chicago want to gain access to the Federation of Labor, and recently issued a call for a mass-meeting of members of trades-union to discuss the proposition of slating clergymen as fraternal delegates to the meetings of the Federation. One local union receiving the call for the mass-meeting adopted resolutions rejecting the plan, and suggesting, if the ministers are not being paid enough wages, that they form a union, and make application for membership in the regular way.

It is planned, according to a report from Washington, to send a fleet of forty American war-ships to Turkish waters the coming summer. At the time of the Alexandretta incident several American war-ships were sent to Turkey, but were finally withdrawn at the sultan's personal request; but he was informed that if certain diplomatic differences were not settled, they would return in greater strength. This is thought to be the reason for the contemplated move.

In Russia a general mobilization is in course of preparation, says a despatch from St. Petersburg. The police have been instructed to prepare lists of all university graduates under forty years old, capable of serving as reserve officers. A portion will be detailed to guard the Siberian railroad. This will give them something to do besides plotting against the Jews or propagating schemes against the government.

Isabella, former queen of Spain, and grandmother of the present king, died at her home in Paris on April 9.