Venezuela, Railroads, and Morocco
Trouble is brewing again in the Republic of Venezuela. European nations are becoming impatient over the failure of Venezuela to pay the money awarded to them by the court of arbitration, and there is talk of the United States becoming involved in the matter. In view of the fact that the United States still holds to the Monroe doctrine, an attempt on the part of European nations to take Venezuelan territory would be resisted by the United States. Therefore those nations will look to the United States to see to it that their awards are paid. It is reported that President Castro of Venezuela has been ordering new and powerful artillery, and this is interpreted to mean that he would forcibly resist any attempt on the part of the United States to interfere in Venezuelan affairs. A recent decision of the United States Supreme Court makes obligatory upon railroad companies the equipment of all cars with automatic couplers, and these must be made to couple with all makes of couplers. The Interstate Commerce Commission's report of casualties during the past year in the railroad business shows that 43,266 railway employees were injured and 3,367 killed during that time. A large number of these casualties occurred in the coupling of cars which were not equipped with the automatic couplers. The French Foreign Office considers the condition in Morocco very grave. All foreigners have been ordered to leave Fez. Tribesmen who have surrounded Alcazar have been demanding the possession of the persons of the French consul and an English resident. It is expected that France will make a demonstration in force. The Turkish Government is arranging for the borrowing of $15,000,000 to be used in the purchase of new quick-firing guns. This course was decided upon after learning that Bulgaria had made a large purchase of modern artillery. Disturbances continue to occur on the Bulgarian frontier. A campaign for reform in the American navy is being started by the New York Sun. Sweeping charges are brought by that publication against the present system of promotion in the navy, which is said to permit incompetent men to be advanced to the most responsible positions. The warfare between Thomas W. Lawson and the men whose methods of business he is exposing continues unabated. Threats and counter threats are indulged in, and it is reported that twice within the last three weeks attempts have been made to take Mr. Lawson's life by means of poison. The Pulajanese, of the island of Samar, Philippines, have ambushed and killed a lieutenant and 37 enlisted men of the native scouts. The officer in charge of the native scouts reports that the village of Dolores is threatened by a band of 2,000 Pulajanese, and requests that aid be sent. A disastrous conflagration occurred at Sioux City, Iowa, on December 23. The financial loss is placed at $2,000,000. The buildings destroyed included stores, wholesale establishments, and banks. A most serious drought now extends over western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Many mills have been forced to close because they can not get water enough to make steam. The losses among the German troops operating in German Southwest Africa are as follows: Officers, 49; men, 510. The rebellion is not yet quelled. Forty persons have lost their lives in the great storm which has recently swept the coast of Portugal.