News from Russia and Europe
At St. Petersburg, Russia, on January 20, while the czar was engaged in conducting the annual ceremony of blessing, the waters of the Neva River, near the Winter Palace, a charge of grape-shot from a battery that was firing a salute, crashed through the building in which the ceremony was taking place. The royal family had a narrow escape from instant death. It is generally believed that this was another attempt on the life of the czar. All the guns of the battery were aimed directly at the building in which the ceremony was taking place. One of the guards was killed by one of the grape-shot. All the members of the battery have been placed under arrest to prevent the escape of the guilty parties. Great strikes are now in full swing in both Germany and Russia. They are said to be due to Socialistic influence. About 300,000 workers have gone on strike in Germany, and the situation is a cause of much embarrassment to the government. Sixty thousand men are out in Russia, and others are expected to join the strikers almost any time. The authorities are in fear of riots, and the cessation of labor at government arsenals and ship-yards is seriously hindering the work of fitting up vessels of war and manufacturing ammunition. Inquiries recently made by the State Department are said to have revealed a plan on the part of the neutral European powers, to partition China at the close of the present war. Secretary Hay has been conducting correspondence with these powers, and has received assurances from them that they will respect the integrity of China. It is also reported that Russia has indicated to Secretary Hay that it is not pleased with the activity of the Washington Government in this matter. In view of Russia's charge that China had broken her promise of neutrality, Secretary Hay has again urged upon China the importance of keeping her promise in this regard, and has received assurances that China would do all in her power to keep the spirit of that engagement. President Roosevelt is pressing for the passage of a law to regulate railway rates. The various railway interests are combining to oppose any such law. It is worthy of note, that Mr. W. J. Bryan is supporting the President's action in this matter. The international commission to inquire into the North Sea incident, in which Russian vessels of war fired upon British fishermen, began its public session, on January 19. The members of the Woman's Army and Navy League are now petitioning Congress for the restoration of the army canteen.