Current Events and Foreign Affairs
"The following quantities of spirits passed through Madeira for Africa in a single week: Whisky, 28,000 cases; brandy and Old Tom, 30,000 gallons of each; rum, 800,000 demijohns, and 36,000 barrels; gin, 960,000 cases; absinthe, 15,000 barrels. It is almost incredible that this enormous amount of ruinous liquor all goes from Christian countries into heathen Africa." Last week the papers contained long articles concerning Russian encroachments on the Indian frontier and England's fears of what this Russian activity might mean. This week the Russians are wondering what is the meaning of England's activity in Afghanistan and Persia. The Novoe Vremya says: "We will let England alone in Afghanistan if she keeps her hand off Persia, where our interests are commercial and industrial and not political." The police of Chicago have in their hands indisputable evidence that the Chicago strikers had hired bands of professional "sluggers" who were sent out to beat and kill men. The members of one of these gangs are now under arrest for the murder of an inoffensive man, and evidence is being secured in the cases of other assaults and murders. Foreigners have been ordered to quit Vladivostok. This would indicate that Russia expects another siege there similar to that of Port Arthur. There has been but little movement during the week on the part of the two armies in Manchuria. Heavy rains have made the country impassable for artillery and heavy wagons. Turkey is planning to send thirty battalions of troops into the Arabian province of Yemen to reconquer that province. At the same time the government fears that there may be an outbreak in the Balkans due to the withdrawal of troops. A report from Paris states that Emperor William's plan to become the protector of Catholic interests in the Holy Land will be blocked by the pope. The pope is said to desire at least that much connection with the French Government. The band of Moros against which General Leonard Wood has been operating in the Sulu Archipelago has been exterminated by the soldiers. The latter lost 9 killed and 21 wounded. The band of outlaws numbered about 600. An agreement has been signed between Japan and Korea by which the Japanese are to take the Korean postal service under their control until such time as the Koreans are able to give an effective service. Russia has placed a loan of $103,000,000 in Germany. None of this money will leave Germany, however, as it will all be expended in the building of Russian war-vessels in German shipyards. As a result of German influence, the sultan of Morocco is said to have refused all the demands of the French save one. This is highly satisfactory to Germany.