Casualties and Calamities
to the cession of a valuable portion of the Yang-tse Valley. The viceroy of Nanking stoutly refuses to accede to the demands of France, and for this the French admiral threatens to make his demands still greater and to destroy certain Chinese property in the vicinity of Nanking. British and Japanese vessels have gone to the vicinity to strengthen the viceroy in his refusal to yield to the demands of France...... Trouble has arisen in Africa between Germany and the Kongo Free State over the boundary of German territory and Kongo territory north of Lake Tanganyika. A strong force of Germans has been sent to the disputed territory, and the Kongo forces have also been increased...... The new German Army Bill just published gives the increase in the German army as 13,487 men. The Radicals term this "Germany's answer to the czar's disarmament proposal." Serious trouble is threatening in Peru over the policy of the obstructionists; and on November 29 Ecuador was proclaimed in a state of siege...... The rebellion in Salvador, in the absence of the president, resulted in the rebel leader Regalado usurping the president's office. He is said to be so firmly established that President Gutierrez will not attempt to dislodge him...... The republic of Central America, which was recently formed, and which consisted of Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, has been again dissolved, and the little States resume their existence as separate republics. Two British brigades have been ordered to the Swat Valley, India, to put down the uprising of the Mad Mullah, who has been victorious over local tribesmen...... A report from Madagascar states that the bubonic plague has broken out in that island...... General Kitchener, the conqueror of Omdurman, has appealed to the British public to subscribe £100,000 to found and maintain the Gordon Memorial College at Khartoum, with a view of educating the Soudanese and continuing the work which General Gordon commenced...... One of the expeditions sent out in search of Herr Andree has been wrecked at the mouth of the Yenisei River. The members of the expedition succeeded in reaching an uninhabited island, where they were ice-bound for seventeen days before they were finally rescued...... A German official is said to confirm the report that the German Government is negotiating with Spain for the purchase of the Caroline Islands. Germany makes her offer contingent upon no international complications arising, especially with the United States...... The Reichstag (the German Parliament) convened on December 6, and listened to the address of the emperor...... The present indications are that the treaty of peace between Spain and the United States will be signed during the week. The provisions of this treaty have not been officially given out for publication. Casualties and Calamities.
The French steamer Algérois foundered off the coast of Algeria on December 5, and eleven persons were drowned...... Five men were instantly killed by an explosion of gelatine-dynamite at the Judson Powder Works, near Berkeley, Cal., on December 5...... Nine men lost their lives by the wrecking of the steamer Ainsworth, on Kootenay Lake, between Nelson, B. C., and Bonner's Ferry, Washington, on November 29...... Two schooners were wrecked off Gay Head life-saving station, Massachusetts, on November 26, and seven members of their crews were drowned. Eight men lost their lives by the wrecking of a schooner off Black Rock, near Cohasset, Mass., on the same date. The loss to the insurance companies during the recent storms is placed at over $1,000,000. Several stories of two of New York's tallest buildings were destroyed by the fire which consumed the clothing establishment of Rogers, Peat & Co., on the night of December 4. The loss is placed at half a million dollars. Advices from the Philippines state that the insurgents have decided not to recognize the cession of the islands to the United States, and that they will resist to the last. They propose to use against the Americans the 10,000 Spanish prisoners whom they hold. The reports from Manila also state that Aguinaldo has renounced the Catholic faith and become a Protestant, after learning that the Episcopal Church was influential in the United States and England...... The insurgents have renewed their attacks on Iloilo, and have cannon trained on the city...... The insurgent chief is now demanding the sum of $1,500,000 for the release of the Spanish friars whom he holds...... By the terms of the peace treaty between Spain and the United States both countries agree to liberate all prisoners of war. This will mean that the Americans must release the Spanish prisoners whom the Filipinos hold. Aguinaldo, as president of the Filipino republic, with an army under his command, is expected to refuse to yield up his prisoners, when compulsion will have to be used by the Americans in the islands. This, it is believed, will bring on war between the insurgents and the United States...... The U. S. transport Puebla, with 600 troops on board, reached Manila on December 6, and reports no deaths during the voyage...... The Secretary of the Navy has decided to send Lieutenant Hobson to Manila to superintend the reconstruction of the Spanish cruisers which have been raised from the waters of the bay.