News and Miscellany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Sep 25, 1913

News and Miscellany

Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press

— The President will attend the practise drill and target-practise of the Atlantic squadron of the navy on October 18.

— It is reported that the British admiralty has entered into contract with the Italian inventor Ulivi for his violet-ray apparatus, which is credited with ability to blow up war-ships, arsenals, and torpedoes by projecting these rays against the object to be attacked.

— Verily, the world furnishes strange anomalies. Canada is a province of Britain. Four hundred Japanese are allowed to immigrate to Canada if they have $50 each, and any number of Chinese who will pay $500 head tax. But the laws do not permit any Hindus to enter, and the Hindus are British subjects.

— Advices from Mexico state that nearly four hundred Americans are being held in the city of Torreon, Mexico, and refused permission to depart. This move is said to be in retaliation for the refusal of the Washington government to allow the exportation of arms to Mexico for either federal or rebel use.

— Affairs in China have of late been progressing favorably for one man, that man being Yuan Shi Kai, the provisional president of the republic. Regardless of President Yuan's nominal title, he is the strong man of China today, and British and American observers agree that he is fast coming to occupy in his country the position long successfully held in Mexico by Porfirio Diaz—that of absolute dictator. And some of the observers believe that for a time at least China will prosper under such a dictatorship, if it becomes an actuality, as Mexico prospered in the best days of Diaz.

— What is said to be the largest dam in the world was opened with a two days' celebration recently, at Keokuk, Iowa. The dam stretches nine tenths of a mile long from the bluff on the Illinois side to the power-house in Iowa, and will create a new power zone from Burlington, Iowa, to St. Louis. Its cost was $27,000,000, and it is estimated that the concrete in the work is equal to all the masonry in the great pyramid of Cheops. The total length of concrete, including power-house, lock, sea-wall, ice-fender, and dam, is two and one-half miles. Deep-water navigation will be bettered for sixty-five miles up the river.

— A recent census of Germany showed that the population of the empire was 64,925,933. It is the law in Germany that every citizen must declare his religious affiliation or declare that he has no religion. This does not mean that he must be in communion with the church of his choice, but only his personal preference. Therefore the census indicated that there were in the country 39,991,411 Protestants, or 61.59 per cent; 23,821,453 Roman Catholics, or 36.69 per cent; 283,946 other Christians, or .44 per cent; 2,114 non-Christian worshipers, 615,021 Israelites, or .95 per cent; 205,900 persons of other confessions, and 6,138 whose religious beliefs were not stated.

— Fierce rioting occurred recently in connection with a tramway strike in Dublin, Ireland, and between four and five hundred persons were injured. The strike is said to be the worst that has occurred in that city in more than thirty years, and many injuries have been received by both the strikers and the guards.

— The specifications require that the lock-gates of the Panama canal shall be made of greenheart, a tree which grows in Venezuela and Guiana. It is the strongest wood known, being sixty per cent stronger than oak. It is very hard and so durable that it is called indestructible. Under water, greenheart has remained unchanged for one hundred years.

— The czarevitch has been described as the most valuable child in the world. If he succeeds to the throne, he will be in possession of some $48,600,000, at which sum the private fortune of the Romanoffs is valued. His yearly salary as ruler of the Russian people will be $9,720,000, and he will be in absolute control of 500 estates, employing thirty thousand servants. Within a few days of his birth the infant's life was insured for a half million pounds—three hundred thousand less than the amount for which the Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest child, was insured. A banking account was opened for the baby, into which is paid every three months a government check on the National Bank of Russia which allows the child $72,900 a year.

— There is not much that is conclusive to chronicle as to the Mexican situation. There are published each day columns of conjecture, interpretation, and inference based upon rumors and reports, or the absence of reports. The impression made upon the reader who would do some interpreting for himself is that there is going on a game of waiting for developments on both sides. On each side those who are in authority are awaiting the next move of the other side. Mr. Lind continues in Mexico, apparently by desire of the Mexican government. It is also reported that "informal negotiations" have been resumed between him and the Mexican foreign office. William Bayard Hale, who has been in Mexico as an unofficial observer for the benefit of President Wilson, has reached the capital and has given his impressions of affairs. These have not been made public. The despatches from Mexico represent Huerta as showing no signs of retreat from the position he has occupied in the correspondence with the United States government. He is alternately represented as purposing to resign that he may run for president, and again as having decided that he will not run. It is believed that there will be at least a pretense of election on October 26, the time fixed by law. The cable news from Europe reports Felix Diaz, ostensibly on his way to Japan as Mexican representative, as declaring that he will be a candidate for president. There is conflicting news as to the extent to which Americans are complying with President Wilson's request that they leave Mexico. They are going out in large numbers, say some; others say that they are declining to go, and will stay and take their chances as to safety of life and property.