Current Events and News

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 16, 1914

Current Events and News

— K. F. Shah, the new Chinese minister to the United States, arrived in New York City on the afternoon of April 5. He was accompanied by his family, and proceeded at once to Washington.

— Nearly every coal mine in Ohio shut down March 31 or April 1, throwing 35,000 men out of work for an indefinite period. A number of mines in Indiana have also closed down; and with the United Mine Workers threatening to walk out in Illinois and western Pennsylvania, the possibility of a general strike of soft-coal miners in the East looms large.

— Absolute prohibition will prevail in the United States Navy after July 1 next. Secretary Daniels made public this sweeping order on April 5. It will not only abolish the traditional “wine mess” of the officers, but will bar all alcoholic liquors from every ship and shore station of the navy. This order, constituting one of the most notable victories ever won by the prohibition forces, was issued upon the recommendation of Surgeon-General Braisted.

— The appointment of Maj.-Gen. William W. Wotherspoon as chief of staff of the United States Army, succeeding Major-General Wood, has just been announced by Secretary of War Garrison. However, General Wotherspoon is to retire from active service Nov. 16, 1914, and in all probability Brig.-Gen. Hugh L. Scott, now commanding the United States troops at El Paso and on the Texas border, will be chosen as chief of staff for the coming four-year period.

— A bitter fight is on in Congress over the question of toll for ships using the Panama Canal. After a sensational debate, the House of Representatives on the evening of March 31 voted by a majority of eighty-five in favor of President Wilson’s plea for a repeal of the provision passed by Congress at its last session, which was a part of the Democratic party platform, exempting coastwise American ships from the payment of tolls. Speaker Clark and Majority Leader Underwood took their stand against the repeal.

— The recent English crisis, brought about by complications which arose in the British army in connection with the passage of the Home Rule Bill for Ireland, was met in an entirely unexpected way. Premier Asquith announced to the House of Commons on March 30 that he would himself assume the burden of the war office, made vacant by the resignation of Col. J. E. Seely, in addition to his other important duties. He will resign from the House at this critical stage, when the second reading of the Home Rule Bill is about to be taken up, and will appeal for reelection to his constituents in East Fife, Scotland. The present situation is remarkable in that the English government nominally will be without a prime minister, and without a leader in the House of Commons, until this by-election is over.

— Losses of many millions of dollars are reported by the railroads for the period of eight months ended with February 28, 1914, compared with the corresponding eight months in the previous year. The railroad managers say that these losses are the best evidence they can present to support their claims that they must have authority to increase their freight rates.

— It is said that “there is blood on every lintel and crape on every door” in Torreon, Mexico. The city fell into the hands of the Mexican constitutionalists under General Villa on April 4, after a thirteen days’ struggle. This battle takes rank as one of the bloodiest in history in point of percentage of casualties. Though no definite authentic statement has been made, it is known that a large percentage of those engaged were either killed or wounded. It is said that Villa secured only thirty prisoners alive and unwounded. The federal cavalry under General Velasco escaped, and are making a determined stand at San Pedro.

— The great American game of baseball has been internationalized so far as two championship teams traveling around the world can accomplish that feat. The Giants from New York and the White Sox from Chicago made a complete tour of the world, during which they visited Manila, Japan, China, Australia, Ceylon, Egypt, Italy, France, and England. A score of games were played outside of the United States. The last game of the globe-circling tour was played in London before about 30,000 Britishers, including King George himself, the United States ambassador, numerous representatives of royalty and of the army and navy, and other persons of note.

— Outrages by brigands in central China are assuming alarming proportions. Several bands associated with the noted outlaw White Wolf are ravaging various sections of the country, ruthlessly murdering and robbing the people and burning their property. Late reports state that White Wolf has declared war on missions and missionaries. The measures of the government to deal with the situation are totally inadequate, and there is every prospect of the development of brigandage to dimensions beyond its control. The revolutionary element is still strong throughout the country. Arrests and executions are frequent. The entire northern army will shortly be employed in the suppression of the brigandage.

— The war between the big Atlantic steamship lines was of short duration. A conference of representatives of all the lines involved in the strife was held in London a few weeks ago, at which there was concluded a working agreement which covers five years. One development of the controversy between the German lines is a pledge which has been exacted of them by the Austro-Hungarian government. They will not henceforth transport as emigrants any male subjects of that government between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. This requirement is an outcome of the recent disclosure that Francis Joseph’s army had been robbed of thousands of recruits by wholesale emigration to America. Unless the pool lines agree to this condition, the Austrian government is prepared henceforth to make it practically impossible for foreign shipping companies to do business in its ports.

— Nearly $4,500,000 in cash was given for and to American libraries during 1913, according to George B. Utley, secretary of the American Library Association. In addition to this, there were donated 12 sites for library buildings, 10 buildings presented for library purposes, 168,655 volumes, and 46 miscellaneous items. Of the money, $2,371,642 was given by the Carnegie corporation.