p. 18 | Current Events

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 7, 1914

Current Events

— It is reported that representatives of the Bethlehem (Pa.) Steel Works have signed an agreement with the Chinese government for a loan to China by that company of $25,000,000, for the building of a naval base at Fu-chau.

— Federal troops have been sent to settle the strike riots in the coal regions of Colorado. The miners have been making armed resistance to the State militia for some time, and many men, women, and children among both combatants and noncombatants have lost their lives.

— On Thursday, April 9, Assistant Paymaster Charles C. Coop and a boatload of bluejackets from the gunboat "Dolphin" landed at Tampico, on the eastern coast of Mexico, to obtain supplies. They were arrested, but later discharged. In accordance with regulations in all navies of the world, Rear Admiral Mayo, commanding officer of the United States warships in the harbor of Tampico, considering that an unwarranted arrest had been made and that the uniform of the American navy had been disregarded, demanded reparation in the form of a salute of twenty-one guns to the American flag. While the Stars and Stripes were not taken ashore, they were flying at the stern of the whaleboat in which the bluejackets went ashore, and all the sailors were in uniform. Rear Admiral Mayo allowed the Mexican commander until six o'clock that evening to fire a salute, but later extended the time in order that the local commander might communicate with his superior officers in Mexico City. A statement of apology was issued by President Huerta, and the local officer who arrested the bluejackets was ordered punished. This did not satisfy the United States government, and a public salute to the flag was insisted upon. Huerta absolutely disregarded this demand, saying that his statement of apology was sufficient. President Wilson and Congress then determined to enforce their demand for reparation. The major part of the Atlantic fleet and some of the Pacific warships as well were ordered south. On April 21, American marines landed at Vera Cruz, took possession of the city and outlying districts, blockading the harbor as far as the landing of munitions of war is concerned. In the fighting which occurred, fifteen bluejackets were killed and about seventy wounded. A few days later diplomatic connection between the two countries was severed by act of the Mexican government. Anti-American riots have been reported from Mexico City, but so far as known no Americans have been killed in these, although a number were arrested. The latest news is that public sentiment in the capital is turning against the dictator and that Huerta has signified greater willingness to consider peace proposals. The diplomats of Argentina, Chile, and Brazil have tendered their good offices by way of mediation in behalf of peace, but the success of any plan they may propose is doubtful, as President Wilson will insist upon the

elimination of Huerta and the holding of a fair election in Mexico, and Huerta declares, "I will not resign." Meanwhile large detachments of the army are being rushed southward, and every preparation made for protection of American interests both in Mexico and along the border in event of a declaration of war.

— President Yuan Shi Kai recently gave the officials of the Chinese republic a practical lesson in economy. He has reduced the salary voted him by the cabinet and administrative council by twenty per cent, and reduced his appropriation for entertainment by the substantial sum of $40,000. Yuan Shi Kai lives modestly and devotes most of his personal and official income to charity.

— The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission has decided that the State constitution must be obeyed in the matter of selling railway transportation. The roads for a long time have been selling tickets to the clergy at reduced rates. This concession and discrimination may no longer practiced by the railroads. Hereafter ministers must pay as much for a ride as any one else.

— A special organization is now being floated in Chicago for the purpose of making American citizens. The necessity for such an organization is very clear. At the last census there were 767,000 men of voting age in Chicago; only 461,000 of these were eligible citizens, and only 430,000 were registered voters. A study of these figures will show Chicago to be governed by a small minority.

— The new Norwegian first secretary of legation at Mexico is a woman, aged twenty-seven, and is said to be the first woman in Europe to take up the diplomatic service as a profession. Her name is Henrietta Hoegh. She passed her examinations in international law and political economy two years ago. As a first secretary she will have the privilege of wearing the usual diplomatic uniform, with the exception of the ornamental sword and gold-braided breeches.

— Pensions for widows and minor children of the officers and men who served in the Spanish war, the Philippine insurrection, and the Boxer uprising in China would be authorized by a bill which passed the House recently by a vote of 276 to 54. This bill would grant twelve dollars monthly to the widow of an honorably discharged soldier or sailor, and two dollars monthly for each child under sixteen years of age. The pensions are to be limited, however, to widows without means of support other than their daily labor and an actual net income not exceeding $250 a year. The bill now goes to the Senate.

— One of the most complete and perfect protecting systems ever installed is to be found in operation at the Metropolitan Museum, New York City, as a safeguard against thieves and fire. Every part of the building is so intricately linked together by electric gongs, alarm wires, and telephones with the police and fire headquarters, that every illicit touch is instantly detected. The presence of the $50,000,000 art collection of J. P. Morgan has so intensified the strict guard over these art treasures that it is considered practically impossible for a thief to play his game here, or for fire to do much damage.

— The Agricultural Department has sent out a warning that unless we produce more potatoes there is likely to be a serious shortage. The importation of potatoes is sure to fall off this year on account of a plant disease in Europe.

— Africa, the continent of seclusion, is being aroused by the ever-advancing arms of the railroad system. Germany has just completed a road 755 miles long, at a cost of $28,500,000. This road penetrates the heart of the Dark Continent, and is expected to do a great deal of through traffic between the Belgian Kongo and the coast. The Belgians are also building a railway in the region of Lake Tanganyika, to be in touch with the steamer transportation of this lake, which is 400 miles long.

— No less than 35,000,000 volumes of the Scriptures have been put into circulation in China, first and last. It is now one hundred years since Morrison first translated the New Testament into the classical form. Since then improvements on this and editions that can be read by the common people have been published at intervals. Since 1890 two committees, chosen by missionaries in general conference, have been engaged, with the cooperation of the Bible societies, in unifying the various versions.

— There is good reason for considering that the Desert of Sahara once formed a part of the Atlantic Ocean. Cliffs, ancient sea beaches, and the presence of sea fish in the inland lakes, bear out this belief. Occasionally the project is revived to turn the ocean once more into the sandy waste by means of a canal. Of course, to do this is impossible, since most of the Sahara lies above sea level, but it is interesting to contemplate what the effect of a large body of water in place of the burning sands would be.

— According to the forty-sixth annual census of the publications of the United States and Canada, published in the American Newspaper Annual and Directory, 5 new publications are started every working day in the week. So many suspensions and consolidations occur, however, that the net gain is only 3 papers a week. There are in all 24,527 publications, of which 2,640 are dailies. Evening dailies outnumber morning dailies 3 to 1. There are 572 Sunday papers. The publications of the country are printed in 40 languages. Only 4 industries now exceed, in point of capital invested, the printing and publishing business.

— Death traveled in a gale that overtook the sealing fleets the last day of March. The steamer "Newfoundland" lost sixty-four of her crew, while thirty-seven who were rescued, will be, it is feared, maimed as a result of exposure. The men lost were far from their ships, killing seals, when the storm, with blinding snow, swooped down upon them. They were exposed for forty-eight hours before assistance arrived, and in that time many succumbed. The "Newfoundland" was one of a fleet of fifteen ships, carrying over 2,000 men, scattered among the ice floes near Belle Isle Strait. The crews were on the floes hunting seals, which have their homes on these crystal plains, and the hunt had taken them from four to six miles from their ships.