Home and Foreign News.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1372, 13 August 1895, Page 5

Home and Foreign News.

London, August 6. The Simla correspondent of the Tines wires that the Benoah district of Ohitrai will remain under tribal rule and the Khan of Dir will administer the Baiall "Valley. The United Counties Cricket Council has approved of the visit of an Australian eleven next year. > The number of test matches is to be limited to three. J August 6. China proposes to levy a war tax on Indian opium. Vienna reports state that the reply of the Turkish Government to the latest demand for reform is so hostile to many of the leading points as to amount to a refusal. The Daily J\ews believes Lord Salisbury's speech \ on May 24 strengthens the Turks in resisting the proposals of the Powers. The Duke of. Connaught has in-, timated that he does not desire to succeed the Duke of Cambridge -as Commander-in-chief. , Mr Irvine states that merchants resent the establishment of the Adelaide wine depdt. They assert that since it was founded prices have fallen, and there has been no corresponding increase in the demand. The market at present is over-supplied. Owing to the gale the-yacht Britannia had a walk-over for the Queen's Cup at Cowes. ■■•';, : -.-: .!; ... t i The United States Government regards the French proposal to establish a court of arbitration unworkable and prevented by the Monroe doctrine. I At a meeting at Chester convened by the Duke of Westminster, Mr Gladstone proposed a resolution declaring that Government ought t® receive the cordial support of the whole nation in any measures necessary to secure effective guarantees for., life, honor, religion, and property in Armenia, and it was essential to the carrying out ot reforms that they should be controlled by the Powers. The ex-Premier, who received ovation from the audience, declared that the resolution expressed the sentiments of Great Britain and America. Tne Porte was morally responsible for all the horrors that had occurred in the Sassoon district. It was hopeless to expect better government from the Turks whose promises were worthless. Britain ought not to fear the exercise- of coercion. The Powers must obtain what was just and necessary, whether resistance was offered or not. The resolution was unanimously carried. Mr Gladstone said treaties empowered England to march into Armenia. ■>, The Turkish •Government was unbearably badr—probably the worst in the world. Falsehood was habitual;to it. Kurds and soldiers, police and taxgatherers all vied in committing horrible atrocities.

Four female English missionaries and one American were massacred at Kuching. Many other foreigners, including children were killed or wounded. ■'.. The /Imperial Government have telegraphed to China demanding that measures be taken to ensure the safety of British residents in the country. They insist, also, on the full punishment of the murderers. Five of the ladies belonging to the mission at Kucheng have arrived safely at Foochow . The massacre was carefully planned ttnd executed in the most diabolical manner while the victims were asleep. The ladied only returned from Foochow at the conclusion of the war, when- the Vegetarians, appeared tolbe quiet. The American mission at Fungfuh was burned, and other stations between Kucheng and Foochow were threatened. . ' # , It is reported that a rebellion has broken out in the province of Fuh-Kien and that the position of Foochow is critical. The natives are openly hostile. A gunboat has been despatched to that city. ! August 7. Yielding to Lord Salisbury's %peremptory demand, the Chinese Government have appointed a military escort to enable the Consul at Foochow to proceed to Kucheng, and inquire into the massacre. The Chinese Government "have ordered the murderers, to be executed, and strict protection to be: .accorded to missionaries. Mr Gladstone spoke for an hour at the meeting held to discuss the question of reforms in Armenia'. It was a brilliant though moderate speech, and he disclaimed any party feeling, in the matter. The press consider that the speech will strengthen Lord Salisbury's hands' in enforcing the demands for reform. Sir WV B. Perceval has received a report stating that; the larger portion of each case of the Rimutaka's apples was thoroughly rotten; v The remainder only'filled six cases. The fruit was pver-ripe wheh shipped, and the venture may be looked oh as a complete failure. The condition is hot a fair test of pumice packing. The moss lined cases ?were worse. . .' . .>: ;.•.,.,-': During the trial of the torpedo destroyer Charger, with the Prince of Wales and Duke of York on board, the crown of the firebox cracked. The fires were instantly drawn to prevent the boiler bursting. A" speed of 27 knots was reached. Shanghai, August 5. Fearful atrocities were committed on unfortunate missionaries at Kucheng. , The mob set fire to' the residence of Dr Stewart, who with his wife and one child perished , in the burning building. Seven lady missionaries were butchered with spears and swords. Miss Qbdrington was seriously wounded, and several children badly hurt. The rising was incited by the mandarins. The American missionaries escaped the massacre. The English were killed, including Misses Marshall, Gordon, and Stewart, of the Zenana Society/ Some of the; children had their eyes gouged Out The Chinese have appointed a commission of inquiry, but Is the commissioner is the Prefect, who is himself implicated, the hing is a mockery. The victims of the Kucheng atrocity had no warning . and . were taken entirely by surprise. The. assassins were 50 members of a secret* society, and it is believed this outbreak is part of a general plot against foreigners. The Rev. Mr Phillips, church missionary, escaped, but was forced to look on at the murder of his co-workers, powerless to interfere and unable to secure assistance. At Kucheng there was a scene of great carnage. The Misses Saunders, Of Melbourne, in attempting to escape, were hacked to pieces, and. a thousand, Chinese soldiers who witnessed the.; outrage took no 3teps to prevent it. The burning of the mission house occupied two hours. \ Some of the women were horribly tortured before death ensued. The United States mission house, near Hankow, : was destroyed, but fortunately the occupants escaped without injury. A meeting of foreign residents was held here, at which | it was decided to request the various consuls to appeal to the European Powers, and ask them to demand, reparation for the Kucheng outrage..*,;'.' . * '.'"' ''•■''.■:. The] Europeans in this city are appealing to the Powers for protection, and protest against the inadequate punishment inflicted for outrages oh j '''.'<'' ■'.' V August .6. \ Further details of a; horrible nature have been received from Kucheng.. The ladies begged for their lives, offering to surrender their property and jewels, but the leader of the band ordered them to be killed. Nellie Saunders was hacked about by a ruffian's weapon and thrown, still alive, into Stewart's blazing hou3R. Topsy Saunders and Miss Gordon were speared. Misses Blain and Newcomhe were speared and thrown over a precipice. Miss Marshall's throat was cut. Four of Stewart's children were impaled and severely wounded, but apparently not. killed. Although there were a thousand soldiers in Kucheng none were sent to the rescue until the massacre was completed and the murderers had decamped with the plunder. The Chinese Government have ordered the miscreants to be punished. There were 30 native teachers and 2000 members at the Kucheng station. Reports from Hankow state that the western provinces are in a dis turbed and dangerous condition. Chapels and hospitals have been destroyed, and foreigners are. fleeing for their lives. Sofia, August 6. Prince Ferdinand's party are deeply depressed at the refusal of the Czar to recognise the Prince. A crisis in Bulgaria is imminent. The Czar personally directed the publication of bis refusal; The "\ Bulgarian Government intend to prosecute Lankoff for sug-

gesting that Pri QCe .Ferdinand should give way to Prince George of Greece. b Paeis, August 4. During t Qe festivities at Douai ia honor of M. Venillemin, manager of the mines, an Anarchist wounded him with a revolver and prepared to throw a bomb. The explosion was. fortunately premature, and the assassin himself was blown to atoms, 10 others being wounded. \-'-sJ'\ ..''-... ' ' ;../ t \ . August 5. . The Anarchist was!a*'miner who had been dismissed. : ;, , ; , < '' ■ •''•• August 7. •■Several cases 6f ■■..'•cholera have appeared in Prance. Teheran, August 4. Bread riots have taken place at Tabriz, in Persian The bazaars were closed, and the troops dispersed the mob, 20 of whom were killed. The bodies were taken to the Russian consul, whose protection was invoked. • •. ATHENS, August 7. The Macedonian rebels killed 150 Tuqkish soldiers at Taranasch. St. John's, August 4. Intense excitement has been caused in by the revelation that the four directors of the Union Bank have [?-obtained] over two j and a-half millions of dolliifs, representing nearly the whole amount overdrawn. ~ .j/iTpfcio, August 6. Terrible floods have caused enormous damage" 1 ' in 'papan, and the 'failure of the rice o 'crop is likely to cause a; famine.; .^K Fbancisco, August 5. It is reported that a t filibustering expedition is being formed to capture Hawaii and divide the, land among the fili busters. Those who are supposed to be the ringleaders in the movement are under observation.