JAVA. REVOLT OF TROOPS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1351, 20 November 1860, Page 3

JAVA. REVOLT OF TROOPS.

The most important item of news from Java by this mail is the mutiny of the Swiss troops at Samaiang and the discoveiy that a similar spirit of revolt existed amongst the European soldiers in other paits of Java. As far as had been ascertained, the disaffection is confined to the Swiss soldiers, who had been sent out to Java in laige numbers for some time past. These consist for the most part of men who weie formerly in the Neapolitan service, and their chief ground of complaint is said to be the insufficiency and badness of the rations supplied to them. On the night of the 17th of August the inhabitants of Samarang were thrown into a state of great alarm by the intelligence that the European troops stationed m the Wurtemberg barracks there had mutinied, From 9 o'clock in the evening until 3 o'clock next morning the conspirators made constant attempts to break throuprh the cordon which had been promptly formed round the barracks by the native troops and the militia (shutterij). Their efforts were, however, unsuccessful, and after a short contest they were overpowered, nine of their number being killed, 14 wounded, and 42 taken into custady. The intelligence was immediately communicated to Batavia by telegraph, and the Council of Netheilands India, without loss of time, passed an oidinance authorizing, in the event of riotinsj or revolt in any garrison in places where court maitial could be held, the instant holding of such, with power to carry their sentences at once into execution. 'I his was promptly acted on at Samarang, and on the 20th, 35 of the mutineers were sentenced to be hung ; but when the mail left Batavia it was still uncertain whether these "men had been executed. It was found that at Sourabaya, Ambarawa, and Jocjokai ta similar risings bad been intended by the Swiss soldiers there. At Sourabaya, the signal for revolt was to have been the blowing up of the powder magazine. Deseitions were taking place from the different garrisons. The news from Banjermassing was less favourable : the rebels had collected in great numbers near A.monthay, and had thiown up a large fortification. A strong column, under Major Koch, had pioceeded against them. Large reinforcements of European troops had sailed from Batavia for Banjermassing. — • Singapore Fi ee Press, Sept 4.

Guano to Potatoes. — An experiment which I made two yeais ago may afford some infoimation to your Newbuiy inquirer. I have for many years past been in the habit of using Peruvian guano as my only manure for Potatoes. The quantity used is about 2J to 3 cwt. per acre dusted by hand into the drills, before the tubers are put in The year before last T had the curiosity to try the Peruvian plan of a second dressing, when the plants were earthed up, which was applied to two rows through a field. The e\aet quantity was not asceitained, but it was probably at the rate of 2 \ to 3 cwt. per acre. The result in foliage was that those two rows could be distinguished some hundred yards oft; the plants being twice as large as the rest of the field, and they retained their green colour for weeks after the rest begun to ripen. The result in roots was not half that of the other rows ; the Potatoes were numerous, small, and unripe when taken up. In short, the plants never came to maturity, though in a favourable summer, and the produce was worthless. The following year the field was Oats, and a broad green stiipe of luxuriant vegetation marked the place wheio these Potatoes had been. So much for the assertion frequently made that guano only lasts one season. The field was on a steep hill-side, facing south, perfectly drained, and the soil the stone shattery chert or opaque feriuginour flint, which overlies the lower green-sand. It was clear to me that in the damp climate of south-eastern England one dressing of about 3 cwt. of guano is enough for the Potato. J. R., Sevenoaks. — Gardiners Chronicle.

New "Weapons of Destruction'. — The " Mechanics Magazine" says that rifled 70-pouudera, on the Blakcly principle, are being manufactured in this country for Garibaldi at the rate of three a week, and that the General is at the same time in possession of, and likely to test against Naples and Venice, if need be, Macin tosh's invention, "by which sea-faced works of defence can be rendered absolutely untenable without a blow being shuck," Another fearful engine of destiuction is said to have been placed at the Dictator's disposal by an English inventor, viz., a projectile which may be constructed to suit a rifle or a 100-pounder, and which, " while professing all the advantages of ft rifle projectile in respect of range and precision, cariies an incendiary charge which blazes for some minutes after ranching its destination, with an intensity so great that water cannot extinguish it." The "Mechanics' Magazine," fiom personal obseivation of the pioperties of t'lis projectile, expi esses its belief " that no troops in the world will ever ba bioucrht to face ineu armed with such terrific means of do^trucfon."