News by the 'Frisco Mail.

Hastings Standard, Issue 286, 1 April 1897, Page 4

News by the 'Frisco Mail.

[Spectator Summary. , London, Fob. 20. THK FIRST KHOT. King George of Greece has fired a sbot, possibly a shell, into the European magazine. His people had been greatly exasperated by the accounts of their kinsfolk who recently fled from Turkish murders in Canea, and, either from fear of a revolutionary movement or geuuine feeling for Greeks under oppression, the King resolved upon decided action. On the 7th inst. the Greek fleet was sent to Crete ; on the 9th inst. it was followed by a torpedo squadron under Prince George, the Prince who saved the life of the present Tsar when in Japan ; and on the 13th inst. the King's Aide-de-Camp, Colonel Vassos, started for Crete with 2000 troops. The troops were landed about eight miles from Canea without opposition from the squadrons round Crete, and Colonel Vassos being instantly joined by some 10,000 armed insurgents, took possession of the island in his master's name. He has since captured the fort of Aghia, and now from the plateau behind Canea governs the interior of Crete, receiving reinforcements from Greece without opposition, though the vessels which carry them are " under observation."

THE AUDACITY OF KING GEORGE. The Powers either were, or affected to be, thunderstruck by the audacity of King George. Strong remonstrances were addressed to him by the European Concert upon the " ill-advised " character of his proceedings; he was warned not to declare war on Turkey ; and his son at Canea was assured that if he fired upon Turkish vessels the fleets of the Powers would use force to arrest his action. At the same time, the Turkish Government was "advised " not to send reinforcements to Crete, and after some mutterings which came to nothing, accepted the advice. The Powers next landed a mixed force of marines from thenships, and hoisted all their flags in Canea and the other towns on the coast of the island, delegating supreme powers to the Italian Admiral Carnevaro. The Mussulmans in the capital submitted without a struggle, and there seems to be no doubt that in the other towns they will follow this good example. Colonel Vassos, also, while absolutely refusing to accept orders except from his own Sovereign, appears willing to work in the interior in conjunction with the occupying Powers, whose agent, Major Bor, holds down Canea with a gendarmerie of which the core is Montenegrin. The Mussulman garrison lolls about in the squares, but has left off killing, and will doubtless be sent to Asia, under salutes, with every mark of respect.

RAKED CHRISTIANS. The Daily News has sent a special correspondent—apparently an officer—to accompany Colonel Vassos, and this gentleman, having time on his hand, thought he would inspect Canea. He was allowed to see anything he pleased, and was shown, among other thinks, a large bakery in which, on the first day of the massacre, the Turkish soldiers locked up nine Christians and baked them alive. The Christians, who were quite powerless in Canea, had probably done nothing except being Christians, but were thus treated as a gentle reminder that Turks are always tolerant to their subjects' faith. And then it is considered strange that Cretans, who have beeu liable to this kind of thing for the last 300 years, should, when they rise, be bloodthirsty, and regard Turks as enemies of humanity hardly entitled to live. Londoners under the same circumstances would be so forgiving.

RISK OF THE GREAT WAR. Crete may be considered safe, for whether it is annexed to Greece or declared an autonomous principality under international protection, it will not be betrayed to Turkey ; but the explosion which has saved the islanders may have wide and disastrous effects. The Sultan, besides issuing preposterous orders to his ironclad fleet which cannot move a mile, has issued serious orders for the collection of a large army on the Thessalian frontier. The Reserves of Broussa and of Salonica have been called out, the fierce Albanians have received permission to move, and Greece will .shortly be threatened by 70,000 men, who, if they made good their entry, would extirpate the population of whole districts. The King lias accordingly ordered all his forces to Thessaly, is accepting aid from the revolutionists of Muced >nia, and, according to the latest reports, will himself take- command of the troops on the frontier. 1 nder these circumstances it will be impossible to keep either the Bulgarians or the Macedonians quiet, and if Russia and Austria cannot a 'ree, it may be most difficult to avoid the great war breaking out. If they do agree, it is possible, but in that event there must lie, and will he, a partition of European Turkey. The situation is so complicated, and tbe secret ideas of the Great Powers so doubtful, that it is \ain to prophesy," but it looks very much as if the King of Greece had set all the forces in Europe in motion, at the risk of beginning a great war, so long expected and postjjoimi.

It is useless for the monitnt. amid the bt-wildi ring of v'<>ntnii ntul "pimnn, to atU nipt to forecast the prohibit- or e\i n |N)-',ibic t]llft »f i >■' lit W i \\i->li our riaikr-, Imni-n r, to note cure fully that Germany and Austria -tand out for the , that Franco drift- towards l-'tigland an I fra lu (ir. ek a-q-miti'>n-. and that Kunaia j- -t:il nt;c« rt.sm :ti winch n.ty -he may U-I ,:t ! ...:n In r oh;-i i. illicit is now, aiitl air*ay-, tlOpltf. t M 11. Bit.

At the Suuth Afuc.ui {'nmtmttev jmeisng »rVi- Mr Ki. ii"» tu! 1.-vi svo.jrn, ht iu.uk a formd oi

great importance—a very bold course, for should hp make admissions which materially contradict thi.'i stat3-neut be will be*in a most difficult position. The statement begins by a reference to the Outlanders' grievances and the corrupt administration of the Boers, and than states that Mr Rhodes shared the Outlanders' grievances "as one largely interested in the Transvaal," and also felt that the unfriendly attitude of the Boer Government was the great obstacle to common action among the various States of South Africa. " Under these circumstances I assisted the movement in -Johannesburg with my purse and influence." Further, " acting within my rights," in the autumn of 1895 he placed a body of troops under Dr Jameson, prepared to act in the Transvaal in certain eventualities. " With reference to the Jameson Raid, I may state that Dr Jameson went in without my authority." Mr Rhodes ended by declaring that in all his actions he was greatly influenced by his belief that the policy of the Boer Government was " to introduce the influence of another foreign Power into the already complicated system of South Africa." THE FAMINE AM) PLAGUE IN INDIA. The news from India as to the famine is in one way a little better. There is every probability that the autumn crops will be sown and reaped and a possibility, therefore, that the distress in its severity will be confined to the present year. The number on relief works has, however, risen to 2,750,000, and though it may sink again, the pinch will be sharper in the hot weather. The arrangement for the paupers seem excellent, but all observers report that large numbers, especially of women, refuse to go to the relief camps, preferring death to a risk of caste, and breach of traditional modesties. These classes can haruly be saved, and we fear the death list, when it is made up, will shock the compassionate. The plague is no better, and the fear that it will enter Calcutta is most acute. If it does, all fabrics exported from India will be distrusted in Europe, and commerce in Calcutta may be disorganised as it has been in Bombay and Knrrachee. The Government still hesitates to prohibit pilgrimage, though it is believed that the leading Mussel mans would not object, and though the decree would greatly relieve the fear now entertained that if the plague is conveyed to Mecca it might be diffused over the whole East, and especially in Constantinople.

A STARTLING MURDER. London was startled on Fridayweek by an unusual murder. On arrival of the suburban train at Waterloo Station on Thursday evening at 8.15, the body of a youngwoman of 38 was found in a secondclass carriage quite dead. Her head had been battered in by some heavy instrument, and the body rudely stowed away under the seat. The corpse was recognised as that of Elizabeth .Annie Camp, manager of the " Good Intent " publichouse in East street, Walworth, whe had that day been visiting a sister at Hounslow, and had returned to London by appointment to meet a tradesman named Berry, to whom she was immediately to have been married. He was waiting for her at Waterloo Station, and was the first to recognise the body. ' Iler watch and purse had been taken away. A chemist's pestle with hair sticking to it like that of the dead woman was found next day on the embankment between Putney and Wandsworth, and subsequent enquiry convinced the police that the victim had been murdered between those two stations —that is, during a short five minutes' run —by some man who gave up his ticket at Wandsworth, and then disappeared. Miss Camp bore an excellent character, was of unusual personal vigour, weighing IHst, and though well-to-do had nothing about her to tempt a murder for plunder alone. So far as is known she had no eneniies, and her death would benefit no one, while from her personal strength and the short time elapsing between the stations she passed it is most unlikely that she had been the victim of any outrage.

It's a fact, sitys a well-known Chvistclmrch divine the other day, ty a friend, that (.'oufjh Mixture, called Woods' Great l'epperuiint Cure, is the very best thing for throat Irritation and Cough I have ever taken; I notice all the Grocers aiul Chemists keep it—a never failing remedy. Wholesale Agents, l>nig Co.—Auvt.

To the deaf and those troubled with noises in the head or other aural troubles. I>r Nicholson, of London, the worldftuued Aural Specialist and Inventor of Artificial Ksir 1 >rums, has jiis-t issued the 100 th edition of his illustrated and descriptive hook nil Deutlles- and AlU,ll Troubles. I'hi.-, hook ntav be had troui Mr Colin Campbell. tt>U Adelaide road, Wellington. N./. llr i ampbell was cured of his dcatm—» bv i>r N icholson'-. system, and takes pleasure in spreading tite news of the great specialist m New Zealand. A huh' book on the cmv of lli.einnaii-ni. <.. orpulunce. I.mnbn«'o. and Indigestion by the same aiitiu.tr, niav be had from Mr t nnpbi 11. i!- > fi-e - Ai-'. 1.