HOME AND FOREIGN NEWS

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 16

HOME AND FOREIGN NEWS

FIGHT AT THE HOLY SEPULCHRE. The Vatican has received a report from Jerusalem giving details of the recent conflict between Latin and Greek monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. It appears to have been the intention of the latter to tako possession of a portion of tlie Holy Sepulchre, which has belonged to the Franciscans from time immemorial. The Franciscans warned the Governor of Jerusalem, who sent a Turkish force to the spot. The Greeks had already taken possession of the disputed territory, and refused to give it up. Hie Turks did not wish to use force, and were discussing the situation when a number of schismatics armed with sticks and daggers, threw themselves on the Catholic monks, striking many blows at them. When the fighting was over it was found that seventeen Franciscans had been seriously wounded.

The Franciscans and the Latin Patriarch at Jerusalem immediately addressed a protest to the Catholic Powers, notably to the French Government. which exercises a protectorate over the Latin Catholics. This protest is approved by the Vatican.

MUTINOUS VICTORIANS. The three members of the Victorian Fifth Contingent who were convicted for inciting to mutiny returned to Melbourne by the Oroya. They are extremely outspoken in their narratives. Richards stated that General Beatson had a personal animus against Australians. and was in the habit of swearing at the men most offensively and making derogatory remarks about them. The general opinion among the Australians was that, having been in India the greater part of his lifo. he had become "so used to bullying niggers that he didn’t know how to treat white men.” Richards adds that, in addition to being insulting. General Beatson was never anxious to attack the Boers. "Take a lot of ihe British officers.” no said. ‘‘Beatson doesn't want the war to end too soon." On one occasion the Australians. Hus«ars. and other troops. 2.090 strong, had surrounded 300 Boers under an English renegade, and could have captured the lot but for General Beatson calling upon the men to retire.

Richard's explanation of his arrest and trial is an extraordinary one. lie states that, being a member of the left half, he was left standing among the right-half men—against which there was no order of regulation. At the time the men were talking of piling their arms and refusing service under the general, when the order was given for all the men not belonging to the half to step out. Richards avers that he did so. and was immediately marched to the guard-room without being told the offence with which he was charged until the following day. The courtmartial consisted of British officers, and he had no officer assigned to him for his defence. The witnesses called against him were not able to identify him as the man who had made any of the remarks complained of. and he was not allowed to call witnesses on his own behalf. He was then marched away, and wa.s not told of the sentence of death until after it had been commuted. “When we were released, they leave us the choice of going back to the front or coming home. We came home, but wo are willing to go away with another contingent to-morrow, as long as we serve under Australian officers.”

Each of the men, it appears, was tried separately, but the story of the arrest and the trial was substantially the same in each case.

“I didn't . incite anybody to commit mutiny,” said Parry. “All I said was. ‘Are you fellows going out with Beatson, tho man who called us ‘whitelivered curs,’ or are you going to pile your arms and refuse?’ Ton can't call that mutiny, can you? It’s only asking a civil question.” Parry explains that he did not attempt to call any witnesses in his case. One man swore, that he had used the words in, question, but three others stated that they did not hear him. Judging that the weight of evidence was on his side, lie was confident that ho would he acquitted, and was surprised to find that he had been convicted.

THE EXECUTION OF LOITER. A correspondent at Middelburg (Cape Colony), writing under date October 14, to a London newspaper, says:—The promulgation of the death sentence on Lotter, which took place at Middelburg. was a most impressive ceremony. By order of ihe Commandant, Major Maurice, all business was suspended, and the leading residents of the town, both English and Dutch, wore ordered to attend. The prisoners—closely guarded by a troop of the District’ Mounted Troops and Royal Fusiliers—were brought into the square, which was

lined with the troops of the garrison. The ex-commandant went through the ceremony without any signs of fear until just the last, when he fainted, and had to be assisted back to the gaol. The following morning he was executed on a kopje to the west of the town. Eye-witnesses say the execution was carried out most expeditiously. He was taken to the place in an ambulance waggon, and after getting out of the waggon all was over in less than two minutes. Three days later Piet Wolfaardt, a notorious Middelburg rebel, who has been implicated in many acts of cruelty along with his chief, was executed on the same spot, while Schoeman, Lotter’s lieutenant, was executed at Tarkastad.

GERMANY AND VENEZUELA. A German squadron, consisting of the second-class cruiser Vineta, the thirdclass cruiser Falke and the school-ships Moltke and Stein, has arrived at Puerto Cabollo, Venezuela. It is believed that the officer commanding the squadron is the bearer of an ’ultimatum to the Venezuelan Government. President Gastro has. it is asserted, seized property belonging to the leader of the serious rebellious movement which recently broke out among the Venezuelan military, although it had been leased to a Frenchman. The French Government supports the Frenchman, who has just appealed against President Castro’s action. Recently the New York “Herald” announced that the German Government had informed the United States that it was about to compel the Republic of Venezuela to pay the just claims of Germany. At the same time it intimated that it had no intention of permanently occupying any of the Venezuelan ports. Later, it was reported that General Castro, the President of the Republic, had taken up a defiant an it udo towards Germany. He declared that he would not suffer that power to deprive Venezuela of her rights. Next day a serious rebellion, directed against the President. General Castro, was reported to have broken out in Venezuela.

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE DI KE AND DUCHESS. The Ottawa correspondent of the "New York World'’ states that the L-mo and Duchess of Cornwall and York narrowly escaped with their lives, while proceeding down the Ottawa river m Indian canoes to Rockeliffe. At times the Royal canoe, which was carried rapidly forward in the swift current of the river, was almost surrounded by the excursion steamers, the skippers of which had implicit instructions to keep in the wake of the Royal craft. When about half a mile from Rockeliffe, the steamer Russell was seen to be bearing down at full speed directly upon the canoe conveying the Duke and Duchess. Soon the sharp-prow of the steamer vas less than six feet away from the frail boat, and to add to the danger a tug approached on the other side. The i-pree leading canoes, in which were several members of the Royal suite, were caught in the swells and backwash from both steamers, and immediately the Royal canoe was also rocking dangerously, the light craft at times heeling over alarmingly, while the spray completely dashed over the occupants. Thanks to the skilful manipulation of the canoe, all danger was speedily averted, although considerable anxiety was occasioned to those in charge of the craft, as to the safety of their distinguished passengers. Steersman Paulson, who was afterwards interviewed, said:—“lmmediately I saw the danger I threw my whole weight to the other side of the boat. I turned white. The waves dashed into the boat, and. we were all ready to jump as soon as site sank. The Duke and Duchess kept quiet, which was a good thing for them, although undoubtedly we would have saved them had the canoe gone under. The Duchess appeared to bo considerably frightened. but the Duke was not put out in the least.”

THREE SOLDIERS AND A DEAD MAN. The following story is vouched for by a correspondent of the “Regiment”: —The passage leading to the mortuary attached to a military hospital in India was formed of timbers similar to railway sleepers placed end up, and securely fastened to cross-rails. A defunct warrior occupying the deadhouse, a sentry, in accordance with regulations, was posted at the end of the passage. Alter about a quarter of an hour’s “sentry go” this man appeared at the guard-room door, and pitching his rifle into the arm-rack, said: “Make a prisoner of me, I’ll do no more guard there. Why, Bill has got up from his coffin and gone down to the native bazaar.”

He was promtplv placed under arrest. and the sergeant proceeded to put another man on guard. At the same time lie made an inspection of the mortuary, where lie found the dead soldier jost as lie had been placed there. The non-com. returned to the guardroom. and was soon startled by the appearance of sentry number two, who, pale and agitated, said in effect the

same thing as the first mail. Having put him under arrest, the sergeant said to one of the guard:— “Here, you, tome along and see if you can. stop Bill’s pranks.” “Faith, 1 was always as good a man as he, when he was alive, and sure I ought to be better now lie’s dead!” observed the selected one, as he marched off.

The sergeant watched the clock until tlie hour of relief came somewhat anxiously, and then proceeded to the deadhouse, where he found the sentry standing upright, stone dead, with his bayonet driven firmly into the paling.

IN A MENAGERIE. The famous Pezon menagerie was on exhibition in Moscow, and M. Pezon employed an extra assistant, a nioujik, to clean out the cages of the wild beasts. The nioujik did not understand a word of French, and M. Pezon knew no Russian; but bv dint cf vivid and practical pantomime, lie succeeded, as ho thought, in thoroughly acquainting the nioujik with the details of the work required. He took the rake, broom, sponges, buckets, etc., used into the cages of some harmless animals, and showed how the work was to be done. However, in the cage of a very tame antelope, he brushed and sponged the animal, as a treat- for it, not with any idea of setting an example. In the meantime, the nioujik watched tlie proceedings intelligently and attentively, and went on with the work satisfactorily. his master going for a time into his office. Returning presently, M. Pezon came into the tent in time to see his new assistant, equipped only with a broom, bucket and sponge, enter a cage tenanted only by a splendid untamed tiger—the most dangerous brute in the whole collection. When the moujik entered, the tiger was asleep, out suddenly lifted its head and turned its fierce eyes on the intruder, who stood calmly dipping his sponge into the bucket of water. Poor M. Pezon, petrified with horror, saw his temporary assistant approach tlie great beast, and commence to rub him down as stolidly as if he were grooming a quiet old horse. The soothing application of tlie cold water had a very unexpected and agreeable effect on the tiger, which began to purr, laid down, stretched cut its paws, and rolled about as if to offer every part of its body to the vigorous scrubbing of the nioujik, who went on unconcernedly. When he had finished grooming the tiger to the mutual satisfaction of his charge and himself, lie patted the big beast on tlie head, took up his traps, and walked out of the cage, M. Pezon only being able to rouse himself out of his state of stupefaction sufficiently to prevent- the man going into another cage of dangerous animals.

MISS STONE’S CAPTIVITY. It is alleged tiiar Mr Dickinson, the American representative, has informed the authorities that the band of brigands with Miss Stone and Mine. Zilka is concealed at Belcritza in a. mountain defile near Smotclivo, in the District of Dubnitza. and that lie has requested the despatch of troops to surround the place, witli a view to the liberation of the captives by force or stratagem. Mr Dickinson and the Bulgarian Foreign Office neither confirm nor deny the report, but there is, nevertheless, good reason to believe that Air Dickinson is persuaded of tlie impossibility of coming to terms with tlie brigands by means of negotiation, and relying on tlie belief that the brigands will not- harm the captives if Bulgarian troops are employed, will decide on a critical move after consulting the Washington Government.

Only eight members of the band are guarding Aiiss Stone, and some of these are known to sympathise with her. A fortnight- ago Air Dickinson approached the Foreign Office with the same plan, but it- was abandoned. ovmg to uncertainty as to the whereabouts of tlie village indicated.

BOLD ROBBERY IN BUDAPEST. A bold robbery at- Budapest has caused much sensation. A young man, named Kecskemety, aged twenty-two’ an official at the municipal tax office, is accused of stealing upwards of half a million crowns sent to tho Treasury. The money was in a bag, the key of which was given to Kecskemety. The bag was carried by a municipal servant and both took a cab. On the way Koeckemety stopped the cab and ordered the servant to deliver a letter in a house they passed by. In the meantime Kecskemety took upwads of half a million crowns from the bag, leaving some 200,000. They continued their journey, and on arriving at the Treasury Kecskemety found a pretext for entering some office, telling the servant not. to hand over the money till ho returned. Ho then disappeared.

AAIERICAN RAILWAYS. Non that tho United States railway magnates have settled their own differences by bringing tho trans-Continental lines under a community of interest-, they are said to bo taking steps with

a view to placing the Canadian Pacifin Railway in a position in which inter! ference witli their plans will be imp 0 > sible, this being accomplished by the purchase cf all stock offered in the open - market. In that manner, it is asserted 25,000 shares have disappeared from the open market, New \ T ork being the pu r . chaser. The London and Berlin, besides the Montreal and Toronto ’markets, are said to be all sellers. Tlm’A action on the part of the new American combination is stated to account for theperiodical buoyancy in the price 0 f Canadian Pacific stock, an example of which has been seen in the great activity of the past month.

AN OFFICER’S HEROISM. It is recorded that recently Memte’s Scouts sent- out- their usual pickets from Plat rand to their various positions One picket, having arrived at the apl pointed post- on Do AVet’s farm, early discerned a number of Boers lying i n wait for another picket due at Observation Hill (local name). Word was immediately sent back to camp, and thirtyfive of the scouts turned cut. The Boers were soon cleared out of their position and wore followed up.

When tlie scouts were some five miles from camp, however, the tables were turned, and tlie small British force found itself within the horns of a lialfmoon of some 300 Boers. The scouts now endeavoured to retire, fighting the while, while tlie Boers did their utmost to cut them off. The scouts’ only gmi jammed after two shots, but they kept their assailants off on both sides, though far outnumbered. At last, however they had to make a bolt for it, the fire cf tho enemy became exceedingly hot and at very short range.

In the “sauve qui peut” occurred one of ihose instance.s of pluck and devotion that have continually brightened the history of this long war. Trooper Farrell’s horse was shot under him. and Lieutenant Bradford, turning in fii s saddle for a parting shot at the enemy noticed him go down, then saw him struggle to his foot, shaken and white. The officer promptly pulled round to Pick him up. the nearest Boor- being less than 200 yards off. Tlie few -oco,y£ lost in mounting brought tlie enemy close up, and though the litth* horse struggled gamely under tlie double weight, it was too late. The two men could not be missed at a range so short. A bullet cut through the tunic of Trooper Farrell and pursued its course through Lieutenant Bradford’s thigh. A swerve, and down, and before- either, man could rise tlie Boers were round them, and in a great state of excitement. “Verdomde Engelsinan. you thought to catch us, but- we’ve caught you.” “The Boers can shoot, can’t they?” “What shall we do to them?” These were a few of tlie remarks shouted by the Boers. One swung his revolver round, and said. “Oh ! You are an officer, eh?” and then helped himself to rings, watch, gaiters, cigarette-case; and field-glasses. Tunics wore also taken, and boots, but the latter were afterwards returned.

Inquiries were then made as to Lieutenant Bradford’s hurts. The lastmentioned Boer helped him to his legs, and he was allowed to hobble away with .trooper Farrell’s assistance. A mile or more was covered, and the coast

Tnen being clear, Farrell went on to c-amp for a horse, further waiting being impossible. Those of the scouts whose horses had been shot- hid themselves, and came in after dark with their arms complete, one having lain hidden among some rushes while the Boers watered their horses within a few yards of him. Alenne’s scouts lost two killed and four wounded, while they reckoned to have accounted for eighteen or nineteen Boers.

A BIG CABLE SPAN. The longest span in any electric pow« er transmission lino operated on the American Continent, if not, indeed, anywhere in the world, is that of the Bay Counties Power Company of San Francisco across the Straits of Carquiu-c-z, a comparatively narrow waterway separating Solano and Contra C’osta Counties of California, and connecting San Pablo and Suisun Bays, which latter form the northerly extremity of San Francisco Bay. The swinging of the electric cables, which cover the horizontal distance of 4427 ft in a single span that has a clearance of 20Gft above extreme high tide, constitutes one of tie most remarkable engineering achievements of the ago; and how greatly exceeds all previous performances of the kind will be appreciated when it is stated that, previous to the construction of the Carquinez span, the most notable example of such construction wa found in a sheer stretch of 1500 ft 0 cable across tho Columbia River, n British Columbia. Each cable has a individual anchorago consisting of mass of concrete 9ft by 10ft in size an sft high, set into tho bedrock ;*a»“ - support of tho cables from tho tow represents an achievement of no inc . siderable magnitude, since each ca exerts a pull of twelve tons on its ohorages.

UNAPPRECIATED love. . I Constance Ekins, a young actress, of Melbourne, narrowly escaped death at the hands of a man named Frank Doneniaun, a youthful and unappreciated lover.’ Miss Ekins had alighted from a f tram at Nicholson-street. when she saw ] Donemann. and not desiring to speak to him, walked on. He then forced nis ■ company on her, and caught hold of her : rm- she, it is said, upbraided him for his educational deficiences, and for his presumption. Suddenly he pulled out a revolver and fired at her. She fell to the ground screaming, and he then turned the revolver on himself and fired. On a bystander named Levey attempt- | ins- to interfere he fired at him also, and afterwards made off to his house, | where a number, of cartridges, and a long-bladed knife were displayed on , the'dressing table. Donemann was not arrested until early this morning, and it was found that he had wounded himself in the head. He was taken (o Melbourne Hospital. Art examination of Miss Ekins showed that the bullet had entered her head -above the right temple, and, glancing upward, had - passed through the scalp, three inches further on. Tlip wound is not serious. The parties became acquainted at Broken Hill. Donemann followed the young lady to Adelaide and Melbourne, and pestered her with his attentions.

CAN ENGLAND BE INVADED? j The “Morning Post” gives an inter- : esting account of a pamphlet written ' by a German military authority, Baron | von Edelsheim, entitled “Oversea Operations,” dealing with the prospects of a successful invasion of England bv a German army. He thinks that, in . spite of the overwhelming naval force at the disposal of Britain, the command of the sea might be secured for a few j days by Germany, and be used to land an army on our East Coast strong enough to overpower the British army and seize London. Some eighty or ninety thousand men would be landed, and these, though their communications with Germany would be cut on our regaining the command of the sea by a concentration of naval force, would be"! able to live on the country and bring us to our knees. Granted that the Germans got temporary command of the sea by a skilful surprise and landed ninety thousand men at Harwich, in thirty hours, we will presume, they would take London. But Baron von Edelsheim is making the usual foreigner’s mistake in thinking that the British Isles are a sort of park to London, and that if London fell the whole kingdom must fall too. Unless we are hugely mistaken, the Midlands and Lancashire, Yorkshire and Glasgow and Edinburgh and the rest of the north would have something to say to that. An army of eighty thousand men would find it anything but easy to hold London, and yet have enough force to despatch columns to conquer the north, encouraged by the fact that we had regained command of the sea, and could move troops from place to place. If we held the sea we should soon regain the Lower Thames and the Medway, and how could Portsmouth and Plymouth be taken from the land side while we held the sea? Further, we do not fancy that our field army would prove quite so easy a nut to crack as Baron von Edelsheim supposes, but we are absolutely certain that we should not give in because London was taken and the eighty thousand had five million starving and desperate people on their hands. Still, the warning, even if not very practical, may be useful. We ought to neglect no lessens in matters so vital.

THE ALLEGED PLOT AT KLONDIKE. The following telegram has been received from Seattle“ The ‘Times’ of . ew .lork publishes an account confirming in every way the previous story of a conspiracy hatched by certain miners with a view to an attempt to overthrow Canadian authority at Klondike. The fmies asserts that it has in its possession the documents and seals of the rder of the Midnight Sun, a secret society, organised for the sole purpose of accomplishing the overthrow of Canadian rule m the goldfields.”

THE OPERATIONS AGAINST DELAREY. letter is aa extract from a ponsih , 11 hy , a - staff offi cer in repons M 0 c nd tho Transvaa] ._ +l,- e a |tack on Kekewich was tho a »d Kernn f bn rth at r tack that Dela rey of the c P oimht ma ru ° n Us in thafc P ai ham, Dixon f oments, Cunningall been nf+o i Kekewich have selves thero ° i^f:^ hen ac , ti . n S by tliemof ground andriLi m ? sfc I,ltricate bit that it was iS arey a k^? Wsit well ' on B tira“ a 'i nst rlS‘ s ' r6l> ; Wi ° » more colinrma „ ~ as two or leaves them scvernß^ in o° nCGrfc be a eolumnTets KWnn a p° n - e ’ * ut when to n4e adS for e 4 S a, £. osfc cei " ‘? A *? piSw'Si "™- {»»« just oStt rA ,**;*;■ fight been a prettv " T 5 see,n *s to have feh “fair. Keke. Krimrty id.*"” Pl “ e ”'

“It may be interesting to explain some of the difficulties of tho position with regard to die sphere of operations of Delarey and Kemp. During the cold weather they are able to move about without difficulty in their district, but in tho hot weather the country north of the Magaliesberg is unhealthy for men on account of fevc-r, and deadly fer horses owing to horse sickness. Delarey must still have hidden depots of grain, but for some time past our columns havo so swept the country that he cannot have any large ones now south of Lichteiiburg. Kekewich must have been somewhere near the western crest of Magaliesberg when the recent attack took place.”

GERMAN INDUSTRIAL DEPRESSION. Tho industrial depression in Germany is assuming ever more serious proportions. The crisis is not confined to I russia alone. A recent speech from the Throne in Saxony complained of the extraordinary pressure in industrial circles. In the Bavarian Diet the Ministers speak of the unfavourable economic conditions of that Kingdom. In Westphalia and in East and West Prussia, the provincial Governors are convening commissions to inquire into the serious state of affairs and devise remedies. Even in prosperous Berlin the pinch begins to be felt. Probably it is no exaggeration to say there are 50.000 moro _ unemployed persons in Berlin than in the corresponding period of last year. In most industries the number of men seeking work is far in excess of the number of situations vacant. The coming session of the Reichstag promises to be unusually stormy. The Government have to face a deficit of between eighty and one hundred million marks. In view of the ominous mutterings of discontent in all industrial centres, it is difficult to see how they can persevere with their proposal to increase so enormously the tax on the prime necessities of life. The Socialist agitation against the bread taxes increases in intensity, and the petition against it already contains over two and a half million signatures. Before the meeting of the Reichstag the Socialists hope to have secured throe millions.

AFGHAN SITUATION. Information derived from well-in-formed quarters positively contradicts the alarming reports propagated by some foreign papers of threatening military measures haying been ordered by General Kuropatkin, Minister of War, in view of an early Russian intervention in Afghanistan. It is, moreover, pointed out that such measures would not be in harmony with the absolutely pacific intentions of the Russian Government or with the hitherto peaceful attitude of the inhabitants of the Russian Asiatic possessions bordering upon Afghanistan. The reports mentioned are regarded as probably due to some ordinary movements of Russian troops connected simply with General Kuropatkin,’s present tour of inspection in Central Asia, which was decided upon long before the death of the late Ameer Abdurrahman. It is added that a complete understanding continues to exist between the Russian and British Governments to avoid any Anglo-Russian conflict in regard to Afghanistan. The following despatch from Askabad is published: During the stay of General Kuropatkin, the Minister of War, at Mery, lie visited the prison where six Afghans were in custody on suspicion of being spies. No evidence of their guilt being forthcoming General Kuropatkin gave them their liberty, and spoke to them as follows: “A misfortune has befallen Afghanistan. The Ameer Abdurrahman is dead, and Habibullah, one of his sons, has ascended the throne. We Russians have always considered ourselves friends of Afghanistan, and we wish to remain so in the present change of Government. Therefore, in setting you at liberty I command you to report yourselves to your nearest chieftain, and to report to him the words you have heard from the Russian Minister of War.”

KILLED BY A MOTOR-CAR. Mr Frederick H. Benedict, son of Mr E. C. Benedict, the banker, and friend of ex-President Cleveland, was killed near Tuxedo Park, New York, by the overturning of an automobile in which he was coming down tho side of a mountain. Mr Grenville Kane, who was with him, sustained a broken arm and rib and some internal injuries. Mr and Mrs Benedict, Miss Knowlton and Mr Grenville Kane had accepted tho invitation of Major Bellinger, an army officer at West Point, to witness a football match. Mrs Benedict and Miss Knowlton drove over to West Point in a Victoria, starting early in the day. Mr Benedict and Mr Kane were expected to join them at Major Bellinger’s house in time for luncheon. ' Mr Benedict’s machine was an American one, worked by gasoline, and it weighed I,Boolb. Mr Benedict, Mr Kane, and a chauffeur started over the mountains which stretch between Tuxedo and the Hudson River. The automobile, which was a full-powered one, had been driven successfully over the

eastern mountains, and had begun the steep descent on the other side. Machines of this type are fitted with a brake and with a clutch, which turns on additional power and speed. These are operated by pedals placed close together beneath the feet of the driver, and it is believed that Mr Benedict reached out lus foot for the brake pedal to check the vehicle’s velocity but pressed the clutch pedal in mistake. The machine bounded down the road at a terrific pace. Just ahead was’ a slight bend which Mr Benedict was unable to clear in time. The ponderous vehicle crashed into a pile of rocks, turned over, and was completely wrecked. Mr Benedict was wrapped in a carriage rug held over his knees close to the dashboard, and had no chance of escape. He was pinned down on tlie rocks hy the heavy car. The chauffeur jumped and escaped serious injury, hut *Mr Kane was flung headlong almost clear of the wreck. Tho dead man was about forty years of age, and was a successful broker. The present Mrs Benedict was Miss Virginia, Coudert, daughter of Mr Frederick Coudert, an authority on international law, and a prominent member of Now York and Newport society.

HEAYY SENTENCES ON POLISH RIOTERS. Tho severe sentences proposed by the Crown Prosecutor for the Polish rioters at Gnesen have been accepted by the Judges. One woman, the ringleader, has been sent to prison for two and a half years; another has been ■sentenced to one year’s penal servitude; and the remainder to various terms from two years to four weeks. The severity of the sentences has created a very bad effect. The cruelty practised on the children, together with the harsh sentences now passed on their parents, will do more to strengthen the Polish cause than years of ordinary agitation. It is another in tho long list of grievous errors which have marked the administration of the Polish provinces. Only the “Post” approves of the severity. It reminds its readers of the man who had seven cats, but. refused to drown them from false notions of tenderness towards tne animals. In one year the seven had multiplied, each cat having seven kittens. The plague of cabs was so annoying that he was obliged at last to drown the whole fifty-six of them.