HOME AND FOREIGN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1613, 28 January 1903, Page 18

HOME AND FOREIGN.

FRENCH NAVAL PRO GRAMME., PARIS, November 13. M. Chaumet, in introducing bis interpellation in the Chamber of Deputies •with regard to the suspension of the construction of warships, urged the completion of the naval programme, the abandonment of which, he declared, would enfeeble France both materially and morally at a moment when the other Powers were developing their navies. M. Pelietan, Minister of Marine, m reply, paid he would do all in his power to carry out tho programme. If lie had stopped the construction of three cruisers which were to be completed in 190 G, it was because the work would have required supplementary credits to the amount cf 20,000,000 f. M. die Lanessan recalled the fact that the vote of the Chamber had authorised him ho pass contracts for three ironclads, and added: “If we have the fleet provided for in 1906, we shall be beyond all reach of danger.” (Cheers from all parts of tho House.) TVT. Bourgeois submitted the following order of the day, which was adopted by 331 votes to 154: “The Chamber, confident in the Government’s desire to reconcile the interests of national defence *and the Chamber’s prescriptions concerning the naval programme witii the requirements cf finance tho estimates, leaves tho discussion of ways and means to l tho Budget Committee, and passes to the order of the day. CHINA AND THE POWERS. WASHINGTON, November 13. Considerable satisfaction is expressed at the State Department with regard to the reported willingness of Germany to submit to the arbitration of the Hague Tribunal whether the Chinese indemnity is to be paid in gold or silver. Mr Hay, Secretary cf State, favoured the suggestion, and agreed to do' what he could in order properly to convince the Powers of its merits. There is strong ground for believing that, if Germany accepts the preposition it v r ill prevail, but it is pointed out that England and Japan, both of whom scaled down their claims more severely than the other Powers, feel that the acceptance of a settlement on a silver basis will not recoup them for their expenditure in connection with the Boxer rebellion. BETRAYAL OF MILITARY SECRETS LEIPZIG, November 8. The Imperial Tribunal to-day passed judgment in tho case of four Italian subjects Vv'lio were charged with having betrayed to Franco military secrets relating to the fortress of Metz. The Court sentenced Leo Beck, mine foreman, to five years and six months’ penal servitude, and ten years’ loss of civil rights; Anton Bai, to three years and six months’ penal servitude, with loss of civil rights for ten years; Josef Prosperts to eight years’ penal servitude, and ten years’ loss of civil rights; and Maria Bai to nine months’ imprisonment for assisting in the betrayal of military secrets. Tho Court found it proved, partly by the confessions of the accused and partly by the exhaustive evidence given, that the three male prisoners had each been guilty of three cases of high treason, and one cf attempted high treason. The attempt referred to the supplying of a drawing of the double fuse known as C 36. Tbe acts of high treason actually accomplished were the delivery firstly, of a plan showing tho construction of a bridge; secondly of a plan of the fortifications of Metz, and thirdly of a plan of a projected railway. In the last case tho woman Bai was found guilty of complicity by carrying the drawing over the frontier and delivering it to an agent of tho French Government. The Court declared its conviction that the prisoners were aware that their actions were punishable, and tliei*efore passed upon them the sentences already stated. A BARMAID SHOT DEAD. A sensational affair occurred the other night in the Continental Hotel bar in Edinburgh, resulting in the death by shooting of the female attendant f here. The police, when apprised of the incident, arrested a seafaring man named Richard Francis Johnstone, 29 years of age, as implicated in the charge. It appears that Johnstone entered tho bar of the Continental Hotel about seven o’clock, in the evening and had some conversation with the barmaid, whose name is Agnes Lumsden, and who belongs to Kirkcaldy. The seaman, it is said, produced a revolver and discharged one or two shots in the air. The barmaid, it is alleged, asked to see the revolver. Johnstone at once handed over the weapon, which the barmaid tried to discharge, aiming towards the wall. The revolver .is said to have missed fire twice in succession. On the third occasion the barmaid made the remark that it was awful how people

could take their own Lives l , and aiming the revolver at her breast she unconsciously pulled the trigger and the charge went off. Death was instantaneous. The girl fell to the floor and' never moved. Jolmstone, who was ' arrested on a charge of recklessly discharging firearms, seemed in a very nervous condition, and is being watched by Dr. Littlejohn. Ho has been a frequent visitor to the bar since Musselburgh races. Whether he has been in regular W'ork or not is not known, though it is stated he is a seafaring man. SIBERIAN BUTTER. ST PETERSBURG, November 8. The Siberian butter trade with England continues to increase. A Riga correspondent states that last year the export of Siberian butter to England alone amounted to more than half a million poods, i.e., about 8300 tons. Tho refrigerators used at Riga for storing Siberian butter are already too small for the purpose, and new ones aro to bo constructed as soon as possible-. The butter trade between England and Russia is expected to assume still greater proportion, as agriculture in Siberia is as yet only in its infancy. A large proportion of the so-called Danish-Siberian butter sold in England is not the produce of the Danish dairies, but of the Russian. The Danes have comparatively speaking, only very few dairies in Siberia. £6OO DAMAGES FOR BREACH Ob' PROMISE. At Leeds Assizes, an action was brought. by Miss Emma Tuke, residing at Bridlington, to recover damages for breach of promise aganist Mr John Winn, in partnership with his father as architects and surveyors at Leeds. The parties met sixteen years ago at the Leeds Art School, and soon afterwards became engaged. They visited at the parents’ houses, and the defendant gave plaintiff two engagement rings. He wrote her many affectionate letters, m which he called her his “love,” “darling,” and so on. He fold her lie was always thinking of her, and looking forward with delight to their union. The defandant signed himself “Your loving Jack,” and comforted the plaintiff by the reflection of the happy time that was in store for them on their honeymoon. On being taken into partnership by his father at the beginning of this year, the defendant’s feelings began to cool. His letters became less frequent, and finally he broke the engagement off in spite of plaintiff’s appeals. Tho parties agreed to a verdict for £6OO damages, and the UnderSheriff said this was very honourable of the defendant. TRAGIC PRACTICAL JOKE. A horrible death, as the result of a practical joke, occurred recently at the locomotive works at Patterson, New Jersey, the victim being Harry Ruit, a youth of sixteen and a new hand, on whom five elder companions jokingly proposed a method of initiating. During the lunch hour they seized Ruit, and dragged him to a crane driven by compressed air, and forced the air tube into liis mouth. As soon as the air was released it rushed down Ruit’s throat with terrific effect, distending his abdomen to twice its natural size, and causing frightful internal injures ancl agonising pain, whereupon the horrified jokers immediately desisted and gave the alarm. Ruit was removed to a hospital. but died shortly after. The young men concerned in liis death were arrested and charged with manslaughter. In the Police Court, Ruit’s father attacked one of the prisoners, and woun. have killed him if he had not been prevented. A SCOUTS HORRIBLE DEATH. A despatch from Bisbee, Arizona, says tbe military authorities at Sonora, Mexico, have received information of the horrible death of Dan Ryan, the famous American Scout- attached to the Mexican Mounted Police. Ryan and his companion, Wilson, were captured by Yaqui Indians during a recent expedition. In the presence of Wilson, the Indians cut off both Ryan’s feet-, using dull saws and inflicting horrible torture. When tbe feet were amputated the savages compelled tlie victim to walk oil the stumps beyond the entrenchments, where he fell and died. Wilson was then released and sent back with a defiant message. A BRITISH ROYAL ROMANCE. The “Neiv York Journal” is responsible for the story that it is “an open secret” at Court that Princess Victoria and Mr Austen Chamberlain are in love with one another. The Princess, says the Republican chronicler o. British Court news, lias earnestly beg. her father. King Edward VII., to lei her marry the man of her choice. The King is in a dilemma. According to m best information to bo obtained in Court circles, it is now probable that the King will yield to his daughter's wishes, She has pressed-him hard for a month. He

has urged her to wait until calmer consideration shall enable her to see the wisdom of a moro suitable match. But the Princess vows that her mind and heart are made up now and for ever. The story goes on:—“It was at the time of the Coronation that tho Princess Victoria fell in love with Mr Austen Chamberlain. He was then newly raised to the dignity of a member of the Cabinet and of tho Privy Council, and was brought much in contact with the Royal Family, both at the actual •ceremonial and during the necessary preparations. One Cabinet Minister is usually detailed in attendance upon the King, and while Mr Austen Chamberlain held tho position ho had abundant opportunity to assure the Princess V ictoria of liis devotion to her.” ABDUCTION IN A MOTOR CAR. Tho “Petit Journal” states that Mile. Cordelia le Play, daughter of a former Senator for tho Haute Vienne, and only eighteen years old, was carried off m a motor car at half-past one on Saturday in the Avenue do Villais, in the centre of Paris, by M. Maurice Marcille, a young doctor, who had unsuccessfully solicited the young lady-’s parents for her hand. MAN OR WOMAN? A contemporary gives currency to an extraordinary story from the North of 'Scotland, where, it is asserted, a sensation has been caused by whisperings that a gentleman well-known-in Aberdeen business circles is in reality a woman. The facts are said to be well ascertained brut no reason is adduced for her masquerading as a man. Dressed faultlessly in every detail, she lias intermingled in socictv. and quite recently she was seen sitting at the Aberdeen Art Exhibition. Iler sex lias been all the more easily concealed as she lias a deep voice and a decidedly manly appearance. She has, in fact, grown a slight moustache, and is a regular attender at t]go hairdresser’s. A PRINCESS’S ROMANCE. According to- the Budapest evening papers, Lieutenant Mattasich Keglevicn recently made a bold attempt to- rescue Lin Princess Louise of Coburg from the Liudenhof Asylum, near Dresden. Going to Dresden, he hovered around till ho succeeded in meeting the prisoner driving, and communicated to her a plan of flight. After a hurried conversation, the Princess returned to'Lindenhof, promising to- meet Keglevicn tho following day in order to elope again. Kegleveh bribed tho Princess's attendant, who promised to ljplp the lovers, but betrayed the secret to the proprietor of the’ Liudenhof, who- had steps taken to prevent the elopement. Keglevich declares that she is perfectly sane, and that his life’s work would bo to liberate her. She complains of unhappiness, and is, he says, eager for flight. As many of- our readers are aware, rt is now several years since Lieutenant Mattasich Keglevich eloped with Princess Louise of Coburg, wife of Prince Louis of Coburg, and second daughter of the King of the Belgians. The runaways were caruglit, and the Princess was confined to an asylum at Koswig, near Dresden; while the lieutenant was imprisoned lor four years for forging the name af Princess Stephanie, Princess Louise’s sister, and using tho money thus obtained to satisfy the latter’s extravagant tastes in dress and jewels.