EUROPEAN NEWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 804, 14 September 1877, Page 3

EUROPEAN NEWS.

—o — Dr Cornish, the Cemetery-Inspector, says that a million iieople have died of starvation in Madras Presidency. At a meeting in Madras a resolution was adopted that all tho principal cities of England, Scotland, Ireland, and India he informed of the urgent necessity for assistance. The mover said more people had been found dead on one single morning in Madras than bad died in the whole Bengal famine. The Clyde shipwrights have agreed to submit their disputes with tho masters to arbitration. A great strike is anticipated. Rioting lias occurred in Belfast during several days. The military were called out. At a public meeting held at Madras on the 9th, to consider steps necessary for securing help from England for famine sufferers, the Duke of Buckingham, Governor of the Madras Presidency, stated the famine area contained 18,000,000 people, of whom a large proportion were dependent for daily food on the exertion of activity. The necessity for supplies was steadily increasing, and the wants of Madras were already beyond the means of the Presidency. Every aid that can he secured is needed to save the people. Tho increasing severity and distress necessitate an appeal to public charity. German sentiment is growing hostile to England, and a high authority to be relied on says her policy as to the occupation of the Dardanelles will not be permitted. The Under Secretary for the Foreign Department said there had been no negotiations between England and Austria regarding the mobilisation of Austrian troops, in the case of Roumania and Scrvia participating in ho”tilit ; es or Russians entering Sorvia. Government knows nothing of direct negotiations between Czar and Sultan, therefore, there is no ground for protest. Ido not know whether Austria has communicated with Russia or Turkey on the subject. In the House of Lords, Earl Rcaeonsfield said when this cruel and destructive war commenced, Her Majesty’s Government announced that it should adopt a policy of strict neutrality on the condition that British interests were not imperilled. Russia has returned an answer which I think I am authorised in describing as conciliatory and friendly to a communication in which we defended what we considered to be our interest. The Government has no reason to doubt that Russia will honorably observe the conditions which Were submitted in that correspondence,, hut whatever be tlie casts the maintenance of those conditions is the policy of the British Government.

Great scandal has been caused in high circles by the elopement of the wife of Sir Charles Tempest with Mr Hungorforcl. A London despatch of the 10th August says the electoral campaign on the. part of the French Government daily becomes more active and oppressive. Yesterday’s news includes the following items Hawkers of newspapers at Coinpcigne were recently requested to furnish a list of the newspapers they served to customers in tho arromlissements. The officials then repressed the delivery of the Siecic, Nineteenth Century. Pressc, Republiqne Franqaisc, National Bien Public, Petit Journal, all Republican journals, and also tho publication of the coloured map of France showing tho political complexion of the Departments. The offence charged against them is an unauthorised publication of drawings. The Court convicted them, hut passed nominal sentences of fifty francs each. Two clubs at Arles have been closed, charged with being political assomhlagrs. Tho Depechc, a newspa"cr at Toulou’e, has been fined 100 francs for refusing to print the speech of President Macmahon. Tho Minister of Agriculture asked prefects in a circular to

remind employes in the Department of Agriculture that It is their duty not to attempt to thwart the action of the Cabinet or to place at the service of hostile parties the influence they derive from their offices. The Police have forbidden the street sale of photographs of M. Thiers. The papers announce that 80,000 copies of equestrian portraits of President Macmahon will be distributed in the provinces. The offence of speaking insultingly of Macmahon in the streets is now becoming a subject of daily action in the Courts. Lefevre Dude, who originated this offence, was condemned to two months imprisonment, but the Court reduced the term to 15 days. He is the son of a former Bonapartist Senator. The Court of Bordeaux has reversed the decision of an inferior tribunal which fined a bookseller who sold newspapers without special authority. On the other hand, the tribunals of Nevrcs and Oorcassonno declared themselves competent to try actions by newspapers against the prefects for preventing the street sales thereof. A London despatch from Berlin to tho Times says in consequence of the despatch of British troops to Malta a regular campaign has been opened by the entire .Russian press against England. Some journals laugh at tho insignificant force England can spare for Eastern wars. Others fiercely declare that “odious England” is fighting Russia even now, seeing that Egyptian troops have been equipped with English money ; while all agtee in regarding English antagonism as a matter of indifference, and not to be dreaded by Russia. Official accounts state that the capture of the Chipka Pass by the Russians was very discreditable to the Turks. General Gourka attacked the Turks in Chipka Pass at the Balkans, after burning Yeni Saghra and capturing Kezanlik, Tho first crossing was made at one of those places known only to Bulgarians, and the object of the attack on Chipka Pass was to secure a better passage for artillery and waggon trains. The first attack on Chipka Pass was repelled by the Turks, and the Russians suffered heavily ; but on the second day reinforcements arrived, among which was Mensky’s regiment, which had already distinguished itself during the passage of the Danube. The prisoners captured on the second day by the Russians, after the signal defeat of the Turks, stated that there were fourteen battalions occupying splendid positions one behind the other, all through the Ohipka Pass, all of which wore abandoned in a most unwarrantable manner by the Turks. Prisoners stated that the Pasha was soon followed by 10,000 men, all of whom were regulars. The positions abandoned by the Turks were so well fortified that the Russians could not help admiring their construction The Russian troops captured a large quantity of army biscuits, five mountain guns, live Krupp guns, three regimental standards, and a number of tents. One of the most successful meetings yet I held at Wimbledon has closed, when success- j ful competitors were presented with the | prizes. The Queen’s prize was won by Private Jamieson, of the 15th Lancashire, a native of Scotland. The annual match between the Army and Volunteer teams was won by the latter, who scored 947 points against 912 by their rivals. The Elcho Shield was won by the Irish team, the English being second, and the Scotch third. The Amy and Navy Challenge Cup was won by the former. In the Public Schools contest Cheltenham was first, Eton second, and Harrow third. The Spencer Cup was won by Sergeant Lamb for the second time. In the University Match the Oxford team beat Cambridge. The English team defeated the Canadians for the Kolapore Cup. Scotland did not fire in the International Match, which was won by the English, the Irish being far behind. Corporal Bells, Ist Norfolk, won the silver badge and LSO. AMERICA. At San Francisco a mob of hoodlums arranged a plan for the extermination of the Chinese, and to burn the docks of the Pacific Mail Company, which brings Chinamen to this country. The Vigilance Committee was revived, and prevented the outrage. Detachments of soldiers were sent along the central railway lines fro secure the safe transit of the mails and passengers. At Baltimore, St. Louis, and other places, strikers signed the requisition for eight hours law. At Reading, six people were killed. A compromise was ultimately effected by the beginning of August, and work resumed in most districts. The President’s message is expected to dwell principally upon the labour question. Several members of the Cabinet are known to favor a law providing organisation of a Commission Laving due regard for the interests of all classes. A call special from New York says the raising of the railway blockage increased business. It is believed in financial circles that capital will soon find increased employment as the result of a fine harvest, and then create larger traffic than Was known since or before the panic. With freer receipt and unequalled harvest, price of grain and breadstuff's ia tending down, though tho decline is not heavy. A Herald London Special says i—Mr.Tolm Bright at the unveiling of the Cobden Memorial statue at Bedford yesterday, referred to the disturbance in America as a local insurrection. He said, regarding the strike, that “it is one of tho most deplorable and discreditable events that over happened in the Northern States, so far as my knowledge goes.” Mr Blight continued by snying that he attributed the disturbances to the evil effects produced by tho policy of the United vStates in locking themselves up from the rest of tho commercial world, by onerous duties levied upon every class of manufactured articles, which, if competition were open, would prevent labor from Ik - coming unruly. He declared also that tho prostration of the groat iron industry was owing to the collapse arising from the general impoverishment of capitalists, which of itself would necessitate a great fall in wages, He concluded by saying he believed the excessive system of tariff heretofore levied for

protection of labor ill America has received its death hloVv, and nothing could avert the I change. The first loss of life in connection with the strikes occurred at Pittsburg, Largo mobs of strikers had assembled in the street whereon the military ordered them to disperse. As this was not complied with, when the regiment was marching to tho Armoury, a volley of stones and brickbats was thrown by the crowd. At tho Hist volley throe privates of Companies J and F were felled to the ground in a senseless condition, and were borne back into tho Armoury amid a shower of stones. Companies J and F then filed in front of the street and headed south towards Baltimore street, assaulted by the crowd, which was growing fiercer, and Company J not yet being out of the Armoury, the former were halted to await tho arrival of the latter. Colonel Peters and Major George at this time went to tho head of their men, endeavouring to quell the riot and restore order. The stones continued to fall thick and fast. The men without orders fired into the crowd, most of the guns being elevated above their heads. By this volley one man was killed and several wounded. Colonel Peters gave orders to cease firing, which were obeyed. Major George was struck with two boulders on the breast and on the right leg, injuring him temporarily but not seriously. An order was now given to march, and Companies J and F proceeded along Front street to Baltimore street, into which they wheeled to the right. As they marched along Baltimore street westward by Frederick, Gay, Hobday, South, and Calvert streets, stoning was kept up unabated by the crowd, which increased in number, and a number of pistol shots were fired at the men. Firing by the companies was recommenced by stray shots, and continued at intervals until they reached Coleman and Rodgers’ drug store. The military fire caused great loss of life in the crowd. As tho regiment which had been the cause of this fearful butchery and sacrifice of human life held on their course to the depot, they were again followed and surrounded by an immense mob comprised of the better class of citizens, who were worked up to the highest pitch of excitement, and condemned the conduct of the soldiers. Tue regiment was penned up in Howard street surrounded by a furious mob, whose fury incressed as each fresh report reached them about the number of killed and wounded. For over two hours they formed in Howard street unable to move, hut at length managed to make the depot, where they were disposed of in cars and looked in. The mob each moment grew more violent in their demonstrations, and had at length broken in the Telegraph Office, torn up rails, disabled tho engines, threw a car oif the track, and wound up by firing Campden Station Depot, Round House, and other buildings. Pandemonium seemed to reign, and the Mayor's proclama- | tion had hut little effect. The feeling of j the crowds collected in the town is very 1 bitter against tho military. The number of those shot is greatly in excess of the wounded. About 15 men were killed outright. The hospital station houses where the wounded men were carried present a sorry sight. The killed and wounded during the few days’ fighting numbered 45. The town was completely in the possession of a mob numbering 3000, who destroyed a large amount of railway property. The following is a fair sample of atrocities committed in American stiikes:— Whilkes Bare, August Ist —A crowd of 0000 or 7000 strikers assembled at the Beehive Valley depot this afternoon, as tho mail train from the south came in with master mechanics. The strikers stoned the engineer until he had to jump off. They then mounted the engine, cut it loose, and ran it into a hank. A constable, was seized by the mob, and roughly handled. They would have killed him but for the interference of friends. A large number of passengers were compelled to lie over here. The strikers separated the engine from the train, and are running it up and down the road, blowing tho whistle and cheering. Miners and railway men are coalescing, and trouble is feared. Some Irish members of tho House of Commons have formed themselves (says the Loudon correspondent of the Newcastle Chronicle into a committee for the purpose of visiting tho political prisoners regularly, and assisting their friends and relatives to see them also at the times permitted by the jail authorities. There are still living ten of these unfortunate men. Five of them were condemned to death, hut had their sentences commuted to penal servitude for life. Three Were assigned life sentences, and two obtained penal servitude for fifteen years. A couple of them are confined at Portland, three at Dartmouth, two at ChatJ ham, one at Portsmouth, and two at Spike Island. Three of them were soldiers, and on behalf of Sergeant-Major McCarthy, who fought in the Crimea, and through the Indian mutiny, very unusual and pressing representations have been made by the officers under whom he served. So far they have not succeeded in producing any relaxation of punishment. Captain Condon, one of the men concerned in the Manchester affair, in which Mr Brett was killed, is an American. A remarkable circumstance respecting the proceedings of the Fenians at Manchester is that one of the men sentenced to •’oath was afterwards released unconditionally, as it Was found he had no part in the affray, and it is now known, !uuV L believe acknowledged by the police authorities, that the man who absolutely killed Mr Brett was never brought to trial at all.