’FRISCO MAIL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 403, 30 April 1902, Page 2

’FRISCO MAIL NEWS.

PRO-BOER CHARGES. (By Telegraph). (Per R.M.S. Sierra at Auckland). San Francisco, April 10. A despatch from Washington, dated April 5, says : In response to a request from the Governor of Louisiana for a statement of the law bearing upon the operations of the British officers at Chalmette, secretary Hay has answered by the direction of the President that he has ordered a thorough investigation as to the conduct of the camp. The Secretary has received an opinion from the At-torney-General that the neutrality laws have not been violated by the British. He enters into a long citation of precedents. PRAISE FOR CANADIANS.

A despatch from London, dated April 5, says that the gallantry of Canadian troops in the engagement with the Boers near Harts river on March 31 attracts unstinted praise from the British Press. MILITARY PRIGS.

These comments form a striking contrast to the recently printed notification that the attention of Lord Roberts has been drawn to various cases where Colonials who had been awarded commissions were treated as inferiors by regular officers, and otherwise made to feel that they were only members of mess by sufferance. Lord Roberts, it was semiofficially announced, was making an investigation, and intended to indict the most severe punishment upon any Britisher found guilty of such conduct. Private Wyard, in letters to the press, states that maDy' Colonial officers have frequently complained that they were good enough at the /root, but not wanted at a Capetown hotel, nor in a London drawing-room. SANTOS DUMONT.

A despatch of April sth says that among the passengers sailing from Cherbourg today for New York was Santos Dumont, the famous Brazilian icrouaut. Before departing from Paris he said : “ I set my face Ameriea-ward to-day with the happiest anticipations, and with confidence that I shall learn as much as I can demonstrate in connection with airships. Though it is my presont intention to remain only a few weeks, I may modify my plans. lam confident I shall succeed in my experiments at St. Louis, as I have introduced important changes in the way of shape and motor weight in my airship since I won the Deutsch prize. The prospect of passing under Brooklyn bridge is fraught with greater danger than most people think, but if realised it ought to go far towards establishing the manageableness of an airship such as mine.” CUBA.

A formal order has been issued at Washington to General Wood to evacuate Cuba on May 20, and surrender control of the island to the Cuban Government. The order was issued after a conference between President-elect Palma, of Cuba, and Secretary of War Root. May 20th should bo a memorable day in tho history of Cuba, for it will not only mark tho acquisition of full independence, but will be Cuban Inauguration Day, it having been determined that President Palma shall be inaugurated on the same day. American control of island ceases. All but the smallest details of change have been arranged. It has further been agreed that General Wood shall immediately upon his return to Cuba issue a call convening the first Cuban Congress to session on May 10, in order that the body may employ the ten days following that date in supplying any legislation necessary to the assumption of full powers in tho island. This is to be no half-way evacuation. It is the intention of the United States to remove the entire contingent, civil and military, away from the island, not even leaving a corporal’s guard of United States soldiers in any camp. This, however, does not apply to coast defences at several points on the island. These will be garrisoned by United States troops. The American Government was anxious to retain coaling stations at Havana and Nipe Bay, on the northern coast of Cuba, and Guantauemo and Cenfuegos on the southern coast, but President Palma emphatically declared that the Cuban people would never consent to location by United States or any other foreign nation of any naval station in tho harbor of- Havana. They will gladly carry out the terms of Platt amendment with regard to sale or lease of cites for coaling stations in the island, but they feel that their capital should belong entirely to themselves, and that no other than the Cuban flag should wave within its boundaries. All United States troops except eight hundred men of the coast artillery are to be brought to this country as fast as transportation can be furnished, and all between now and May 20. General Wood and all staff officers in Cuba have been ordered to report for duty at Washington. Secretary Root has requested Secretary Hay to arrange for diplomatic representation at Cuba. Provision for consular service will also be made. Conferences are still being hold regarding Cuban reciprocity, but it is expected the programme adopted by Republican caucus providing twenty per cent, reduction on imports from Cuba will be carried out in the House.

AID FOR MARCONI.

The New York World announces that Marconi will have the aid of the J. Pierpont Morgan gronp of financiers. It was announced last night that a six million dollars company had been formed to finance the American rights for wireless telegraphy. “ Yes, it is true,” said Marconi, at a dinner of British schools and universities, at New York Athletic Club ; “ Willard R. Green has arranged the transaction, but at the back of it is E. Rollins Morse, banker. He is one of the Morgan group of financiers. He has purchased the patents and rights for the United States, Cuba, Porto Rico, Danish West Indies, Alaska, Philippines, Hawaiian Islands, and all waters adjacent to these. He has organised a company with six million dollars capital. The parent company is a London company. This has sold no stock. It is simply that the contract to use American rights has been [ made. The two companies will work in harmony. Cuba will be the first station built. Work on the connecting stations will be begun as soon as possible.” Mr Green added to this that the system might be in operation by June. “ Stations are building,” said Mr Green, “at Cape Cod, Cape Breton, and Tampa, and work will soon be started on the Pacific coast. These latter will eventually open communication with Russia and the Orient.” How far J. Pierpont Morgan has gone in this new venture has not yet been learned.

A BIG FIRE,

A despatch from Atlantic City, New Jersey, on April 3, says that twelve hotels and more than a score of small buildings that adjoined the famous board walk ” that is built along the ocean’s edge, were destroyed to-day by fire. The loss was about one million dollars, only partially covered by insurance, as the rate of five per cent charged here by the insurance companies was practically prohibitive. Fortunately no lives were sacrificed, though a dozen or more were slightly injured and burned. The origin of the fire is unknown, though apparently it was in the bath house or adjoining the hotel. The city to-night is guarded by a company of militia, requisitioned by the police to aid in the prevention of looting. During the progress of the fire the wildest excite”

ment prevailed among the guests of the hotels, which were later consumed. Most

of these were fairly well filled. In most cases the guests had time to pack trunks and bags, and many succeeded in having their belongings carried to the beach!

where a nondescript collection of properties was piled. AMERICAN WAR SCANDAL.

A telegram from Washington, dated April 8, says : Charges of the gravest character are made against the army in the Philippines by the Civil Governor of Tayabao in a letter to Governor Taft, a

copy of which was to-day submitted by Secretary Root to the Senate Committee

on the Philippines. This is the letter on which General Miles, Commander-in-

Chief of the army, who is at “ outs ” with President Roosevelt because of insisting

that he be permitted full charge of the army in the Philippines, based a state-

ment that the war in the islands had been

conducted with marked severity. The committee did Dot make the letter public,