MAIL NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1641, 6 January 1906, Page 1

MAIL NEWS

San Francisco, Deo. 13. A despatch from London, December 13, says : According to the Tokio correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, China proposes to krep a permanent garrison of 100,000 troops in the Manchurian garrison. Ho says aDxiety has been causod amongst European diplomatists by China’s great military stridee. Enormous financial sacrifices, estimated at over 100 million pounds, spread out over 20 years, are beiDg made to oreate a foica to hold China for the Chinese. The Imperial Army will consist of a million and a quarter of men. Every man will serve throe years with the colors and s x in tho reserve. With the New Year the Army will have reached 40,000 men, all pro vided with magazine riflae, modem field guns, and European equipment. The oost of tbo Army will bo eight million pounds annually. A despa’ch from London, Daoember 5, says : Ninety feet of (he roof of the southernmost end of Charing Cross station collapsed without warning this afternoon, carrying with it some 40 workmen who were engßged in repairs on that portion of tbo roof. The casualty list of this extraordinary accident includes two known to have been killed, two missing, eight soriously injured, and 20 slightly injured. The falling roof crushed the wa’ls of the Avenue Theatrp, adjoining the station, injuring several men at work there. Four trains stood in tho station ready, and hundreds of persons were gathered on the platforms awaiting the arrival of tho Continental express, due in a fow moments, when the walls supporting the groat iron spans fell outward. With this support removed, the spans fell wilh a tremendous roir, oiusbitig the foromesfc cars, which happily were not occupied, but the falling roof cur'd with it tho workmen who were swarmiog amongst girdere. Charing Cross is the most central as well as one of (he busiest London railway stat’ons.