The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 11, 1901, Page 1

VOLUME LXXXIX-—! PRICE F1VE CENTS. RUSSIA IS AN “ALLY” OF FRANCE, FERVENTLY DECLARES I'l. LOUBET Czar’'s Warships Salute the President and Thereby Take as Prominent Part as Italy’s Fleet in Riviera Fetes. ARIS, April 10.—The important festivities attending President Loubet's ¥isit to the Riviera were brought to a climax to-day in the double naval Gemonstration at Villefranche and Toulon. Both proved splendid spec- tacles. The profuse decorations at Toulon, the flotilla of pleasure boats fiitting about the harbor, the gayly dressed warships lying in the road- stead, and the animation of the immense crowds of strangers jostling one another in the streets and along the wharves imparted a color and picturesqueness to the tvied the situation at Villefranche. The French people, however, uch pleasure from the incidents at Villefranche as from the meet- 1bet and the Duke of Genoa at Toulon. ussian squadron,” says Le Journal des Debats, “faluted the President re for Toulon, so that Russia will be associated as completely as the fetes on the Riviera. Those who have spoken about and allied countries are now compelled to admit that Those who contended that Russta wished to ss of two friendly the desire for the reali e the President at the the o n the fact that the Russians came to salu very moment when the fetes at Toulon, sealing this rapprochement, were about to take place.” M fully appreciates the value of the French set word “al y"* in con- ns of France to Russia, and he again took oppor- tun board the Alexander 1T this morning. When accepting tea from Ad Birileff he said: : “I am very much pleased that his Majesty the Emperor has sent a squadron he President of the French republic. I am very grateful fhr this mark d 1 raise my glass to'the health of their Majesties the and to the friendly and allied Russian nation and to the prosperity an army ral Birileff suitably responded. toasting “The President of the French the prosperity of La Belle France, my seccnd Fatherland, and the glory of the French army and navy.” The cerem decorating Admiral Birileff with the cross.of the Legion of as performed in the presence of the whole crew. M. Loubet then em- fral and expressed regret that the previously fixed hour fcr his ar- on prevented him making a detailed inspection of the Russian flag- repbulic. Honor w; ship All the officers of the flagship were presented to M. Loubet, who shook hands xander 1T was the first to fire a parting salute as the St. with them all. The A} Louls steamed out of and the crews manned the Russian warships when the St. Lo , shouting seven times “Vive la Republique,” or raising seven hu Simultaneously trumpets blared and there was a great beating of drums. After M. Loubet’s departure Admiral Birileff entertained the local officials on i the Alexander 1L The general 1 amme at Toulon was carried out without a hitch. The Duke of Genoa and the Italian officers agd sailors met with a flattering welcome, the French seamen fraternizing with the Italians on shore. Every desire was shown on both sides to cultivate a mutual good feeling. xtracts from the Italian ing satisfaction over the events at Toulon and expressing a hope that result in drawing the two countries closer together, are extensively re- n and indorsed by the French press to-day At the banquet at Toulon this evening in honor of the Duke of Genoa, Presi- Loubet proposed a joint toast to the King and Queen of Italy, former Queen Margh the Duke of Genoa, the rovai family of Italy, the Itallan nation and the Italian ravy. The Duke of Genoa rplied, toasting the French President, the v h army, the French navy and the French nation. M. Loubet then proposed King Alfonso XIIT, the Queen Regent, the Spanish navy and the Spanish nation. The President’s third toast was intrcduced as follows: ~ “Will the officers of the navy of his Majesty the Emperor of Russla, whose fiag has been acclaimed here amid never-to-be-forgotten festivities, and will the foreign officers deputed to come to Toulon who have been pleased to sit at this press these wi erita table beside their French comrades, permitme o associate them-in-a-toast-which-— 1 propose to the officers and crews®f our navy? The same spirit of honor, the same habit of discipline and the same passion for danger have established a no- e bre erhood among the navies of all nations. It is only just to unite them in the same tribute for the examples of solidarity and abnegation which ey give to humanity.” -— TROUBLE WITH HUSBANDS CAUSE TWO WOMEN TO COMMIT SUICIDE One a Prominent Resident, Whose Abode Was in the Fashionable Section of El Paso. Special Dispatch to The Call EL PASO, Tex., April 10.—Mrs James Milliken, a prominent woman of this ose residence is in thesmost fashionable neighborhood. committed suicide r noon to-day by sending a bullet through her brain. = Mrs. Milliken e apartment when the tragedy occurred and fired three shots, only t effect, causing a ghastly wound and instant death. Policemen and g rs who investigated found her lying across the bed dead. Tt is be- e he woman had been driven insane by family troubles. Her husband go was a banker and wealthy cattleman of Weatherford, Tex. He d business partner and the subsequent trial caused his financial here, engaged in mining and succeeded, but had been in Mexico 1 the wife believed herself deserted. occurred. this afternoon when Mrs. John B. Fitch swallowed 1 great agony. She was only 25 years old and had quar- carboli reled wi ARMY TRANSPORT IN FLAMES IS SUNK AT BROOKLYN PIER Four Men Overcome by Smoke While Fighting a Disastrous Fire on the Rawlins. NEW YORK, April 10.—The United States army transport Rawlins, which was have sailed this afternoon for Havana, Matanzas and Cienfuegos, is lying ith her saloon deck a-wash in thirty feet of water to the south of the army pler the foot of Pacific street, Brooklyn. Fire was discovered aft of the Rawlins' engine-room early this morning. Two alarms brought to the pier six engines, two trucks and three fireboats anfl at 9:30 o'clock so many thousands of gallons of water had been pumped into the tran- sport’s hold that she keeled over, and with water rushing in through her ports, settled slowly until her keel struck bottom. Four men were overcome by smoke. They were John Snyder and Henry Bab- cock, satlors; Thaddeus Skidmore, a clerk in the army transport department, and Patrick Mason, a fireman. Snyder was the only one whose condiffon was seri- The property loss will not exceed $0,000 Tt will cost perhaps $20,000 more to pump the Rawlins out and raise her. The Rawlins was being loaded with a mis- cellaneous cargo, consisting for the most pert of horse feed for army use. ‘She was also to carry & quantity of mixed supplies, which had been piled on the pler for loading. Apparently the blaze had been smoldering all night. GENERAL BOTHA BEGINS NEW NEGOTIATIONS WITH KITCHENER Dewet Reported to Be Almost Demented and It Is Believed His Followers Can Be Taken. CAPE TOWN, April 10.—It is understood here that although General Dewet in his recent interview with General Botha refused to surrender, General Botha, regaréing him as irresponsible, undertakes to megotiate in behalf of the entire Boer forces. The British authorities here consider that if General Botha sur- renders Dewet’s following can be easily taken. As explained here, this action was @etermined in part by General Botha's discovery at a recent meeting that 1 Dewet’s intellect had weakened, that Lis influence with his followers was Giminishing snd that a continuance of the campaign, in view of General Dewet's irresponsibility, rested with General Botha alcne. LOXNDON, April 11.—The report that General Botha has renewed negotia- tions with Lord Kitchener is not yet officially confirmed, but it is generally credited and received with satisfaction except by the uitra-jingoes who fear that the Government will renew the terms recently rejected. Geny CUBANS MUST MAKE ALL THE LONCESSINS Otherwise Commis- sion Would Better | - Stay _a_@_avana. Administration Admits the Rejection of the Platt Amendments. Aciion of the Constitutional Conven- {ion Regarded as Disapproval of General Wood's Policy. - Special Dispatch to The Call. CALL BUREAU, 1406 G STREET, N. W., WASHINGTON, April 10.—Not until to-Gay was the administration willing to admit that the Cuban constitutional con- vention had fallen far short of the War Pepartment’s expectations and rejected the Platt amendments defining the rela- tions betwcen this Government and Cuba. This news has been reluctantly confirmed, but the technical explanation is made that it does not mean a flat rejection, in- asmuch as the constitutional convention may at some future time reconsider its action. The talk now is all about the protbable result of the visit to the President of the commission the convention is to appoint. In this respect the administration is back to the point where it started on the Cu- ban matter at the time of the adoption of the Platt amendment. Then advices from other sources than those at the com- mand of General Wood suggésted that it would be a good way out of the difficulty to have 2 commission come to Washing- ton and talk with the President before at- terepting to apply Albany methods to Cubans and ‘Jamming” the relations through. President and Commission. The commission, when it comes to Yashington, will meet with personally a warm reception from President Melin- ley. Tt is believed by the Cabinet that a President who in three weeks talked over to his side a solidly hostile Senate and House can in seven months interven- ing before Congress assembles convince a small party of Cuban gentlemen of the error of their views. It is not likely, however, that the Cuban emissaries will induce the President to materially modify the demands which Congress has voted shall be made. It the Cubans are expecting the President, with- out the consent of Congress, to consent to any material modification of the Platt amendment they are mistaken. The President takes the position that he has nrothing to do but to see that the wishes of Congress are carried out in this mat- ter, and he cannot make any concessions unless Congress. authorizes himh to do so. Hence, in their negotiations with the President, Cubans ‘are likely to find them- selves up against a stone wall. Ali the President can say will be: “Gentlemen, these relations are the work of Congress. The President has no power to modify, annul or ignore an act of Congress. The President is willing to discuss the matter with you and endeavor to convince you that you are mistaken in supposing.that this act of Congress abridged the rights and privileges of Cuba as a nation. He is willing h“underlake to show you that what the United States asks Cuba to ac- cept Is for the peace, prosperity and hap- piness of the island. If you would like to talk on those lines we are willing to go ahead and have a discussio Little Can B2 Accomplished. But what is the alternative, suppose the Cubans should tell the President that they are only authorized to demand modiflca- tions in the matter of the right of the United States to intervene, regulate debt, supervise sanitation and maintath a coal- ing station? These are the questions that are now being discussed. At the War Department and in administration circles the impres- sicn is givén forth that in that event no possible good from a Cuban standpoint could be accomplished. If the commis- sion, it is sald, does not come here willing to be convinced of the justice of the posi- tion taken by Congress it had better stay at home. The present feeling is that the censtitutional convention of Cuba ought to be dissolved and a call issued for a ‘| new convention empowered to deal with the question. No immediate steps are con- templated locking to a dissolution of the convention, and, of course, such a step at this time would only tend to increase the friction prevalent among Cuban poll ticians. Disapproval of Wood’s Policy. The sending of a commission to Wash- ington is regarded at the War Depart- ment as a tacit disapproval by the con- vention of the policy and methods of+*Gen- eral Wood. It shows that the convention is dissatisfied with the treatment it has received from the Governor General, and, without further discussing the views of the United States with that official, it proposes to go over his head and come direct to the President of the United States for information as to the attitude of the American Government. Officlally there is no disposition on the part of the | President or Secretary Wood to eriticize General Wood on the course he has pur- sued. It was stated at the War Depart- ment that General Wood’s policy had the full sanctioni of the President. It is known, however, that tRe administration bad hoped that the question of relations would be settled in Havana and not in ‘Washington. ATMERICAN GOVERNMENT DIRECTS -COMMISSIONER ROCKHILL TO URGE L MODERATION OF INDEMNITY CLAIMS From Paris Comes a Story That Yang Yu, the Chinese Minister at St. Petersburg, Gravely Insults Count Lamsdorff and Gets Thrown Downstairs, Being Severely Injured. . B - ALL BUREATU, 1406 G STREET, N. W., WASHINGTON, April 10. Besides directing Rockhill, United States Commissioner ' in Peking, to urge. upoa his colleagues the necessity of reducing the dmount of the indgmnity to be demanded of China the State Department has officiaily acquaint- ed the powers with its view ‘that in the presentation of claims moderation should be: shown. -Although ’the powers have given notice of the character of the claims they propose to file and which Rockhill estimates ‘will amount. to half a billion dollars, four of the powers have not filed final statements and they will be urged to be lenient. Germany’s claim, Rockhill wired to the State Department, would reach anywhere from $70,000,000 to $100,000,000, this depend- ing upon the lenglh of time her. troops remain in China. Every day's delay in their withdrawal wiil make an addition to the German bill. It was estimated yes- terday that $80,000,000 would cover the Ger- man claim, but it was admitted to-day that the retention of German troops for some months longer, as now seems to be the intention, will bring it up to Rock- hill's highest figures. Officials here have given up hope of the adoption by the powers of the proposition to refer the distribution of the indemnity to The Hague conference, and it now scems to be understood that the powers will arrange that the lump sum. agreed upon be divided in proportion to the cigints of the various countries. The Japanese Government s understood to have submitted an-additional propesal to the powers regarding Manchuria, but its character cannot be learned. Taka- hira, the Japanese Minister, has received a dispatch from Tokio, announcing the re- ceipt of Japan of a note practically iden- tical with that handed by Count Cassinl to Secretary Hay. The Japanese Goverh- ment is satisfied with Russia’s abandon- ment of the Manchurian convention, and while it does not wish Russia to withdraw betore the allies evacuate the province of Chili there is reason to belleve that it desires ‘at least a simultaneous evacua- tion, or some understanding tohis end. e THROWN DOWN THE STAIRS. New Version of the Cause of Yang Yu’s Iliness. PARIS, April 10.—The Patrle to-day | publishes a dispatch from St. Petersburg & ot JAPAN'S NOTED FIGH"[‘ING MEN, WHOSE DESIRE FOR WAR IS NOT APPEASED. % which says the Chinese Minister there, Yang Yu, gravely insulted Count Lams- dorft, the Russlan Minister of Foreign Af- fairs, during a discussion of the Man- ychurian question, whereupen the Count or- dered the lackeys to put the Chinese Min- ister out, and Yang Yu was thrown down stairs and fatally injured in the head. REMOVES STAIN OF SIEGE. Naval Officials Believe That Captain Hall Has Been Exonerated. CALL BUREAU, 1406 G STREET, N. W., WASHINGTON, April 10.—Captain Newt T. Hall, United States Marine Corps, has been acquitted of the charge of cowardice during the slege of the le- gations in Peking, by the court of inquiry which has been making an investigation at Cavite. & This is.the bellef of the Navy Depart- ment based upon a dispatch received from Rear Admiral Remey, commander in chief of the Asiatic station. Admiral Remey in- cluded Captaln Hall in the list of changes made by him on the Asiatic station, an- nouncing that he had been transferred from Cavite station to the Newark, which is under orders to return to New York. Officals of the department point out that had the court rendered a verdict against Captain Hall he would have been tried by court-martial on the Asiatic station In order that witnesses might be summoned without inconvenience. Sincere gratifica- tion is felt in naval circles at the outcome of the investigation, not alone because of the vindication of Captain Hall, but be- cause the finding of the court removes 5 =P stain from the American guard at Peking, which received international attentlon. Captain Hall abandoned the wall which was part of the defenses of the legations on the theory tkhat it was untenable, and he did not propose to expose his men. Captain Myer, who commanded the ma- rine guard, agreed with Captain Hall as to the untenability of the position, but deemed it advisable to hold it as long as possible. Tn naval circles the belief prevails that a “petticoat row,” in which the wife of one of the American officials was involved, was responsible for the charge made against Captain Hall. BOTH SIDES IN BETTER MOOD. Russian and Japanese Papers Discuss Manchurian Question. ST. PETERSBURG, April 10.—The Rus- sian press Is abandoning that reserve with which it first discussed the Government's declaration on the subject of Manchuria. It now declares that the joy with which the British press greeted China’s refusal to sign the Manchurian agreement has merely postponed the signing of a new un- derstanding with China, since the conven- tion would be advantageous to China. One paper says: “Our London friends overlooked the fact that in dissuading the signing of the agreement they did not hasten the evacuation of Manchuria, but strengthened Russia’s position.” OKOHAMA, April 10.—The Nishin- sfiirgi-Eshi, a leading newspaper, which reflects the Government views, applauds Russia’s judgment and love of peace and says the great desideratum now s the restoration to the Chinese Government of effective authority, adding: “Russia can- not justly be condemned for the adoption of measures to protect rights acquired in Marchuria. Under the present conditions the duty of preserving order in Man- churia would devolve upon those respon- sible for Russia's withdrawal. It would not conduce to Japan's interests to accept such a responsibility.” —— ATTACKS PLATT AMENDMENT. Gomez Makes an Impassioned Speech in the Convention. HAVANA, April 10.—The Cuban consti- tutional convention at - to-day’'s session took no action regarding the proposal to appoint a commission to go to Washing- ton in reference to the future relations be- tween Cuba and the United States. The i whole time was taken up by Senor Juan Gualberto Gomez and General Sanguilly, who'rnade long and impassioned speeches the former against the Platt amendmen and the latter in its favor. Senor Gomez said in substance that the black blood in his veins made him opposed to the Americans, intimating that their treatment of his race stamped them as unfriendly to the negro. “I would rather be under the sovereignty of Spain,” he exclaimed, “that under that of the United States. The Platt amendment endangers the independence of Cuba. It means ths | predominance of American influence. I would rather die of grief or leave tha country should it be accepted.” He admitted he was not particularly op- posed to sending a commission to Wash- ington, but he said he believed the Platt amendment should be rejected first. General Sanguilly made a strong appeal to the delegates to accept the amendment. He cited the reasons he had already given in a public letter in favor of such a course and emphasized the fact that the amend- ment in no way endangered the independ ence of Cuba, but really provided guaran- tees that it would be maintained. R MASSACRE OF CHRISTIANS. Thrilling Facts in the Report of American Bible Society. NEW YORK, April 10.—The annual re- port of the American Bible Society rela- tive to the situation in China will contain | the following interesting statements from its agent in China, the Rev. John R. Hynes, D. D.: There was a decp and cunningly lald plot under Imperfal sanction to exirpate Chris- tianity, expel all foreigners and destroy all foreign Interests. No one divined the full ex- tent of the imiquity, which was deliberately contemplated. In all 153 Protestant mission- aries, including 60 men, 75 women and 48 children, have been massacred. With the ex- ception of the massacres at Kuchoo, in Che- kiang, in which eleven persons wers killed. and at Hengchoo, In Hunan, all of thess deaths occurred in the northern provinces. The question has been raised at home a@ to whether the Boxer uprising was anti-forelgn or anti-misslonary In its character. No doubt exists in the mind of any weil informed perso: in China. The movement was undoubtedly agalnst foreigmers, as such, and the erusade was directed against everything foreignm— Christianity, of course, included. Hsu Ching Cheng and Yuen Chang, two Ministers of the Foreign Office, would not transmit the awful edict which reiterated the order to “‘pai iy extirpate all foreigners,”” but changed it as to read ‘‘protest all foreigmers,”” and sent it fiv- ing oyer the wires to the remotest provinces. They were sentenced to be cut in two. Mis- sionaries were the class that benefited by this act of herolsm. The fact that every mission- ary escaped from fourteen out of the sighteen provinces would indicate that the crusade was not specially anti-missionary. In the provinces of Chill and Shansi every school, hospital, chapel and dwelling was loot- ed and burned by the Boxers or imperial troops, the only exception being the property in the foreign settlement at Tientsin. So complets was the demolition of property by these mad fanatics that not a vestige was left to mark the site: even the foundations wera dug up and carried away. There was also destruction of rmission property in the provinces of Shansi, Hotan, Hupeb, Klangsi, Chekiang and Wana- tung. The native Christians have been tha worst sufferers. Those Who escaped the gen- eral siaughter in the northern provinces lost absolutely everything, and many of them are perishing from cold and starvation. The scriptures destroyed will aggregate mot less than 100,000 volumes; and the actual loss Continued on Page Two.