The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-09-25
FOREIGN.
Explosion of the Rocket Factories n
NKnnIrYSch. Ernu-

Explosion of the Rocket Factories at
WoOIwich, Eng.
| WooLwIcH, Sept. 24.-The rocket factories
at the arsenal exploded to-day. Many build
| ings were destroyed and the loss Of life was
serious.
| The explosion was caused by ire in the
| main building, which included the laboratory.
| The building was destroyed within half an
| hour after the fire broke out. 1t contained an
immense number of war rockets filled with
destructive missiles. The latter flew in all
directions, many being projected to and falling
| upon the other side of the Thames The ex-
| plosives caused fearful destruction OF prop
erty throughout the town and surrounding
| district. The fire was extinguished at noon,
| when the rockets ceased their explosions. 1t
| is thought that there is no loss of life.
| Old soldiers here declare that explosions OF
the rockets during the fire we're as frightful as
| If occurring in an actual siege. The bodies OF
| two victims have been found. Some war
rockets were projected five miles. One went
| through the wall of an arsenal and another
struck the artillery barracks.
Rockets fell in Firth, Elsham, Charlton and
| Ilford One of them plunged into school for
infants at Plumpstead, another entered a
| draper's shop in Woolwich, and still another
wrecked a grocery store. There was the wild
| est panic in Woolwich. but no loss OF life with
| the exception Of two persons employed in the
arsenal.
Land League Meeting Broken Up.
DUBLIN, Sept. 24.-Notwithstanding the
proclamation of the government forbidding
the holding OF meetings in Counties Glare and
Limerick, Sunday several thousand persons,
headed by priest, gathered in Milltown NAL
bay, County Glare, and attempted to hold an
Irish National League meeting. large
police force was present and prevented the
| organization of the meeting. A magistrate
read the prohibitory proclamation and the
| crowd dispersed, uttering groans for the Queen
| and shouting "God save Ireland"
Missionary shaw's Return.
LONDON, Sept. 24.-Mr. Shaw, the British
missionary in Madagascar, landed to-day at
| Plymouth. He states that during the illness
| OF the late Mr.. Parkenham, the English con-
sui at Tamatave, Shaw discharged many OF
the duties of the consulate, which fact tended
to increase the dislike towards him of the
French Admiral Pierre. Mr.. Shaw has been
advised to file claim for 10000 damages
against the French government. He hopes to
return to Madagascar to resume his missionary
labors.
Concessions TO the Vatican.
PARIS, Sept 24-The Moniteur learns that
the negotiations between the Vatican and
France have reached a satisfactory conclusion.
The French government has restored the sup
pressed stipends to the Catholic clergy and
given formal assurance of the most pacific in
tentions toward the Holy See.
The Franco-Chinese Dimculty-P PROPOSE
ton from China.
The reply OF the government of China to the
memorandum OF the proposals by the French
government for the settlement of the Tonquin
difficulty has just been received. 1t is said
that the response favors the theory OF the
neutral zone and the division of Tonquin.
1t is stated that it is not likely that France
will reply favorably TO this counter proposition.
Affairs in Madagascar.
LONDON, Sept M.-Advices from Tamatave,
dated September 9th, report that the Hovas
have retaken all positions on the northwest
coast OF Madagascar, except Majunga. Vari-
ances are reported to exist between the French
civil and military authorities at Tamatave.
PARIS, Sept. 2.--Advices from Madagascar
state that large numbers of French troops
have succambed to fever, and that reinforce
ments to the extent of several thousand men
will be needed before the Hovas can be sub
dued. 1t will be impossible to continue opera
tions for several months.
Foreign Notes.
The steamer Garth Castle, from Cape Town,
| with Mrs. Carey and other witnesses OF the
murder of James Carey on board, has arrived
at Plymouth.
A London despatch states that letter from
| Henry M. Stanley the African explorer, was
| read yesterday before the British Association,
| in which he urges that Great Britain should
proclaim protectorate over the Congo coun-
try.
All the powers have adopted proposal OF
Italy to summon conference at Rome to ar
range an international CODE
The Vatican has authorized the Catholic
bishops expelled from Prussia to open negotia-
tions with the Prussian government for their
return to their pastorates.
The steamer Coptic, which arrived at San
| Francisco yesterday from Hong Kong brings
| news that the cholera has broken out at PekiD
| The rebellious chiefs, Manpoer and Mapoch,
defeated by the Boer General Joubert and cap
| tured early in August, have been tried at
Pretaria, found guilty of treason and sentenced
| to death.
At Valparaiso the rising and falling of the
| tide caused by the earthquake in Java Is Great
| ing much alarm.
At the colonial exhibition at the Hague the
United States exhibitors obtained 27 of 1928
awards.