Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-18
CURRENT FOREIGN TOPICS.
Matters of More Than Usual Interest brought
by Cable.

Matters of More Than Usual Interes. Brough,
| by Cable.
| INCREASE OF BRIeANDAaE IN TURKEY-RAvAoE,
OF LocUsTs IN ALGERrA-MovEMENTs OF TIKI
/ FRENCH soUADRoN-GERMASs ACTIVE AND
srREsGTHESINa ALsAcE-LoRRAINE
| LONDON. June ia dispatch from Cons tan
tinople gives an alarming account of the in
crease Of brigandage in various parts of the
Turkish empire. In the Turkish province
known as Old Servia brigand chief named
Mihran has established himself in the noun
tains with about eighty followers, and lives in
! prlncely fashion ON blackmail exacted from
| the people OF the villages. These are glad to
pay for the exemption and projection
OF their property from injury, and for
/ that purpose each householder pays Mihran
sum in proportion to his possessions, Chris
uans being Obliged to pay about double the
amount exacted from Turks. Mihran is said
to be renegade Italian and he holds his fol-
! lowers in complete discipline. One of them
having been shown to have plundered peas
ant who had punctually paid blackmail, Mihran
mad the offenders ears and hands cut off and
| sent them In bag to the injured peasant
Mihran exacts from every one the honors due
to the rank of pasha. The Turkish authorities
made a demonstration of attacking the brig
snds about three months ago. but withdrew
tneH forces WITHOUT having done anything Oh
consequence. Mihran remained in secluslon
for few days and then suddenly descended on
the villages and collected all the amounts that
the peasantry had agreed to pay.
RAvAGEs OF LocUsTs.
The most thrilling stories come from Algeria
OF the ravages of the locusts. In many dis
tricts not sprig remains on a farm and the
inhabitants are in furnishing condition. Their
only resort for food is the iocusts themselves,
Of which vast quantities being consumed.
The French colonial authorities are taking
steps TO stay the plague as much AS possible by
the use OF scientific means.
EXECUTIONS AT SHANGHAI.
IA Shanghai dispatch says that the number Of
Executions in that vicinity has not been paral-
I leled since the TAPPING rebellion. All the more
active of the mob leaders have fallen into the
hands of the government troops and been
condemned to death. kang vi, one OF the men
who wrecked the French mission. was con-
demned 20 be cut to pieces and the sentence
was duly carried out, the executioner having
been bribed to make death as prompt and as
painless as possible.
THE HEBREW REFUGEES.
A Berlin dispatch says that Herr Isaac who has
had charge Of the Berlin committee for the re-
ception of the Hebrew refugees from Russia,
is in favor of sending the larger portion of
them to one of the new western states of Amer
lea. where there is still great deal of unoccu-
pied land. He believed that it is a mistake to
dump them all in New York, and that many
more would follow agriculture if they were not,
under TIE present system, too easily led to take
up some petty line of city business, already,
perhaps, overcrowded. Herr Isaac says that
the committee have not failed in any
meritorious instance to extend needed relief,
the money for the purpose coming from Vienna
and London as wei. as Berlin There is some
complaint of the severity wI.h which the fugi-
tives are treated by the German Police, who
Will not suffer them to teMaIn III Chariotten-
burg beyond the interval between two trains,
families in this way Icing hurried Oh to HAM
burg or Bremen for enibaikatIon before they
are III condition 10 stand examination by the
steamship authorities. The result Is that some
are rejected who with day or two of rest upon
their first arrival would have proved entirely
acceptable.
THE FRENCH SQUADRON.
The French squadron which is to pay a visit
OF ceremony to Russia is now at Cherbourg
whence it will depart TO. Cronstadt at the end
Of the present week. The squadron is COM
manded by Admiral Gervais. and consists of
the iron battle ships LIE MarengO, lie Requin,
lie Furieu and lie Marceau. the cruisers lie Sfax
and Surcouf, the dispatch boat La Lance and
the torpedo boats No. l2S and No. 129 The
report is confirmed that Admiral Gervais has
been recommended by the government to be
extremely prudent in such speeches as he may
deliver at the great number of banquets which
are to be given by the Russians in honor of
their French visitors.
THE ALsACE-LoRRAINE GARRIsoNs.
The German military authorities are ex-
tremely active in the work of reinforcing the
garrisons in Asace-Lorrane One reason for
this is said to be the necessity for the detail OF
q great number Of soldiers to act as sentinels
along the frontier to see that the passport law
is vigorously enforced. The emperor is re-
ported to have recently ordered that the regu-
lations in regard to passports be applied with
redoubled rigor. Meanwhile il has to be
admitted that, notwithstanding sentinels and
orders, the Alsatians and the Lorraines con-
tinue to hold fast to their love for France. No
occasion Is lost by them either to evade the
laws of their conquerors or to exhibit their
hatred and contempt for the German officials
placed over them. IL appears that not less than
one-third of the young men of Alsace-L Lorraine
are now serving IN the French army.
THE AUSTRIAN REIcKsRATH.
Out Of total of $50 members in the Austrian
reichsrath the German liberals number ITO.
The new majority will be formed by the addi-
ton of thirty moderate conservatives and sixty
Poles. The extreme sections of the young
cZechs, anti-semitics and ultra clercals will
constitute the opposition.
GLADYS EvxLYss APPKAi.
This was the second days hearing of the APP
peal Of Miss Gladys Evelyn from the judg-
ment pronounced against her in her suit against
VIM. Henry Hurlbert. Counsel for Miss Eve
lyn resumed his argument by reading entries
from the plaintiff diary in regard to the indie
cent letters which she claims to have received
from Mr.. Hurlbert, but which, it was said,
were in the handwriting of person called
Wilfred Murray. According to Miss Evelyn 8
counsel there was not shadow OF evidence to
show that Wilfred Murray really existed.