Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-06
FROM OVER THE SEA
Unionists Collecting IRISH cnmi-
nal Statistics.
TO DEFEAT GlADsToNts BILL


I.o~po~, March ;. The sensation II
last week IN and cut II parliament has
been Judge O'BfIen's declaration al the
Munster sssizes. that not only is crime
increasing rapidly in County Clare. Ire
land. but conviction of the criminals
seems Ia be- impossible As Judge
O'Brisn ~ above all Just judge. With
out political hisr there Is no gainsaying
the truth ~ his words. and the tor,
journals are jubilanf.
The Times and Standard SAY that the
lawleseness IN County Clare has IN
creased merely in anticipation n the
passing ~ the home rule bill. and that
should Ireland get separate parliament
the whole island would become the
stamping ground IL cut threats and
thieves.
DR. Richard Kane in an interview be-
fore meeting 81 orangemen ia Belfast.
said he had private information FROM
the western counties. which would bs
published shortly. that since February
l3 theft had Increased more than 20 per
cent in all the rural districts. and that
such crimes az tanning and poisoning
cattle. firing barns and assault had more
than doubled IN number. As DIR Kane
is the grand master Of the Belfast
Orangemen. his statements must be-
taken with grainof salt
Unionists JubiIant.
Nevertheless there is no doubt that a
great increase 81 crime. such as II likely
10 come with any form III political agl.
tafIon, has been apparent since the dis
cussion Of the home rule bill has been
in progress among the Irish. Although
this increase has no connection with the
prospect Of an Irish parliament. ii is
likely 10 be exploited with much effect
in England when the unionists. immesii
atcly after the second reading of tn.
home rule. shall succeed in stumping
Great Britain IN opposition to the
measure.
Lord Salisbury and Mr.. BaIfour have
for two weeks had theft agents travel
ing through Ireland collecting criminal
Statistics which will be produced by
these two unionist leaders at the great
anti home rule demonstration i'm Albert
hall on March II.
The rage for numbers among the
chiefs III the big armies on the continent
has apparently taken possession of Em.
peror Francis Joseph of Austria, for
dispatch from Vienna today announces
that the Austro- Hungarian army is
likely soon To experience the introduc-
fion Of two year term of service. The
nominal term Of service in the Ausfro-
Hungarian army is three years. although
the actual term varies between two and
four years.
Increasing the Army.
About 107 900 recruits are now taken
into the army annually. but 10y various
devices. the present strength Is some
forty or fifty thousand men below the
standard. The plan now is 10 Introduce.
l62O0o recruits annually and Ia have
them serve regularly with the colors.
The peace strength then will be a,me
$4,000. against about ai0oOo at present.
The war footing will be swelled from
l,6ncco Ia al least 10000.
In Berlin the prospect IL passing the
army bill has frightened somewhat. IN
consequence of an unexpected declara
tion in its favor by Baron Schorlemer
Alst. leader Of the Roman catholics IN
the reichsfag At the German adeistag
ON Wednesday he spoke ~ the army a.
the glory and honor ~ Germany. and
recommended that no sacrifice be spared
Ia strengthen. This speech Is believed
Ia be- good for some eighty clerical votes.
as Baron Schorlemer Alst stands very
close Ia the vatican. and would not have
spoken So clearly had he not bad some
inspiration in Rome.
European Flocda-
In western Russia and easfFrn Ger.
many enormous loss II property from
floods is reported.
In Hungary also the rivers are over
flowing their banks. submerging villages
and sweeping away thousands ~ cattle.
The small riyer Raah has swollen u
three times its usual size and has
wrecked some ;pc houses in the city II
Raab and the surrounding districts.
More than spQoo acres n agricultural
land have been laid waste Near
Oriylna a small mountain stream ever
flowed during the night and swept
away two wosimcns lnufs.
In Plansn Germany. the city council
has deci,ied 10 build a iheater with itsl
uo marks collected in iinrs in the lower
criminal cutrts.
Emperor Franz .ioeeph n Austria
Hungary viii go - Stuttgart ~ four ar
five weeks - s,s,t his fssorife niece. the
Arrhiuchsss Margaret Sophia. ~he MAS
married recenfls a. Duke AltFff. helr 10