, 1896-02-26

JIlllG.
despatch from Johannesburg reports that
eight freight cars loaded with twenty tons of
dynamite exploded while being shun.ed at
Vied-ndorp, a suburb of Johannesburg, over
one hundred persons were killed and several
huadred wounded. Thousands Of miners
and others are rendered homeless by the
razing of every structure within a radius of a
quarter of a mile. At the immediate scene of
the explosion a hole was made two hundred
by eighty feet. Sixty thousand pounds was
Immediately subscribed for the relief Of the
sufferers.
A Washington despatch states that in the
Senate a strong debate took place on the
resolution Of the majority of the Foreign
Committee wide Bulletin Both Jany) and in
which Messrs. Morgan, Lodge, Cameron, and
Call took an active part. All the speakers
were in favor of Cuba, but differed in their
language. When Mr.. Morgan argued that the
United States should be prepared for war with
Spain on behalf of Cuba, he was loudly APP
plauded from. the galleries.
The Westminster Gazette, in a leading
article, urges Lord Salisbury to reply quickly
to the United States proposal for the aP-
pointment Of u Joint British and American
conciIiatOry commission. The article further
says that we are free to accept the %ooncilia'
ton which America proposes, and that the
only possible hitch is that Venezuela may
say the whole matter is being taken out Of
her hands, England and America treating
the matter as q question between themselves.
II America claims the dispute az her own
then she must assume " reasonable and CON-
ssquential liability by giving bail for Ven-
exuela.
Berlin dispatches say that during a debate
on the Governments Colonial policy, Herr
Won Richter made o bitter attack OH Doctor
Peters, President OF the German Colonial
Society, describing him as an incompetent
officer and a medd!eSomo individual.
New York, Feb. 24th-London news states
that the Turkish Ambassador in that city
denies the report made by The Constantine
pls correspondent Of the Times as published
in Saturdays bulletin.
1t is announced that Earl Grey and Mr..
Cecil Rhodes hive been appointed joint adj
miDistrators of the territory controlled by
the South African Company, which course is
generally app owed.
The Capetown correspondent of the Cen
trail News discredits The report that the
South African Republic intends to proclaim
her independence of British suzerainty on
the anniversary of the Majuba Hill disaster.
1t is officially stated that the Queen has
wired to President Kruger her sympathy at
the disastrous effects of the dynamite ex-
plosion.
Adyices from Johannesburg state that
President Kruger regards the railway com
pany responsible for The damage sustained,
which is estimated at one million pounds
sterling. 1t appears the railway allowed no
less than fifty-fve tons of dynamite to be han
died near to ninety cases of detonators. The
latest advices Of the disaster state that the
dead nambrr one hundred and twenty, and
the wounded four hundred. The relief funds
exceed half a million pounds. The ttn'ion
Of the political situation in consequence of the
explosion is relieved 10y destroying the exist
ing race feudR, and that both ths Beers and
Uitlanders are cooperating in behalf Of the
sufferers.
The "~Standard' reports that the United
States Government refuses to assist Venezuela
against the British demand for an indemnity,
but promotes direct communications between
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British Minister at
Washington, and General Andrade, the Vene-
zuelan Minister, thus making hopeful reSump-
ton of diplomatic relations between England
and Venezuela.
1t is reported that Sir Richard Webster,
the Attorney General, is revising the legal
case regarding the British Guiana boundary
dispute drawn up by Sir Frederick Pollock
wide bulletin Jany oath
The 'Standard' in an editorial ,eXpressesthe