The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-30
TROUBLES OF EUROPE
MORE RUsIORs REGARDING THE
RUssO-TURkIsH ALLIANCE.
Venezuela Warned by Germany-Up-
rising at KhartOum-Fears OF
the Trnnsvnal Authorities.

with Turkey?' is still the most important
political question before the European
powers. and rumors and denials of rumors
continue to be the order OF the day. Yes
terday dispatch was received from Con-
stinople saying it is now believed there
that tacit entente exists between Russia
and Turkey and that by its terms Russia
has engaged TO support Turkey in certain
events. such as the passage Of the OAR
danelles by a British fleet. On the other
hand. IL is understood, Turkey has agreed
to permit Russia to occupy and pacify
Armenia. The position Of France in re-
gard to the understanding between Russia
and Turkey is much discussed here and 1t
Is thought in certain circles that the re-
public will be constrained to separate her
self from Russia. as the latter's policy is
held to be opposed to French interests"
In line with the foregoing dispatch the
Times this morning prints a dispatch from
it's Constantinople correspondent. which
says that although no definite agreement
exists for the immediate Russian occupa-
ton of Armenia. it is certain that there
is a private understanding between Russia
and the Sultan which gives the Sultan
confidence in Russian friendship and dis
poses him to conform to Russian advice
in matters of foreign policy" st. Peters
burg. however, continues to send out
denials, a dispatch from there last night
saying: "A sem-official announcement has
been given out here that the reports that
partition of Turkey is contemplated or
that alliance has been formed between
Russia and Turkey are absolutely un-
founded"
The Kaiser seems determined to increase
the efficiency of the German navy, notwith-
standing there is opposition to his plan of
borrowing 300.000,000 marks for the purpose
of building new ships. 1t is reported here
that the German government has ordered
twelve torpedo destroyers from Thorny-
croft & Co., the shipbulders. The new ves-
sells are to have a speed of thirty knots
an hour.
A dispatch from Berlin to the Times
says: "A semi-official statement has been
published warning president Crespo. of
Venezuela, that he cannot count upon the
help of the United States to enable him to
shirk his obligations, supposing Germany
takes measures to enforce the payment of
the railway claim. The Monroe doctrine
may, perhaps, be applied to the editorial
disputes the statement says, but it cannot
be invoked to protect defaul'ing debtors
against the claims of the European states"
There is trouble in Egypt, according to
news received here yesterday from Cairo.
A dispatch from there says that serious
revolution has occurred at Khartoum. The
disturbance, it is added, grew out Of diff
ferences between the Mahdi and the tribes
belonging to the interior of the Soudan.
The result Of the uprising. it is further
stated, was that the Mahii is practically
overthrown.
A dispatch from Pretoria indicates that
President Kruger thinks there is still dan
ger of trouble in the Transvaal A proc
lamaton has been gazetted at Pretoria
to the effect that the government believes
that the threatened closing of the
mines is due to an intention to
recommence the disturbances, and
warning all that the government in
tends to vigorously protect the peaceful
development of mining and to infiict the
severest penalties Of the law on all those
attempting TO interrupt it.
A correspondent at Pretoria writes that
the reform union prisoners were set on
in the streets of the Transvaal capital while
on their way to the prison there. They
were roughly treated and obliged to run
pieces. One of the American prisoners,
apparently John Hays Hammond, was flung
down, trampled on and bruised, amid the
yells Of the armed Beers. The aggressors
were not arrested. The prisoners were al
lowed nothing more in Jail than ordinary
criminals are The heat of the burning
sun to men accustomed to luxury, and the
risk OF typhoid fever from lack OF santa
ton were great. They had to eat their
food off the ground at first.
The Pretoria jail, in which Hammond and
four other leading men Of Johannesburg are
confined is described wretched Struct-
ure of red brick with standing gallOws
always in plain view from the cell windows
Mr.. Werner, the head of the great diamond
house of Werner, Belt & Co., whose partner
Lionel Phillips, is one of the five prisoners,
tells me there is no danger of the death
penalty being inflicted on any of the ac-
cused, but that under the Transvaal law
almost any other penalty is possible. Under
a special law applying to proclaimed min
ing lands" which applies to Johannesburg,
and therefore to the accused. all their prop
erty may be confiscated in addition to any
physical punishment. Friends of the ac-
cused Americans warmly approve the sug-
gestion that United States warship be
sent to Cape Town or Delagoa bay, and that
her captain be instructed to go to Pretoria
and represent the American government
there. Recent private advices from the
Transvaal report that President Kruger and
the other authorities are disposed to be
civilians than at the time of the release
of DR.. Jameson and his followers.
German Opposition to silver.
BERLIN, Jan. 29.-The Minister of Agri-
culture. Baron Won Hammerstein-Loxton
in the Prussian diet to-day, replying to
questions on the subject, asserted that the
government was doing all possible to re-
lieve the agricultural depression. He adj