The record-union., 1897-01-04

of Dueling in Germany.
BERLIN, Jan. 3.-(Copyright, 1897,
by the United Associated Presses. 1.-The
new artillery bill, which will be laid be-
fore the Reichstag soon after the Cham
Der resumes its sittings, will propose an
addition to the military budget of IT,
600, 600 marks. Certain semi-official pa
pers, commenting on the reports current
last week that 200, 100000 marks would
be demanded, have denied the accuracy
of the statement and inferentially sug-
gested that the country had at present
no reason to fear an additional burden
through the army estimates.
In point of fact the new bill has for
some time been drafted and forms part
of a general scheme involving the ere
alton of new regiments of infantry and
a new grouping of battalions and bri-
gades. Military authorities who are
permitted to speak on the subject and
whose opinion is worth having deny
the current reports that the impending
reorganization of the artillery is due to
the Canet quick-firing gun being
adopted for the French army
The new German field gun, which was
tested at Krupp's in the presence of the
Kaiser and special staff of officers
more than a year ago was approved
as the most potent fieldpiece yet in
vented and has been since under con-
stant construction. The Kaiser keeps
in close touch with Krupp's, at whose
works guns on the new model, but of
different caliber are being rapidly man
ufactured and tested.
Leading Berlin banking firms concur
in crediting the report that the Russian
Government has been negotiating a new
loan in Paris, amounting to no less than
600. 900, 900 marks. Private advices
from st. Petersburg, supported by let
ters from Paris at first mentioned an
even greater sum, 100000, and
added that the French bankers had re-
fused to consider terms on the ground
that France was overloaded with Rus
sian loans; that part of the last loan
had not yet been absorbed by the pub
lie and further, that, under the corsdi-
lions Of that loan Russia was debarred
from raising another before April, 1891
Some tentative action toward negotiat-
ing with Berlin and Frankfort houses
has been going on since the reluctance
of the French bankers to deal became
known at st. Petersburg, but these
overtures were not received favorably
so the Russian Finance Minister has
resumed communication with Paris
firms.
The loan if obtained soon after April
Will be the prelude to the resumption
of specie payments by Russia, provid-
ing nothing happens in Europe to check
the Cars present peace policy.
Apropos of the new policy of the Gar
toward liberal and pacific reforms, ad-
vices from Warsaw and other centers
in Poland concur in speaking of a
marked change in the restrictive meas
ures enforced against the people by the
authorities greater freedom being al
lowed to the press and public. A nota-
BILE instance of the change of spirit in
the Russian authorities is seen in the
correspondence of the st. Petersburg
'.Novoe Vremeya," which has opened
its columns to advocacy of the concilia-
ton of Poland a large degree of toler-
alton for the Catholic Poles and the ces-
sation of restrictive measures through
out those now wide regions where the
Russian Government has the adhesion
long been the fierce enemy of Catholic
Poles and this change of front is there
fore significant. The Cars recent ac-
ton in resisting the pressure of the
Moscow authorities TO punish the riot
o1ls university students by deporting
Them to Siberia is another favorable
sipn of better times in Russia.
The first reception at the court of the
,,a,v French ambassador Marquis de
Noailles. is fixed for the third week
tp January II is understood that the
KAISER. intends to mark the occasion
es an especially brilliant court func-
4ion The substitution OF a french
ariStocrat of polished manners for the
Rourgaois NJ. Herbette, whom court
and Kaiser alike detested, may 90 much
10 smooth diplomatic relations between
Paris and Beriln
The non-committal tactics or count
Padeni the Austrian Prime Minister,
On the eve Of the dissolution OF the
Austrian Reichsrath and the conse-
ouent holding of a new general election
as described in these dlspatches last
Sunday. remain literally true, out there
are now signs that the Premier VIII
favor the Clerical party whenever ne
con. Hitherto ne iieiS btNh ''t-NHN~i%s
sitting on the fence and observing the
Indications Of increasing strength Of
the various parties with view OF as
containing which group would be worth
while cultivating as supporters OF the
Ministry, but within few Gays ne
has shown his preference py nliihg
a number OF vacancies in severai prov
irces by the appointment OF men Oh
Clerical, or. at any rate, of Anti-Semitic
tendencies.
Berlin as well as Vienna court circles
have recently been eagerly watching
the developments of a scandal con-
1ected with the career of the Austrian
Crown Prince Rudolph, who with ms
mistress, the Baroness Marie Vetserar
committed suicide in January, lSS9- IL
&c known that the Emperor Francis
II seph had paid enormous sums to
meet the responsibilities which his son