Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-07

 der that thirteen central magazines, for which land has already been bought may be completed. In addition to buildings it will be necessary to make the proper approaches and military roads by which to connect the various cente-s as links Tn a continuous chain. Of the three cen ters already completed two are on the south of London and one on the north. The vote now asked for is to complete ten other store houses as points of concen- tration for different brigades, all on the south between Firth and Footing. These will practically close all roads against force advancing upon London from the mouth of the Thames or any landing place along the coast as far as Brighton.
 Nothing like Qualifications will be con- structed, but simply defensible store houses in which entrenching tools, camp equipments and munitions of war will be Kept ready to be issued in an emergency to the volunteers and militia on whom the task of defending the positions would fall. Ultimately the positions would have to be strengthened by earth works, but these need only to be thrown up when the danger of attack seemed immi- nent. The essential thing is for each brigade to know exactly where to assem- ble if an emergency arose and that it would be sure of finding the stores of material necessary for placing the posi- ton in a state of defense.
 The building of the trans-Siberian rail- way is causing complete reorganization or the Russion convict system. The pres ent rules are that exiled offenders shall be sent to nearer or farther parts of Si- beria according to the article of the code under which they were convicted. The appointed place of exileS for lighter of- lenses is nearer European Russia than for serious crimes. It is not difficult even now for offenders who are courage ous enough and who are provided with means of support to make their way se- nrsnf flxr aolr n, The needful passports and disguises are usually procurable. The real utility of the Siberian convict system has depended upon the physical difficulties of travelling the vast distances back to civilization. The new report eliminates these ob- stacles It is reported from Moscow that the island of Saghalen will be the future destination of Russian exiles. This island is already used for the Imprisonment of criminals of the lowest type.
 It is said that the colonial secretary is feeling sadly annoyed by the few, sharp, appropriate words with which President Kruger received his speech criticising the present attitude of the Boer government towards the Uitlanders. The grand old Boer simply expressed proper condemna- tion of MT. Cha mberlain's attempt to mix up the so-called Uitlander's grievances with the chartered free booting invasion of the republic. Germany especially has put the worst construction upon MT.
 
 al papers freely express the opinion that in the near future the rifles of the brave Boers will once more have work to do.
 Among the reports which circulated this week is one that the real motive of the Jameson raid was the fact that vast quantities of rich ore had been discovered in the deep levels of the Transvaal mines, and it was determined to get possession of of the country before the truth became known This story was open to the sus- picion of stock jobbing purposes, but if so. it had no effect in that direction.
 Most people know that the Italian ex- premier Signor Crsp, is a good hater, and that it was not his custom when in power to spare his real or fanced enc rdes. The latter have had their turn, and though their inning had ben a long one, they are far from tired of the sport of batting the old lion They destroyed apparently forever Signor Crfsprs po1iti- cal influences. and ruined his private for tunes. They have driven his son into dis honorable exile, and they have dragged his daughters honor in the mire, and still their thirst for vengeance isnot quenched. The judicial inquiry into the seemingly eternal Financial scandals has been ex- tended to include an investigation of the affairs of the defunct newspaper, Ri- forma, and its former editors, managers, -compositors and printers have been searehingly examined in the hope of com promising -Crispi. One of the managers of the Riforna was Crispi's nephew, Sig nor Parlamenghi, and he has come out of the inquiry with bedraggled appear ance. Now it is proposed to cite Madame Lima Crispi before the examining justices to explain certain items of her private banking account, which it has been dis covered she had with the Bank of Colo.