Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-15

the Hungarians the sword NJ the Transyl-
vanian Prince George Rakoczy-one OF the
most precious historical relies that they could
have rcceiyed-which now fgures In the Ma
tiohal museum In Budapest. It was accom-
panied by a letter from the Russian embassy
in Vienna in which the following passage
occurred: by means Of this gift his Inn
petal majesty wishes to show what high
value he sets on the cordiality existing be-
tween the Russian empire and the Austro-
hungarian monarchy" The sword was car
ried of by the Russians in lS49 and deposited
in the museum OF the Hermitage in st. Pc
tersburg. But. the same correspondent de-
clares, an understanding between Austria
and Russia would not imply any hostility
to English interests The emperor OF Aus
tria is particularly well disposed, he says
toward Great Britain. and the two countries
have no conflicting interests to interfere
with mutual good will.
II has already been reported that the Brit
ish Soudan forces will make an advance
from Dongola to Abu Hamed as soon as there
Is water enough in the river to permit the
steamers to pass the fourth cataract. This
operation. which cannot be begun before
July, is not expected to take more than
few weeks the distance being only about 100
miles The present inten ion Is to take Abu
Hamed, where there is a Dervish garrison
thought to be of no great strength. 1t Is
not expected that there will be much oppOsl-
tion, as according to the latest news from
Omdurman, the tendency of the khalifa Is
to concentrate his forces i'm that neighbor-
hood. As soon as Abu famed has been
taken the direct railway line across the
desert from Wady Halfa to hbu Hamed will
bo pushed on with all speed and is expected
TO he finished this year. This railway has
been completed for distance OF about thirty
miles from Wady Halfa and is still in prog
ress, but until Abu Hamed has been occupied
II Is not considered prudent to push forward
the work too rapidly or to get within striking
distance of the Dervlsh garrison. On the
completion of the remaining 100 miles of line
the new gunboats in process of construction
will be taken in sections by railway and put
together at Abu Hamed which Will become
tho advanced post. 1t is improbable that any
British troops will be employed in the ad-
van<e from Dongola, which Is a subsidiary
movement. It's strategic Importance, how
ever. is great owing to the fact that Abu
Hamed lies above the worst cataracts, and
from that point there is comparatively open
water to Berber and Khartoum. There are
at present about 10000 Egyptian troops and
fivo gunboats in the province Of Dongola
For some time past wholesale arrests OF
the peasantry In Slavonia have been going
on and military precautions have been taken
TO guard against local disturbances. The
old Austrian law on the right Of association,
dating from 1852 which had been formally
abolished in Austria and which was looked
upon AZ obsolete in Croatia. has been re-
vived. Political societies and associations
OF all denominations have been dissolved and
their funds ConhScated. All non-politica so
Cictics must now he specially authorized by
the government, and may be dissolved at any
moment. This measure coming Immediately
before the elections for the Provincial Diet, 4
shows that the situation IS regarded as seri-
Gus. The present governor of Croatia and
Slavonia is Count Khuen HGdervary, who
was designated by the emperorting for the
post Of Hungarian prime minister after the
resignation of DR.. Wekere. He has the
reputation of being an excellent admins
TRAITOR and of being adverse to stringent
measures where they can possibly be dis
pensed with. An explanation is to be sought
in the Agrarian-C -COmmunstic movement now |
rampant in SIavonia. The agitation attracts
all the more attention because it comedies |
with the agrarian movement in Hungary |
proper. There is a good deal of excitement |
in the Alfold district, in the great alluyial |
plain which forms the center of Hungary. |
a large strike IS being organized among the |
farm laborers for harvest time. which falls |
about the third week in June In this district |
the Magyar element is the most numerous the |
Germans and Slavonians forming COM
paratively small minority.