The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-07-25
THE TALK OF EUROPE.

THE TALK OF EUROPE.
Brief Reflections Upon Events of Current
Interest Across the Ocean.
In view of the strained relations that
now prevail between st. Petersburg
and Constantinople, it may be Of inter-
est to state that Russia has at the
present moment on the Turkish frontier
in Asia Minor fully equipped army of
$50, 900 men, comprising no less than
20 regiments of cavalry, an immense
force of artillery and 10 battalions of
infantry. A portion of this army is act
ually on the frontier, which it could
GROSS within a few hours of receiving
the order to advance, while the reserves
are stationed at distance Of two days
march. Another still larger Russian
army has been assembled at Odessa and
at Sevastopol, whence it could be con-
veyed by sea in the space Of from "A to
SO hours to Constantinople.
1t is announced in London that the
Oh4AOdh CIV NY VIC
collapse of the Bank of Santiago, the
fourth important bank that has recently
gone into liquidation in the republic,
has resolved to accept the offer of an An
glo-Belgian syndicate to establish a joint
stock bank under government guarantee
in Chile. The syndicate has undertaken
to deposit gilt edged securities to large
amount in the Bank of England as a
warrant of good faith. 1t seems a pity
that no United States financiers can see
their way to establish some institution
of this kind in Chile, since all that is
required to make it a success is sound
business methods, the absence of which
alone has led to the failure of the four
native banks above mentioned.
In times gone by the moment fugi-
tive negro slave set foot upon English
soil or even on board an English man
of-war, the poor creature became ipso
facto free. This is no longer the case,
for Sir Charles Dixie has just drawn
attention in the house of commons to
the fact that slaves who escape from
Zanzibar or from Pemba to the slip of
British territory on the mainland are
by order of the British courts and off
Gals handed over to their former mas
tiers for further bondage.
Gar Nicholas will on the occasion
of his forthcoming visit to Warsaw re-
ceive from his Polish subjects a well
come that will for the first time be
unanimous, spontaneous and sincere.
Since his accession to the throne the old
system of persecution seems banished
by wiser and more humane counsels.
Men of enlightened and liberal views,
and frequently protesting the Roman
Catholic faith, have been lately ap-
pointed to the post of governor and to
other official places, and the emperor
has just consented to the immediate
nomination of Catholic bishops to seven
episcopal sees which have remained va
cant for many years, indeed ever since
the exile to Siberia of their former bish-
ops.
1t does not speak well for France that
the government should find it necessary
to lower the regulation height of the
infantry soldier from 5.66 feet to feet
II inches. True, it is estimated that
this lowering of the regulation height
will add some 10000 men to the French
army, but at the same time it is an ad-
mission that the average stature of the
Frenchman is diminishing, and it may
be questioned whether the full equip
ment of French linesman, which is
very heavy, will not prove too weighty
a burden for this new class of recruits.
Meanwhile the military authorities
are making arrangements to transform
Nancy into an immense intrenched
camp at cost Of some $40, 900, 900,
garrisoning it by force Of 80, 900 men.
1t must be borne in mind that according
to the actual lines of advance Of Ger
many the seizure of Nancy would be
the first and main object of an inavding
army. Nancy would then be made the
base Of operations against Toul, and
once Toul taken, the road to Paris
would be open.
According to official statistics which
have just been issued in London, the
national debt during the last five Years
In England shows an average daily de-
crease of nearly 800, 900, the exact fig
ures being e19, 488. During the same
period the national debt of the United
States shows an average daily increase
of more than $125, 900, the exact fig
ures given being e25, 275. Frances
debt increases $4,000 daily, Ger
debt over $3.50, 900, while that
Of Russia shows daily growth of not
less than 100000 Frances national
debt today is the largest, heading the
list with So, 1000, 100000.
The national legislature of Switzer-
land has just passed the bill of the fed
eral council providing for the purchase
by the state of all the railroads in the
The measure is meeting with
but little opposition in Switzerland it.
self, owing to the somewhat alarming
discovery that most of the stock of the
Swiss railroad companies is held in
Germany. Indeed, certain satisfaction
has been created by the decision of the
government to take possession of the