The record-union., 1899-12-03
Five Cases Reported at Kobe, Three
Having Proved Fatal.
The Origin Of the Pest Traced 10 cuttoA
imported F!sm China.
Much Disznay Prevails in the In
fected City, and the Most Dras-
tic Measures Are Being Taken
by the Authorities to Stamp Out
the Scourge.

CORRESPONDENCE of the Associated Press)
! YOKOHAMA, Nov. 16, via San Fran
cisco, Dec. THE bubonic plague has
made its entry into Japan, five UNI
doubted cases having been reported at
Kobe, three already proving fatal. The
pest is traced to cotton imported from
| China, the original buyer, the carrier
and the purchaser of the stuff being
the three victims. Much dismay pre-
walls in the infected city, and the most
drastic measures are being taken by
the authorities. A hundred houses are
| isolated and a corps of the most emf
nent physicians in the empire has been
dispatched to the scene with full pow
en- Much confidence is placed in Dr.
Kitasto, a pupil of DR.. Koch, who in
his researches and discoveries in bac-
teriology, has well nigh surpassed his
master. In spite, however, of these
reassurances, much CONSERVATION pre-
walls, and travelling in the direction Of
Kobe is receiving a severe check.
A striking Illustration of the sensi-
tiveness of the Japanese anent the
Russian encroachmentS in Korea is to
be found in the fact that, although it
was perfectly well known that the aut-
umn maneuvers of the army were to
be held this week, yet the embarkation
of troops upon two transports here last
Monday gave rise to the widest rumors
that they We're en- route to Korea, and
in the popular Imagination the impend-
ing war had already begun.
Trouble is brewing under the new
treaties where they touch raw material
in the matter of taxation. They provided
that foreign owners of real estate
should not be subject to any depriva-
ton of the privileges they enjoyed under
the old regime. The Government holds,
however, that the buildings on the land
are not real estate, and that they are
therefore subject to the Japanese house
tax, which has now been levied. Out of
some 30 foreigners thus taxed only
forty-three have paid, under protest,
and the question has been put into the
hands of the foreign Ministers for adj
justment There are indications that
whatever may be the decisions of the
home Governments, the authorities will
adhere firmly to the position they have
taken, and will enforce the tax
The future Empress of Japan has
been chosen, and her engagement to
the Crown Prince announced. She will
have dowry of a million and a quar-
from the Emperor, the latter contrib
uting the larger portion of the sum.
1t may be significant that, by this mar
riage the Crown Prince will become
related to the highest Buddhist priest
in the empire. In view of the strong
Buddhistic movement to secure State
recognition, this fact is commented
upon as of great interest.
Predictions are freely unada fhaf fba
coming session of the Parliament will
result in a. breakup of the present
ministry. The Liberal party, through
alliance with which the Cabinet has
been enabled to carry it's measures is
In state of chaos. Two of it's lead
ers have resigned, while another has
been making insistent demands for
spoils in the shape of Ministerial APP
pointments in return for party service.
The civil service question Is thus be-
ing brought to the front as prominent
as it is in the United States.
The Government has decided to build
two new cruisers in it's own dock yards,
one at Kure and the other at Yoko-
hama 1t realizes the fact that this
cannot be done at anywhere near SO
small cost as the work would entail
In foreign yards, but as a matter of
national pride and for the encourage
ment of domestic industries the decs-
ion has been taken.
The tone of the Japanese press on
the war in the Transvaal is decidedly
pro-British. Comment is freely made
upon the singular spectacle seemingly
presented by England and America, the
champions of freedom, both engaged
at the same time in wars for the sup
preston of independence. The UNDER
lying causes of the two conflicts are.
however clearly Disseminated and
both wars are recognized as having
been forced upon the two great en-
pires by the pressure of circumstances.
Mutiny on Steamer.