Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-17

autumn through lne lNuk NtIdSth N'Ao"HA
nation OF the scheme or schemes OF Aus
tralian federation. Southern Australia has
already voted for It by a large majority
New South Wales will vote next week, and
during the next three months elections for
ratification will be held in Victoria, Tasma-
MIA and New Zealand. All these colonies
are expected to come into line. New Eea-
land, which being a thousand miles away
from the continent, has been somewhat in
dependent and oflish, is afraid of tarih op-
posed to its interest, should 1t refuse TO
come in, so its acceptance of the conditions
Is looked for The terms OF federation
have been modelled somewhat after the
constitution of the United States, somewhat
upon the British system and somewhat
upon original lines. The Australians are
certainly not mere copyists. In some re-
spects New Zealand Is the most advanced OF
all the colonies and has undertaken some
daring innovations, which will be watched
with interest in other parts of the world.
If the story that comes from Japan is
true, that party of scientific explorers,
numbering eleven japanese and one German
have been put to death without trial by
Russian cavalry, for daring to travel and
study natural conditions in that part of
China recently LEASED" by Russia, the Japa-
nese will hate aud fear their big and ag-
gressive neighbor more than they ever did
before this crime. The Liao-Tung PENN
sula, where the killing of these explorers
is said to have taken place, was conquered
by Japan in the war with China, and the
Japanese found it sore blow to their pride
to be compelled not only to retire from
every inch of the ground then seized, but
to stand by and see it occupied by Russia,
under cover of some technical absurdity
called lease. Now If the Russians are
using their control of the region to keep all
Japanese out of it and make it strictly
Russian preserve the case Will be much
more aggravating. Perhaps Russia VIII ma
it poor policy to exasperate Japan, nothwith-
standing the difference between the two
powers in population and extent of terri
tory. The island empire may find allies
when Russia can least afford to fight.
sRA
The growth, in power and influence, OF the
German Colonial society is one of the signs
of the times. Since 1896 is membership
has increased from $4,000 to 10000, the ad-
Gi.ions last year being 1000. The chief OBJ
ject of the organization Is to increase pubic
interest in colonial questions by means of
lectures, the publication of a journal deal
ing with colonial subjects the collection of
information for emigrants, subscriptions to-
ward the cost of commercial and mining
expeditions, prizes to colonial planters, etc.
Among the expenses for last year were
grants toward the transport of German
steamer to Lake Tanganyiki. toward the
German school at Apia, toward the publica-
ton of works on New Guinea, and toward
various periodicals, and to individual STU
dents of African and Australasian Ian
guages. The society has also devoted itself
~
tiers in southwest Africa and elsewhere. 1t
exhibits characteristic German thoroughness
in the efficiency and economy of its internal
organization, and at a recent general meet
ing three days were occupied in discussing
executive questions and the best means of
improving the official journal. Among the
projects in which the society is deeply inter-
| ested are two African railroads, one across
German East Africa, from Oar Salaam
| to the lakes, and the other to connect with
| the English Cape to Cairo road.
Advices from Pekin are that both Germany
and Russia are seeking to obtain permission
to reorganize the Chinese forces. Major
| Won Hanneken of the German army is al
ready on the scene, but so far he has been
| unsuccessful owing to the lack of funds
available for such a purpose. 1t is int-
| mated that Russia will make It convenient
for the tsung-i-yamen to accept the offers
| presented by the authorities of the czar.
The Russo Chinese bank recently declared
| that it was the policy Of that bank to in
| jure the prospects OF the Nu-Chwang rail-
way. This confirms the impression that the
| latest Russian demand was directed against
the success of this British enterprise The
Russians are believed to be using Chang Yi's
undoubted secret influence to further their
| SchampS the other is eto +ad
| high British authority that the tsung-li-
yamen intends to continue to meet the Rus
| sian demand with resolute refusal. NJ. de
| Giers, the Russian minister, has informed
| the tsung-li-yamen that the Russians in
tend sending engineers to make surveys con-
cernng the construction of railway to be
| built connecting Pekin with the Manchurian
| railway.
Advices from Helsngfors are that the i'm
perial authorities will very likely dissolve
| the Finnish Diet in the course of the coming
week. 1t is alleged that the Russian au-
thorties are circulating forged protama-
| tions inviting the Firms to make common
cause with the Poles against Russian bar
| barism," with the object of rousng op-
| position against the conduct OF the deputies
| by means of assurances that the acceptance
of Russian rule will result in the division of
the land among the poor. The Finnish press
openly exposes the source of this agitation,
| and calls upon all patriotic Firms not to lis
ten to counsels dictated by transparent
| malevoence." One of the most recent acts
of the Diet was to adopt the military serv-
| ice bill, as recommended by the army COM
mittee, thus rejecting the imperial measure.
| The bill as passed by the Diet raises the
strength of the Finnish army from 5000 to
! $4,000 men, on condition that the time of
military service be performed in Finland
and that the Finnish army retain it's ma
| tlonal character. The bill also provides that
| the troops may be used outside of Finland
only when the defense of that country does
not require them to be kept at home 1t is
this action of the Diet, it is said, that will
| cause its early dissolution.
| Further, and apparently authentic, details
of the famine in Russia are furnished in an
appeal which has been issued from the Brit
ish and American Church in st. Petersburg
This document declares that although the af-
fected area is not so large, in some parts
| the distress is greater than it was in 1892.
| The affected districts include seven prov