The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-04
FRENCHMEN DELIGHTED
WITH PROSPECTS OF AN ALLIANCE IN
CHINESE MATTERS
RUSSIA, AMERICA AND FRANCE
VIII Coerce England and Germany to
a Course Not Pleasing to Them.
France I'm Full Accord With the Rus
so-American Proposals-Epidemi of
Typhoid Fever I'm Paris-Parfs Expo
sition Opened to German Oficers,
But tAIsace-Lorraine Closed to French

copyrighted by Associated Press.)
Paris. September 1.-The Chinese sit
uation, as viewed in Paris, has assum-
ed a brighter aspect. The practical
unanimity of the United States. Rus
sia, France and Japan in the desire
to maintain the integrity of the empire
is regarded as negatively settling any
question of partition. England's posi-
| ton is undoubtedly as strongly favor
able to the foregoing policy as is that
of any power mentioned, but it is more
pleasing TO France that bonds of ac-
| cord should be shown between the
| United States, France and Russia and
that these nations should appear TO be
the controlling influence towards peace.
Americas proposition to accept Ii
| Hung Chang as go-between in tn-.
negotiations is we'll received here, al
though it is desired that he produce
tangible evidence that he is acting for
! the central power. In fact, France is
| ready to treat with any Elenipotentiary
| able to furnish proper credentials.
Russia's proposal to withdraw the
| troops from Pekin comedies with the
| IeellnS IN IdT1S IdFOf
| of a concIliatory policy.
The acceptance of these two PROPOSE
| tionS by ali the powers is considered
| an important step towards a satisfac-
| tory solution and one which will avoid
causing a convulsion within China and
will minimize the danger of conflict
among the powers. Germany and Italy
are the doubtful factors, but it is
| thought the weight of the pacific inf1u-
ence of the other nations will overcome
any bellicose indignations on their
part.
The Official Bulletin Medical
this week, reveals a dispuiet-
ing sanitary situation in Paris.
Statistics show that TYPHOID fe-
| yer prevails in an almost epidemic
form. There were recorded from the
| beginning of the year to August 18th,
3,14S cases, of which 56S resulted fatal
ly. This is a considerable increase over
| the records of previous years. Paris
| is never free from this disease; but un
til 1898 the number of cases for the cor
| responding period did not exceed 700.
Moreover, the figures for the last few
| weeks of tn present year show a per-
ceptible increase over those of the
earlier period. The prevalence and
spread of typhoid are due entirely to
! bad water. One of the water sources
from which Paris is furnished is known
to be infected with the typhoid bacil-
luS, though the water from all the
others is perfectly pure. The authori-
| ties, however, declare that they are
compelled to utilize the contaminated
| source because the others are made
quate. The publication of these alarm
ing statistics, however, may spur the
responsible authorities into seeking
| fresh sources. Meanwhile PariS;anS are
recommended to boil the water they use
or to drink only mineral waters.
| Over 600 German officers have Wis
tod a,~ic ion Gin Dri1
last without the slightest hindrance
on the part of the French authorities.
This l'2s evoked some bitter comment
regarding the difference between the
treatment of German officers visiting
| France and French officers desiring to
revisit Alsace-Lorraine. The only
formality required of the GerTc' IN Off
GERS is that they register themselves
at the bureau of the military governor
of Pa,is. One officer of very high rank
and five superior officers We're among
the visitors. The remainder of the 60U
were majors, captains and heutenants.
They began to arrive soon after EN-
trror Williams note in The ReichSan-
2aix-r recommending them to visit tks
exposition. Against the complais G'ce
Of the French authorities, the Partisan
press calls attention to the exaSperat-
ing treatment of French officers in the
annexed provinces. A case is cited
where a French officer was refused
permission to enter AlaSace-LOrrain inc
to bid farewell to his dying mother. A
majority Of such requests meets with
refuSalS, and even where they are
event ually granted the formalities are
er'ninable, often rendering the per-
mission unacceptable. A former ma
jor in the French army writes to the
| papers stating that he recently applied
for authorization to enter Alsace-Lor-
raine pointing out that he was So
years Of age and had retired from the
army and wished, before he died, to see
his aged sister again and to make a.
pilgrimage to the graves Of his father
and mother in the cemetery at Colmar.
The reply he received was an abrupt
refusal.
1t is admitted, however. that every
facility is afforded Frenchmen for Wis
iting other parts of Germany. In fact,
the amiable attentions of German
functionaries are described as embar-
RAISING.
The great French centers of the
manufacture of wooden goods, Rou-
baix and Tourcoing, are in the throes
Of financial disaster, due to reckless
speculation. The wool gambling fever
took hold Of the business houses last
summer, when wool rose steadily
without apparent reason until.
in August, the price reached the high
water mark Of francs 20 centimes
per kilogram. Spectators for rise
lost their heads, and there were daily
purchases of million or a million and
| a half Kilograms. The manufacturing
business was dislocated, owing to the
extraordinary fluctuations in the
price of material. Abundant warning:
were given that the fictitious values
would inevitably lead to a slump, bu'
they were unheeded until the COLLAPSE
occurred; and wool now stands at
. francs per kilogram. The amount Of
wool bought blindly by Roubaix anc
Turcoing firms reached the fabulous
total of forty million kilos which
means a deficit of eighty millior
francs. Thirteen firms are already II
the hands Of receivers, one house alone
Il -, ~I-A