The Washington times., 1901-07-07
FOREIGN TOPICS.

December %. 1892. viii complete go years
/ since Peter the Great sanctioned the ap-
pearance Of the first Russian newspaper.
and the Bibiiographicai Society of Mos
| COW proposes to celebrate the anniversary
by issuing an edition de luxe volume con-
tanning a list of all the Russian newspa-
pers published during the two centuries
with portraits of the more distinguished
journalists. The proceeds are to be APP
piled 10 fund for the relief Of journalists
in need.
Niscount Eatsura, the new Premier OF
! Japan, who is now about fifty-four or
fifty-ive years Of age achieved, while
lieutenaEt-general in the Japanese army.
great distinction in command Of the First
Army Corps during the war with China.
He was advanced to this high position
on the retirement of his friend, Marshal
Yamagata. He fought two of the bloodiest
battles with the Chinese that took place
in the course of the war-Kang- -wasaI,
where General Sung made a stout re-
sistance. the japanese loss being per
cent Of the total number of men engaged.
and Kairiag where the Chinese also fought
well and bravely. inficting heavy losses on
the Japanese As u result of katsura s
tactics and strategy he commanded all
the roads leading from Manchuria into
China. His concluding achievement was
the assault and capture Of Niu-chwang-
A few weeks later peace negotiations put
an end to the war. The Miksdo recognized
Katsura's s services by making him vis-
count.
Viscount Katsura was Minister of War
in the last Yamagata Cabinet which i'm
mediately preceded that of Marquis Ito,
the outgoing Premier. The shades OF dill
far as the leading statesmen s views are
concerned, are so slight that II mlSht
truly be affirmed that nobody but Jap
anese can understand them. 1t may be
said, however. that katsura leans to the
side of Gamagata rather than to that OF
Ito. but he is also a Progressive SO far
as Japan's foreign policy is concerned, ne
viii make no change in that pursued by
Ito, but there will be some slight modi-
tications with regard to the domestic pol
icy Of the country, principally Affecting Its
financial arrangementS-the rock on which
the Ito Government split
The recent death of the English peer,
Lord Vantage, affords curious example
Of how peerages die out. He the first
and last of the line, though the title was
not conferred upon him in 1855 with any
idea of its being only a life peerage, for
he was a very wealthy man. Lord Want
age had no children. There has been
looms that are run by peers, but it is not
generally known that Lord Vantage was
the first peer to run an establishment of
this kind. He started a model inn at Ard
ington. England, long before the rise OF
the GOthenburg system, and gave the
profits to local charities. What was more
remarkable was the sale OF soup at the
public house during the winter months,
a boon that was greatly appreciated Dy
the villagers. It was rather strange
rr-fF- 81 Of fat f1- fr, coll
over the counter, but on some days more
money was taken for soup than for beer.
Before the war was declared with the
Boer Republic Dom Paul predicted that
"all the world will shudder at the butch
er's BILL" and the English people are be-
ginning to appreciate his meaning TIE
total number of casualties to the British
army In South Africa up to the 31st of
May was 66,l97 of whom 1858 died; 369
officers and 3,S19 men were killed in ac-
ton; 116 officers and 1.2SS men died OF
wounds; 241 officers and 1926 men died
of disease, and officers and IA men
are missing their bodies never having
been recovered. The remainder have been
discharged for wounds, sickness and other
disabilities
3lst of May in round numbers, was S755,-
000.000 which is an average of nearly 81
5U0.OJ0 dag. The public debt Of Great
Britain has been increased 1915 600. 000 and
the revenues have been increased S275, ,000,-
600 a year by adding to the tax on in
comes, on sugar. molasses, glucose, coal
and other articles.
Melbourne witnessed the extremes of
expenditures during the contest for seats
in the Commonwealth House of Repre-
sentatiyes. The candidate who spent
most was Sir Malcolm McEachern,a mem
Der of the firm of McIlwraith, McEachern
& Co. His election for the city of Mel
bourne is understood 20 have cost some
e500G9 He is married TO daughter of
the late mining king of the Bendigo gold
field, and his period of Office as Mayor
of Melbourne was signalized by hospital
ity on a scale of unprecedented splendor
On the other hand, commonwealth con-
stituency adjoining Sir Malcolm's has
been won by the nominee of the Labor
party. Frank Tudor an ,employe in the
Denton hat mills, Melbourne. Mr.. Tudor
says his expenses will amount to less
than ESQ. AS a member of the House OF
Representative he will receive a salary
one candidate for a seat in the Austria
liam Commonwealth Parliament issued on
the eve of the election the following
statement: Il have travelled in the con-
duct of this contest more than 10000 miles,
"a large portion on foot. l have published
and circulated, chiefly by my own hands,
or by those of members of my own fam
ny ! 100, 600 pages of literature in book
form ] have published 15y, 600 copies OF
speeches delivered in the constituency,
and 125. eco copies Of four-paSe circulars.
Ii is utterly impossible that this amount
of work and literature can fail to have
it's effect" Alas! il was only too posSt-
bic The candidate who tramped, print
ed. and published on this colossal scale
found himself at the bottom of the poll
when the numbers were up.
Baron Takasaki, chief of the poets bu-
reau in the imperial palace of Tokyo.
SAYS that the Emperor of Japan's love Of
poetry increases with years. Scarcely an
evening passes that his Majesty does not
compose from twenty-seven to thirty of
the thirty-one syllabled couplets called
wa-ka. These are handed to Baron
Takasaki for examination. Baron Taxa
saki has held his present position since
1892 and he declares that the number of
couplets composed by his Majesty from
that time up to the end of last March
was 81 OO0 The Empress also is very
fond of writing verses. but her Majesty
pen is not so prolific as that of the Elm
peror She composas about two couplets
twice week-quite enough for any or
dinary mortal.
Much has been written from time TO
time about the French Foreign Legion,
that strange. mysterious medley of men
collected from nearly every corner of the
earth. but chiefly from Germany. In this