Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-09-12
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandra Gazette
Washington, d. c., Sept II.

rcorrespondeuce Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, D. c.. Sept. y.
Preparations by the Navy Department
are now making for the trip Of the tor
nedo boat destroyers from Norfolk or New
York to Manila about October Is. The
squadron will consist of the Decatur,
cambridge, Barry, Chauncey and Dale
and will be commanded by Lieut.. ii. II.
Chandler with the Decatur as flagship
1t will be accompanied by the cruiser
Baltimore and a collier. Much interest
attaches to the cruise because OF Its dlp,
lomatic significance. Rear Admiral
Evans asked for this addition to his COM
mand ostensibly because he needed
some swift, light draught boats for work
in shallow waters. However, for the
mast wear at least, Evans has been con-
tinually reporting to the department a
dangerous condition of unrest in the
Orient and presaging trouble OF magni-
tude. His communications, OF course,
have been confidential but their general
character is known and it is also clear
that they have been transmitted to the
State Department. 1t is for this reason
that the movement is being closely
watched by the representatives here OF
foreign governments and this interest
will undoubtedly follow the feet to the
Philippines.
Minister Leishman at Constantinople
telegraphs to the State Department, under
date of yesterday, that the following
proclamation has appear in the papers
of Constantinople: "By command Of
His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, Reshld
Bey. Governor General of Beirut, has
been dismissed. Nazim Pasha, Cover
nor General of Damascus, has been APP
pointed acting Governor General OF
Beirut" The official Gazette prints a
notice that Nazim Pasha has taken tenn
porary charge of the administration Of
Beirut. Minister Leishmau also COM
municates the substance Of report re-
ceived by him from the United States
Consul at Beirut. The situation there
appeared to have improved The new
acting Governor, General Nazim Pasha,
had called upon him, stating his desire
to treat the Magelssen matter promptly
and satisfactorily, and expressing his
purpose to effect complete reOrganlza-
ton of the police force of Beirut. Mr..
Ravndal says that the new Governor en-
lows the reputation of being a very capa-
bic man, and his appointment has given
much pleasure to the people Of Beirut.
The Weather Bureau today issued the
following special weather bulletin :
Hurricane center near southern point
of Florida. Dangerous to sail for or
from GuIfpOrts. "
An &C .Ount of the manner III which the
United states gunbOat annexed the small
islands off the north coast of BOrneo reached
Washington this morning in the War Depart
ment mail Ii is taken from the Straits
Echo" an English paper. The story IS told
in a special telegram 10 the paper from San
dakan. the B0rnese port nearest the islands
in question, and says: 'The United States
gunbOat Quiros was coming out OF the san
dakan harbor fairly frequently during the
month of June, and as no one expected any
Eggressiveness she was not watched. Now,
come. and the government is somewhat per
turbcd. for it has now been coolly informed
o what Lieutenant BaughtOn has been
doing. which is nothing less than annexation
of the islands off the north BorneO coast. II
has been very smartly and cutely done Ia
quanac and Baquan are two of the principal
islands grabbed by Uncle sam. According to
information received the modus operandi has
been thusly: The gunboat proceeds 10 an
island, calls the head man, presents him with
an American flag, and nails a proclamation
on some tree hard by. A salute to the flag Is
fired, and the warship trOts off to another
island and does likewise. Taquanac island is
an important one, as il commands the entrance
to Sandakan harbOr, and the government de-
rives revenue from il by letting out the large
turtle-egg collection az certain seasons Of the
year. The natives here are very much in
clined to 90 under American protection, as
they are reputed to pay good wages and spend
money freely Ii is rumOred that a meeting
of the British and American admirals will
take place soon to decide this delicate ques-
ton of annexation, meanwhile cables between
the parties concerned, both at home and out
here, are being dispatched constantly.