Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-04-21
CURRENT EVENTS.


DISPATCHES from Toxic tell of the ar
rest. conviction, and execution OF
Japanese General, man bigh up in the
state, but who was selling the Japanese
plans to the Russians. The dispatch
asserts that on account Of this mans
treason all their plans for the land
campaign have failed, causing the loss
of hundreds of men and thousands OF
dollars. 1t is now surmised that the
Japs will abandon their intention OF
crossing the mountain ranges between
the Yalu. river and the railroad, and
make an attack on Vladivostock, which
is much nearer Harbin, the Russian base
of supplies, than is Port Arthur.
Russian and Japanese accounts of the
destruction Of the battleship Petropav-
loysk are contradictory. The Russians
ascribe it to an explosion of the boilers
or explosion of submerged mine under
the magazine of tbe.ship while the Japs
say they did it.
The whole side of the ship was torn
off and she turtled and sank so quickly
that not a man below decks-the ad-
miral, officers nor crew-corld save
themselves. The two or three officers
ON the bridge and the few men on deck
were all that escaped drowning The
aptness Of the Japs on the water; and
the slowness or stupidity of the Rus
slams is surprise to- the civilized
world.
The Japs- Russ war is not the only
one going in the world. The Germans
are having trouble in their colonies on
the Western coast of Africa. For
several weeks the Germans have been
strenuously engaged in trying to reduce
to subjection the insurgent tribe of the
Herreros, which has it's residence in the
Southwest African territory, but thus
far they have not been able to make
much headway with the job. They
have killed and wounded a good many
of the Herreros, but the latter are so
numeious that the gaps made in their
ranks are soon made good, and at last
accounts they were about as far as ever
from being pacified. In the meanwhile
there is German column missing and
unheard from as to whose fate there is
said to be the greatest uneasiness at the
German capital and the painful con-
viction is being forced upon the minds
of the gentlemen in charge that it will
be necessary materially to re-enforce
Governor Leutwein before the opera
tions in which he is engaged can be ex-
pected to succeed.
In Thibet the English now have their
own way, and have further secured
their possessions in India from possible
attack by the Russians.
WIRELESS telegraphy'is being nsed
for the first time in war, by the Japs and
Russians, and Count Cassini, the Am
bassador from Russia to the United
States, has communicated to our De-
partment of State at Washington an or
der which has just been issued by Vice
roy Alexiff relative TO its use by war
correspondents. The order gives notice
that neutral vessels engaged in receiv-
ing and forwarding wireless kilograms
win be regarded as liable to seizure as
prizes of war and that correspondents
sending wireless kilograms will be treat
ed as spies, which means that they will
be hung. The operation of this order
is not restricted to the land or water
area within the actual Russian jurisdic-
tion. 1t is made applicable to neutral
steamers arrested "near the coast of
Kwan-Tung or in the zone of operations
Of the Russian fleet" That is, should
occasion arise, an American citizen
or British subject engaged in the pro-
hibited practice is in danger, at least
theoretically, of being taken prisoner
by the Russians and strung up to the
yard arm.
On Tuesday the House at Washing
ton passed the statehood bill, making
Oklahoma and the Indian Territory one
state under the name Of Oklahoma; and
Arizona and New Mexico another under
the name of Arizona. but it is under
stood that the bill is not to become
law until next winter.
Very little has been done in Congress
during the past few days, excepting
political talk in the House, and the dis
cussion of the government of the 10
mile wide strip in Panama in the Sen
ate. All power there has been placed
in the hands of the commission, who
will make rules for the government of
the laborers, and also for their general
health, and as this tropical country is
anything but healthful, these rules will
have to be strictly enforced.
Senator Stewart, Of Nevada, has an
nounced that he will retire when his
term ends next March. He is the rank
ing member of the body, counting pri-
OrlJy or service as a TEST. he Is the
only member who was in the Senate
when Lincoln was President, and he
was present at the private swearing in
of Andrew johnson, whom he later
voted to convict of impeachment. When
he retires it will be on the fortieth an
niversary of his first entrance into the
Senate, This service has not been con
tinuous, for he was out of the body for
ed to the House and took his seat there
when Stewart first became Senator and
has had a continuous Congressional SER
vice. General Ketcham, of New York,
took his seat in the House at the same
time, and has been a member ever
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