The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
ITALIAN NAYAISHOW
Sea ManeuYerS Will Begin
Early in August.
RACE SUICIDE ALARMS FRANCE
Number of Deaths in Past Year
Largely Exceeds the Births, While
Versed Brigandnge Has Fresh
Outbreak I'm Macedonia.

London. June 20-The Italian naval
maneuvers for the current year viii be-
gin in the middle Of August and will last
for six weeks. As usual, the maneuvers
will be under the direction of the Duke
Of Genoa, and the King will be present
on one Of the last days.
The discussion Of the army estimates in
the Senate has given rise 10 some crit
iCism of the new system inaugurated by
Signor Giolitti five months ago OF having
a civilian as minister OF war. II is con-
tended by the critics that this innovation
for such II is in Italy-lcaves the prac-
tical direction OF the army entirely in the
hands Of the staff. II is admitted. how
ever. that Senator Casana. the civilian
minister of war, is a good man OF busi-
ness. who has so far done very we'll At
present. however. the system. with which
we are so familiar in England is stiu on
trial in Italy.
One Of the new minister's reforms is
the increase in the number of artillery
officers, involving a whole series Of pro-
motions and including no less than six
new commands. While this arrangement
is popular in the artillery, it IS viewed
with some alarm by officers in the infan-
try, who fear that their branch Of the
service viii henceforth be placed at a
disadvantage.
Race Suicide Alarms France.
The detailed census information for 1907
published by the French ministry Of
works more than bears out the gloomlest
forebodings concerning the depopulation
Of France. The excess Of deaths over
births totaled 1890. In Germany during
the same twelvemonth there was an ex.
cess of births over deaths TO the extent
Of 9lo.275. The only regions where the
French birth rate showed a surplus over
the death rate were Brittany Limousin,
the Northern departments, the Eastern
frontier. and Corsica, from which it would
seem that the race failure was acutest
among the purest French element. Not
only has the French population seemingly
come 10 a standstill, but II also shows a
tendency to become less French. The
nonnaturalized foreigners represent 25 per
1000 Of the total inhabitants, proper
ton which is enormously higher than
that Of the foreign element in the other
principal countries Of Europe.
Macedonia BriEands Active.
A recrudescence of activity on the part
OF the brigands is reported from Mace
donia. The notorious Bulgarian brigand.
Sandansky. who is suspected Of having
procured the murder Of Boris Sarakoff at
Sofia, is stated 10 have been severely
wounded in a fight with Turkish troops
in the Mehomia district. A strong Greek
band attacked and partially burned a Bull
garian village in the Kiritza district last
week. killing seven and wounding two in
/ hibitants before the troops could inter-
vene. Seven Bulgarian peasants were
shot dead by Greeks from an ambush not
far from Saloniki In view OF the preva-
lence of fine weather, outrages are now
expected 10 increase.
The Russian government is now in pos
session of the latest proposals put for
ward by the British government in reply
10 the counter scheme for Macedonian
reforms suggested by NJ. Isvolski in an
swer 10 Sir z. Grey's note of April last.
II will be found that IN his latest note the
British foreign secretary makes no new
departure in policy Sir E- Grey merely
suggests certain notifications of pro-
posals already put forward by Russia, on
which both governments were more or
less in agreement previously, and also an
amplihcation Of some matters on the main