The Washington herald., 1909-03-21

tiOns except the United States. and the
English teiegraphers' union had wired
5000 and the promise to aid their French
confreres. In Paris the telephone and
postal employees had Joined in the move
ment.
Louis Mel a prominent Socialist Of
Aveyron, has been chosen general secre-
tary Of the Federated Labor Unions OF
France. a post corresponding In impor-
tance to that Of the president OF the
American Federation Of Labor. His aim
Is the unifcation OF all workers and he
is opposed to militarism. Mel was elected
by the close vote Of Is trades 10 q. He
Is a composltor.
In introducing 70 the Commons, Tues
day. the navy estimates calling for an
expenditure OF N15. 1850 the next year,
First Lord Of the Admiralty McKennA
created a profound sensation by asserting
that Germany would at the present rate
have the most powerful navy in the
world in the year 1871. when her pro-
gramme OF construction is complete He
estimated that at that time the Germans
would have thirteen battle ships OF The
Dreadnought and Invincible type. as
against twelve OF those types which Eng
land would have ready for duty But the
worst was that no one knew but that the
Germans were accelerating this pace so
that by 1912 they would have seventeen
OF the largest lighters. Hence he justi-
fed the enormous naval expenditure pro-
posed on the ground Of the nations Sc
curity. II Great Britain were 10 main
tain her naval supremacy they must have
al least four additional Dreadnoughts de-
hvered by March. 1872 In the debate.
Mr. Balfour. leader OF the opposition. fur
ther stirred the House by saying that,
from private information in his posses
sion. Germany would have IN 1912 twenty
one Dreadnoughts ready for action. He
said that the programme Of the govern
ment was utterly insufficient Premier
Asquith assured the House that there was
no friction with Germany. but reminded
the country that repeated offers 20 limit
naval expansion had been rejected by
Germany He admitted that Great Brit
ain no longer had the advantage IN the
speed with which war ships could be built
The newspapers reflected these alarmist
utterances In Parliament IN scare-head
and double-leaded editorials, even the
radical papers admitting the danger Of
the situation.
The only opposition TO the big natal
programme came from the L.aborites and
NatiOnalists. Dillon, Of the latter group.
deprecated the ministerial statements as
containing the seeds OF war The only
outcome Of this mad career would be a
European war or bankruptcy America
alone could break England's back IN ten
years. Macpherson. for the Laborites. de-
nounced the capitalists OF both Germany
and Great Britain as being responsible
Tor the warlike preparations Upon d.
vision. the programme was sustained by
A vote of S22 20 S3.
At Vueltas. in the province Of Santa
Clara Cuba. Tuesday. the rural guard
was reported to he in open revolt by lead
ing a number OF civilians into the woods
IN the hope of starting a revolution.
Troops We're rushed from Havana by or
der OF President Gomez. and the mutt
neers were surrounded. but whether the
movement was part Of a larger cOnspir-
acy against the Gomez government was
not known. Lavastide. enc OF the mutt
neers. was shot
The Cuban House has rejected, 4s 10 II.
the bin forbidding aliens 20 buy land. II
has passed bill permitting cock fights
on Sundays and holidays, but excluding
from such entertainments persons under
twenty.
As the result OF recent election IN Den
mark. the first held since the granting of
f2l Suffrage 20 women. there are seven
women in the Danish council They rep
resent : per cent Of the candidates elected
I'm the provinces The issue was social
ism against an alliance Of various kinds
Of conservatism. and great interest was
shown by the women OF Copenhagen. who
total Just half the number OF voters IN
the city The election was orderly. though
enthusiastic. Special provision was made
for sheltering the babies IN their carriages
while the mothers voted.
The second ballot for members OF the
ItaliSn Chamber Of Deputies. held last
sunday. emphasized the Increased
strength Of the Socialists and Radicals.
who have won thirty more seats in the
new Parliament Although the result
does not alter the governments position
al present. a Socialist or Radical ministry
is foreshadowed for the near future.
The decisions OF the International naval
conference recently keld in London were
published Monday. They are opposed IN
many respects 20 what has been the
ussges OF Great Britain They decree
that in certain circumstances. including
the pursuit OF captor. the capture may
be sunk. subject only TO compensation II
wrongfully sunk. But what IS termed
absolute contraband may be sunk at any
time and under any circumstances. Ex-
haustive lists have been made OF what IS
contraband- Foodstuffs are so classed
only when directly cons med to military
forces All neutral veszSis coming with
IN a blockade may be seized
Arrangements have been completed dur
ing the week for the installation by the
Krupp Company, OF Germany. OF an ex-
works al Santa Fe near Mexico City
Fourteen buildings OF steel and zinc have
been erected for the manufacture OF
smOkeless powder and Euncotton. Mexi-
cos first attempt 10 fOTtify her harbors
with modern rifles viii soon be under
taken at Salina Cruz, and other ports will
be so treated as fast as possible
King Menelik Of Abyssinia. whose death
had been reported not long ago. was
shown TO be not only alive, but IN active
control OF his government. about a week
ago. when he gave 20 Italy $4,000 for
the earthquake sufferers.
The strike OF the silver miners in New
South Wales. Australia. which has been
going on since the miners we're locked
out January 1. because they refused 20
accept a wage cut. has reached a critical
stage. Tom Mann. the English labor
leader and socialist. has been jailed for
melting TO riot. and Premier Wade has
ordered hundreds Of federal police TO pro-
tect the property Of the mining COM
pany.
Joseph Petrosinn, the italian police leu
tenant OF New York City who had made
a speciality OF pursuing the Black Hand.
Malta, and other murderous societies ema-
mating from Italy. was shot 10 death in
a street OF Palermo. Sicily, March l3. BY
two men, who made their escape At
this writing the Italian authorities have
not been able positively TO identify the
assailants although several arrests have
been made. The American detective was
there in disguise for the purpose CT mark
ing the Black Hand leaders. II Is said