The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-22
GERMANY ADDS ID COMPLICATIONS To the Already Vexing Situa-
 tion in Persia DUCHESS TAKES VOWS Young Peasant Steals Valuable Jewels From Cathedral at Moscow-Is
 Captured In Act by
 Policemen

St. Petersburg, May 21.-(Special.) )-rhe Persian situation has been still further complicated by German intervention. As I wrote last week the Czar's government was worried by the effort of a German concern acting, it Is believed, at the sug- gestion of the Berlin government, to se- cure concessions in Persia, with the idea of giving Germany a standing in the set clement of the troubles in the states do- minion. Now persistent rumors are cur rent that the Persian government has concluded loan with a group of Ger man bankers. The Bourse Gazette learns that Persia has promised to repay at once with the German money s1,25,0o0 owing to a British bank and f4,20OOO0 owing to Russian bank
 The Russian foreign office has no off cial confirmation of the German loan, but considers such a loan possible. I am as- sured in German quarters that Germany wishes to participate in the Persian loan and will not allow Persia to become second Morocco.
 The widowed Grand Duchess Sergius, who is daughter of Princess Alice of England and Grand Duchess of Hesse, yesterday took formal vows of devotion to the service of God and one's neigh, bors. The Community of Saints Martha and Mary, Sisters of Mercy, which she founded, and of which she is now mother superior, numbers 45 members. including Princess Obelensky and other aristo- crats. sf The man who stole the jewels in the Uspensk cathedral at Moscow was a young peasant named Femin. He was arrested in the building itself. A watch man and policeman who were stationed In the cathedral heard suspicious noise near the ikon screen and on approaching that place they discovered Femin hiding In niche. The policeman threatened to shoot him if he moved, and then fired several shots to raise an alarm, the bull lets striking two ikons which are the object of particular veneration Acting on information supplied by Femin, the police found some of the missing jewels hidden behind a cabinet containing church candles and some in a tomb The interpellations committee of the duma has unanimously approved of the interpolation concerning the shooting of a little girl of in Yaroslav prison. The child was accompanying her mother, a peasant woman. who was lodged in the jail. Hearing the tramp of convicts. the child approached the cell window and a warder below fired at her. The bullet Fortunately struck one of the window bars. but the child received a deep wound on the head from an iron splinter. General Arbuthnot, Crimean veteran who has been visiting Sevastopol with his son, an officer in the Indian army. re- ceived most friendly welcome from the Russian garrison there. The officers of the Fiftieth (Bielostok) regiment enter tafned them to luncheon at their mess. those present including General Webel commanding the Russian division, and Colonel Liakhoff. The health of the wis., itors was proposed in most cordial terms, hearty cheers were given and the regf- mental band played the British National Anthem. Colonel Liakhoff presented Gen eral Arbuthnot with a Bible found in the British trenches as a souvenir of his visit.
 Instructions have been sent to M. Kor- ostovetz, Russian minister at Pekin. to inform the Chinese government that un- less the question of navigation on the Sungari is settled with Russia by the end of June this country will, after that date ignore the regulations arbitrarily imposed by China, and the customs dues will he deposited in the Russo-Chinese bank Russia reserving the right to demand repayment on the dues already paid to the Chinese customs.