Rock Island Argus., 1913-10-27


sponsihe, although it was the indirect !
cause one of the electricians leaving
a light,at the top, of the building which |
during the night set fire to the wood !
work
Japanese steamship companies have, .
during the present year. purchased be-
tween 40 and so secondhand steamers
from British companies, paying in
every case fairly high prices for them.
This led to report that the Japan
ese government was in the market
for $50 steamers to be used as trans
ports. the rumor connecting the re-
ported intention of the government
variously with an expedition against
China and to hold in reserve in case
of war with America. AS matter of
fact, although the steamers purchased
by the Japanese companies NIGH be
used in case of necessity for trans
porting war material, they would be
of little use for the carrying of troops.
They ale really freighters of type
that is no longer built by British
companies and are to be used in the
Korean and Manchurian trade, and
also in a trade that Japan is endeav-
oring to work up with the states on
| the western coast of South America.
! ShipyalHs are so busy at present
that the Japanese found it cheaper
to pay high prices for secondhand
steamers rhan build new ones.
In view of the important part played
by wireless telegraphy in the rescue
at sea of over five hundred of the pas
! sengers and crew of the steamer Vol
turno--ln response to her SOS sig
nal no less. than 10 steamers hurried
/ to the aid of the burning emigrant
ship--particular interest attaches to
an international conference to be held
in London next month for the purpose
of placing on an International basis
the new regulations that are proposed
are already in operation for the great
er safety of life and property at sea
Aourseen nations will be represented
at the conference, which was called
ar the initiative of the German EN-.
peror as result of the Titanic DIS
i.ster, The German delegation viii
propose that all passenger steamers
carrying Is persons, including the
CT ew. and freight steamers carrying
crews of so or more, be equipped with
a wireless installation capable of
sending messages "a hundred sea miles.
So far as the British government is
concerned. very elaborate and com
tlete regulations fhave been brought
into effect to prJride greater safety
at sea since the Titanic disaster and
some of these at least it is expected
will be adopted by other couEtr.es.
Besides wireless. there VIII come up
the question of tie provision OF lie
boats and the ins truction &c crews IN
ti'eir use: protect ion against fire, AMI
tile watertight subdivision or ali n-er.
chant ships. TIE experts az looking
forward to discussing the possibility
Of making ships uiisinkable. or. If tnat
Is impossible, of providing a snip that
I. i'll remain ahoat at least IL hon !
after meeting with scr Gus accident.
; Vienna Because of the recent wal
! IN the Balkans. l. is impossible for
/ thousands of wouid-be telephone sui,
scrlbers in Vienna. to get service
: There is little chance today TO get a
: telephone in your house under a year
and the reason is that the money ordi
; narily expended b., the government or
: telephones in Went a has been diverted
z for military puFpoBes. The putlic Il
2 indignant; there isi constant complain
j OF Interruptions - the service: tht
breaking of connection during conver
3 sations, outside discs on the line
;, etcetera. but all t0 no purpose; nearl,
e all the -vorkmen hive been dismissed
e and the opening OF three new ex
]. changes promised 1or this fell has beer
: indefinitely postpod,ed
1 For several yes5's past Vienna ha
S suffered from wtst might be calie
o Veritabie telephone famine Th
). demand for Telephones quickly exhaust
h ed the capacity of the government sys
9 TEN. No private person could hop
L to get selephonei under a year or II
d and when the tim: came to put In In
d apparatus nothing: was ever done b,
n fore an official hid called to inquir
+ II the telephone las still desired
{ frequently happer,sd that the intenc
o ing subscriber hadi grown tired of val