The Cardiff Times

125000 Burglary. Big Haul of Jewels. JE100 REWARD OFFERED. Jewellery to the value of £2,000 has been taken by burgiars from the residence of Mr C. Ward Jackson at Little Common. Bexhill. The loss was discovered on Tuesday, but no arrests have yet been made. The burglary was very cleverly carried out, the burglars getting away without leaving any clue behind them. The stolen property includes some fine articles, and a notice has been circulated by the East Sussex County Police offering Eldo reward for information which will lead to the discovery of the burglars. The following is a list of the stolen articles :— One cameo set with diamonds. One bracelet set with 1899 in diamonds. One round gold pendant, with large diamond in centre. One lady's diamond and emerald ring. One marquise opal ring, set with small diamonds. One single-stone topaz ring. One diamond cluster ring. One pink topaz ring, set with two diamonds. One ruby and sapphire and diamond ring. One diamond bracelet, set with large pearls. One horseshoe diamond brooch. One sapphire ring, red and white, with large diamond. One gold safety pin, one opal and one pearl each side. Mr Jackson was sleeping in the house on Monday night when the jewellery was stolen. He is very well known locally, being Master of the Bexhill Harriers, and much sympathy is felt for him in the district.

TO PREVENT WAR. Italian Arbitration Proposal. The Hague, Wednesday.—The following is the text of the Italian proposal regarding com- oulsory arbitration, upon which a vote will be iaken to-day :— The signatory Powers consider that the principle of compulsory arbitration is applic- able to disputes which have not been settled diplomatically, and which relate to questions of a judicial nature, and primarily to ques- tions of the interpretation or application of International Conventions. They conse- quently undertake to subject the application of compulsory arbitration to a thorough ftudy as soon as possible. This study will have to be terminated by December 31, 1908, at vhich time, or even earlier, the Powers represented at the Hague Conference will notify each other recipro- cally through the intermediary of the Royal Netherlands Government of the matters which they are prepared to make liable to compulsory arbitration. Should the proposal not be supported by a (arger majority than was given to the British proposal, or should it not have an admittedly adequate majority, it is probable that a new and broader proposal will be introduced. At present the principle of compulsion is ad- mitted, but so far as its application is con- cerned it is a matter of give and take between the two tendencies into which the conference is divided,- Reuter. Hague, Wednesday.—Committee A on com- pulsory arbitration met this evening. Count Tormelli (Italy 1, having declared that he would submit his proposal to the plenary com- mission only in the event of practical unani- mity not being secured for the broader pro- posal of the committee. A vote on the latter was proceeded with. After fresh votes had been taken regarding a case in which arbitra- tion should be compulsory, it was decided that only those cases for which there was an abso- lute majority, or on which there was an equal division of opinion should be included in the report and submitted to the full commission. In the result there were eight cases coming under the first and six under the second cate- gory. Article 16 was adopted in its entirety by 13 votes to five. The preceding articles were also voted and it was further resolved that azticle 16 of the arbitration convention of 1899 ohoold be maintained. Finally the scheme was adopted in its entirety by 13 to 4 with one abstention.—Renter.

A NEGRO PRESIDENT. The negro President of Liberia (Mr Alfred Barclay), the object of whose visit to this country is a consultation with the British Government on State matters, is not a native of Liberia. He was horn in Barbadoes, but with his parents emigrated to Liberia, and "wiopted the law as a profession. He held ■eral Government offices before being elected the Presidency. Liberia is a Negro Re- public nn the Pepper Coast of West Africa, extending =outl& of Sierra Leone from the President Barclay. Manna River to the Kavalli River. The interior of the country is covered with beauti- ful forests, and the soil is very fertile. The exports include coffee, renowned for its excel- lent quality, palm oil, palm nut kerneis, kola nuts, sugar, arrowroot, ivory, timber, hides, dye-woods, and gold. The origin of the Negro Republic dates back to 1822, when a number of American philanthropists bought a tract of land as a settlement for free negroes. The population is estimated at a million, and the constitution is modelled on that of the United States. The President, who speaks English, expects to be in England for some weeks.

LIYERPOOITBYE-ELECTION. Mr Sexton to Fight At. a meeting of the National Union of Dock Labourers, held at Liverpool on Wednesday, it was unanimously decided that Mr James Sexton, the general secretary of the Union, "Should be nominated as Labour candidate for 4be- Kirkdale Division of Liverpool. Mr Sexton lias accepted the invitation, and it is expected feat his candidature will have the support of .t.be other Labour organisations. He is a mem- ber of the Liverpool City Council, and was labour candidate for the West Toxteth Divi- 0km of the city at the last General Election, ■*tien he was defeated by Mr Houston, M.P. fte fact that he is a Roman Catholic will operate against him in Kirkdale, which is the. *cst Protestant division of Liverpool- A Liverpool correspondent, telegraphing at midnight, says -.—At a largely-attended [sheeting of the Liverpool Labour Representa- 'tkou Committee, Mr John Hill, of the Boiler- ,Soakers' Society, was unanimously adopted as t*le Parliamentary candidate for Kirkdale, object to the approval of his society.

Asked by a lady, who feared she would miss --train, if he would assist her by carrying her child to Lyme Regis Railway Station, a saw- belonging to the town named Walter Thomas Bill kindly offered to do so. To reach the station from the town a steep declivity «JHS to be surmounted, and Hill, who had heart disease of long standing, hurried up the hill, IIldfell down dead on reaching the platform.

Fierce Arab Attacks. FRENCH RECONNAISSANCE. Casa Blanca, Monday.—Yesterday General Drude made a reconnaissance 800 kilometres heyond the camp. The force consisted of a squadron of Spahis Goumeirs, two companies of Tirailleurs, and two field guns. They sighted the enemy five miles out. and the Tirailleurs carried a farm, which was supposed to be occu- pied by the enemy, at the point of the bayonet, but met with no resistance. Shortly afterwards the enemy appeared in strength, and boldly charged the Tirailleurs, who formed square and repulsed the attack. An Artillery captain was shot through the shoulder. He retired for a few minutes and then returned to his guns. Having beaten off the enemy, the force with- drew on the camp, but the Arabs renewed the attack, being greatly reinforced, and a fresh battalion was sent from the camp to support the detachment in checking the enemy. The Arabs, subsequently reinforced, renewed the attack, but after a considerable amount of firing they withdrew at nightfall. The French loss was one officer and four men wounded. The enemy's loss is not known.—Reuter. Tangier. Tuesday.—At about 5 o'clock Sun- day afternoon a band of Arab skirmishers and horsemen appeared in front of the French lines to the south of Casa Blanca. The cruiser Gloire opened fire, and this, with rifle and shrapnel fire from the troops on shore, wrought con- siderable havoc in the Moorish ranks. The enemv, however, continued to advance until within a kilometre of the French trenches, when they were compelled to retreat hy a heavy fire from the French mitrailleuses. Fighting continued until after dusk—Ex- change. Official Report. Paris, Tuesday.—Admiral Philibert has sent the following telegram to the Minister of Marine, dated Steptember 2nd :—" The posi- tions of the war vessels remain unchanged. Mazagan is quiet, but the country tribes are somewhat restless. Negotiations continue at Casa Blanca with Mulai Hafid's emissaries." A serious engagement has taken place at Casa Blanca, the Moors of Toddert and the Mizabs being scattered. The cruisers Gloire and Gueydon tookpart in the aetion,and fired about GO shells of various calibre.—Reuter.

French Again Attacked. MOORISH FORCE DISPERSED. Casa Blanca, Wednesday.—The French were attacked on all sides yesterday by the Arabs, who were repulsed. Colonel Provost, com. manding the Foreign Legion, was killed in the fighting. Casa Blanca, Tuesday.—At 4 o'clock this morning General Drude sent out a large force, which advanced parallel with the seashore. At 8 o'clock the force was attacked on all sides by Arabs in large numbers, but by 1 o'clock the Frenchmen had repulsed all attacks and had retired on the camp.—Reuter. Tangier, Wednesday Afternoon.—Further heavy fighting occurred on Monday at Casa Blanca. The French troops were attacked by a force of Moors estimated to be 10,000 strong, but drove the enemy inland for a distance of 15 kilometres. Several French officers were killed and 20 men wounded. The Moors are stated to have lost very heavily. The French general yesterday continued to advance in pursuit of the enemy.—Central News. Two Engagements. Paris, Wednesday.—A telegram from General Drude received to-day announced that two en- gagements were fought at Casa Blanca yester- day. A reconnoitring force composed of infan- try, cavalry, and artillery, altogether about 2,300 strong, left camp at 5 o'clock in the morn- ing, and came into collision near Sidi Wai- men with 6.000 Moors, who were dispersed. On their return the troops were again attacked by tribesmen in the vicinity of the camp. The General returned to camp at 2 o'clock. The French losses were eight killed and 17 wounded. —Reuter. The Biggest Battle Yet. Tangier, Wednesday.—Yesterday's battle at Casa Blanca was the biggest affair that has yet taken, place between French and Arab tribes. At dawn Arabs appeared in large numbers approaching over long lines of low hills, but General Drude, warned overnight of intended attack, had already taken precautions. French troops were drawn up in two squares protected by artillery and cavalry. Serious fighting began about 7 a.m., the Arabs advancing with great courage, singing and shouting as they came on under heavy fire from the guns of the ships in the bay and the infantry ashore. Algerian Goumiers (irre- gular cavalry) were again employed to cover the infantry and to draw on the Arab forces. This plan again succeeded, and the infantry fire played havoc among the advancing hordes. For some three hours the Arabs advanced, retreated, and advanced again, only to be hurled back at- close quarters by the French troops. At times they almost reached General Drude's camp. The horsemen were accompanied by a large number of Moors on foot, many of whom led mules laden with paniers, into which they threw their dead, in order not to abandon them on the field of^attle. The French squares gradually closed up. driving the remaining Arab forces back, and soon after 2 p.m. the last of the enemy had disappeared. The French losses were Commandant Pre- vost, commanding the Foreign Legion, two other officers, and seven men killed, and 17 wounded.—" Times," per Press Association. Official Report. Paris, Wednesday.—Admiral Philibert, tele- graphing under yesterday's date, says at Casa Blanca a reconnaissance had been carried out to a distance of five or six miles eastward of the camp, the force returning after having dis- persed the enemy. The Gloire supported the movement, firing 150-shells-—Reuter. Statement by French Premier. Paris, Wednesday.—Interviewed this even- ing on the subject of affairs in Morocco, M. Clemenceau, the Premier, made the following statement :— A telegram from General Drude received to-day confirms the news already known. General Drude, who recently made a recon- naissance from the Tachaddert camp. on this occasion began his operations in the Tettmallil direction—a fact which would seem to indicate that he is no longer uneasy with regard to the Tachaddert camp. It is therefore to be sup- posed that this camp has been abandoned. General Drude, who set out at 5 o'clock in the morning, left Casa Blanca with a strong column of infantry, cavalry, artillery, and Goumiers, numbering in all 2,300 men. He came upon a f orce of about 6,000 Moors near Sidi Madmen, and drove them off. On his return he was attacked by the Moors, who, following their usual tactics, had reformed in the rear, and courageously proceeded to make a second attack in the vicinity of Casa Blanca. We had eight killed and 17 wounded. These losses mnst be deplored, but it must be re- membered that operations of this kind cannot be carried out without casualties. General Drude has done what we have on several occa- sions instructed him to do—he has taken the offensive and has ascertained the strength of the enemy opposed to him. We may congratu- late ourselves on yesterday's affair because it enabled General Drude to dispesre one of the strongest bodies of Moors in the neighbour. hood of Casa Blanca. The newspaper statement that the Moors reached a point 500 metres from the French camp and almost surprised it is with- out foundation. General Drude makes no men- tion of such an occurrence in his despatch. If the Moors had attacked the camp in force the field artillery and the fire from the warships 'would have annihilated them." General Drude has at present 7,000 men at his disposal, including 500 Spaniards, who did not take part in the last action. this force, according to the General, is quite sufficient. He has not asked for further reinforcements and we have sent him more men than he applied for, including a battery of 75-milli. metre guns. As to the landing parties which at the outset supported the military, these have returned on board their ships.—Reuter.

A HYDE PARK MYSTERY. At Westminster on Wednesday, Mr Trout. beck held an inquesbnpon an unidentified body of a man found in Hyde Park on Sunday evening. The mat was respectably attired, and was wearing a straw hat and kid gloves, and had an umbrella. Dr. Trevor, who made the post-mortem examination of the body, said he could not find sufficient natural disease to account for death. He thought he could detect a smell of bitter almonds in the stomach, and he-had a suspicion of poison in his mind. The man might have died from syncope, for the body was very thin and looked as if the man bad not had sufficient food for some time past. The inquiry was adjourned for the purpose of an analytical examination of the stomach. The body was 5ft. 9!in. in length and was much wasted. The hair was dark brown, and the moustache a lighter brown. The eyes were greyish blue, and the face scarred as the result of a skin disease. A tooth was missing in both the upper and lower jaws, and one of the teeth of the lower jaw was curiously mis- placed.

EXTREMELY IRREGULAR. LG.B. to a Neath Union Rate Collector. Neath Board of Guardians met on Wednes- day, Mr Hopkin Jones presiding. A letter was read from the Local Government Board acknowledging the receipt of a communication from the Neath Guardians with reference to Mr W. L. David, rate collector for Michael- ston Higher. The Local Government Board regarded Mr David's proceedings as extremely irregular, and requested the guardians to convev this view to Mr David, and to caution him as to similar irregularities in the future, requesting him to keep his accounts in accord- ance with the Board's regulations, ft was agreed to comply with the terms of the letter..

Serious Strike Scenes. ENGLISHMEN-FIRED AT. Antwerp, Monday. — In conformity with orders issued by the Strike Committee, the men handling coal, and minerals, as well as porters, knocked off work this morning. It should be pointed out, however, that complete idleness only prevails in the docks, while on the wharves, where the men are absolutely isolated and are protected by railings, work is still partially proceeding. To-day excitement has increased, and acts of intimidation are more numerous. There were several scuffles at the harbour, and notably at the Pays de Wales Station, where Flemish workmen arrive. This station was besieged by strikers, who hissed and hooted the men at work. The warehouses of the grain works were simply taken by storm, several hundred strikers breaking into the yard, where there were several carts. The police guarding the premises were powerless to cope with the rioters, who succeeded in taking the wheels off the carts and smashing up articles in the latter. Stones were thrown by the strikers at a steamer alongside shed No. 55, on which some Englishmen were at work. The Englishmen, alarmed, asked to be taken back aboard the steamer Vancouver. Englishmen at shed No. 35 were likewise put to flight by the strikers. At the Entrepot a charabanc on which some strike-breakers were riding was attacked by strikers, who took the wheels off the vehicle and prevented the men going to work. A crane belonging to the Stcinnemann firm of the Maritime Federation was thrown from the wharves into the water, and several other appliances were damaged. Foreigners who were working at the spot had to stop work. A distiller's dray which passed by was seized by the strikers, who shared the liquor among themselves. A German sailor who was taken for an Eng- lishman was attacked by the strikers and badly mauled. MM. Steinnemann and Van Den Broeck went to the burgomaster to ask for assistance and protection. The burgo- master being absent, they next went on to the commissary of police, who declared he could do nothing more, as the police were over- whelmed with work. They ultimately pro- ceeded to the Governor to ask for the protec- tion of the Civic Guard and the Army. A number of women who are employed in the tanning yards also went on strike this morning. A meeting of workmen was held this morn- ing, several strikers being present. The strike leaders informed the men of the state of the strike fund, telling them that on an average 1.500îcs. to 1,7COfcs. were coming in every day. In the hall were many women in an excited state. A gang of men from Brussels who arrived yesterday evening were stopped by strikers as they were going to work in charabancs. This morning the strikers explained the situation to them, whereupon the Brussels men went on their way back to the station again, followed by the strikers. Some men who threw stones were arrested.—Reuter. English Labourers for Antwerp. In connection with the Antwerp dock strike over 200 Dover dock labourers left the English port on Monday for Antwerp. Stevedore Besieged. Antwerp, Monday.—A master stevedore was besieged in his office for two hours to-day by a number of strikers, who also did considerable damage on board the steamer Agemonia. The strikers broke up the machinery belonging to the grain discharging company, and an engi- neer was badly assaulted. A quantity of gear was thrown overboard from the steamer Sydney. A man has been arrested for assaulting an Englishman. Work is still going on on board a few vessels, but the foreigners and other outsiders are terrorised and refuse to lend assistance. The Shipping Federation met this afternoon to consider the situation. After the meeting a deputation of members called on the burgo- master, who had by this time returned, and had a conference with him. More foreign labourers are expected this evening, and further disturbances are feared.—Reuter. Englishmen Fired At. Antwerp, Monday, 8 p.m.—A number of English dockers returning from work were attacked this evening, when they were going on board the Cambroman. An attack was also made on a party of English dockers in the docks by 20 strikers, who threw stones and used revolvers. A policeman escorting the Englishmen used his revolver and put the assailants to flight. Nobody was injured. A number of Englishmen returning from the Fashode, escorted by two policemen, were set upon by 60 dockers, who fired revolvers and threw stones. The policemen in this case also replied with their revolvers and drove off the strikers, but again nobody was hurt. A cart used to bring the Englishmen to work was thrown into one of the docks-—Reuter.

GOODS SET ON FIRE. Antwerp, Tuesday, 4 p.m.—The lawless violence of the strikers is growing. Six strikers who were passing by the Place de Meyr this afternoon attacked a German docker, who was going to the offices of the North German Lloyd. The man was severely beaten. The Shipping Federation has sent the Chief Commissary an open letter recording various incidents, including the following :— At 11 o'clock this morning in the Place Van Schoenebeeke four carts were attacked by the strikers, who caught hold of the horses' heads, cut the traces, and seized the goods, which consisted of casks of oil. They wrenched the hoops off the casks and smashed up the casks, pouring all the oil into the mud. The police had to make three charges before the mob dispersed." Work on board the steamers Lys, Elga, Malatastron, Pigrifu, Stella, and Elyn was prevented by the strikers. The police had to draw their swords to disperse the strikers, who had invaded the Malatastron and had damaged the windlasses and other gear on the vessel. The sailors on the Belgian steamer Lys were assailed by the strikers. Four escaped, but three others were badly knocked about. A workman named Leaders suffered the same treatment. Her skipper, Captain Flit, was also assaulted by the strikers, who gave him a severe beating. A foreman of the Gilsen firm was besieged in his house by strikers living in the district. As the local police had been requisitioned for service elsewhere, the man was quite unprotected. As the day wore on the conduct of the strikers became still more menacing. Traffic at the docks was almost paralysed, and col- lisions between the police and the men occurred at every moment, the former being obliged to make use of their weapons. One policeman sustained a fatal wound in the head from a brickbat thrown at him in a charge. Several bales of cotton have been set on fire. The staff of the Civic Guard met at 3 o'clock, and decided to call out the special corps of riflemen scouts for service at 5 o'clock to-morrow morning. Gatherings of more than five persons have been prohibited. The Trade Union Committee of the Socialist party of Brussels has decided to help the strikers, a.nd to send subscription lists round to all Belgian towns. The Small Landlords' League sent a deputation to the Shipping Federation to-day, asking it to stop the lock- out. The Federation replied that in the pre- sent circumstances it was determined to adhere to its decision to continue the struggle. -Reuter. Antwerp. Tuesday.—An inquiry into the burning yesterday of a cart containing bed- ding for strike-breakers shows that the cart had been drenched with petroleum. At a meeting this morning speakers coun- selled workers to be calm, and advised them to beware of people paid to stir up trouble. German dockers who arrived last night and refused to work were present at the meeting, and said if their comrades knew the state of affairs they would cease work.—Reuter. Motor 'Bus Charges Rioters, Antwerp, Tuesday.—This morning's rioting was chiefly round the old docks, along the Vieux-Lion Canal, and in the Plaine Falcon and in the adjacent streets. The first overt act of hostilities was an attack on a motor 'bus, on its way to fetch a load of Yellows," of whom a number has arrived on the Deours Sainte Aldegonde. The strikers barred its way but the driver putting on full speed dashed through them, followed by a shower of stones. A detachment of police close by charged with drawn swords, but the crowd gave way but slowly. Later the appearance of a pantechni- con, which it was surmised might be filled with strike breakers, coming from the direction of the Place Marguerite, again excited the crowd, which at once assumed such a threatening attitude that the police delivered arcbarge. The mob, however, held their ground and even drove the police back. The van was quickly surrounded and the police made a fresh effort to save it, this time firing their revolvers, but again they were swept back. Meanwhile the horses had been taken out of the shafts, and the next minute the van was lying on its side. Now for a moment the police got the upper hand and reached the vehicle, but again had to fall back, and in a few minutes more the pantechnicon was nothing but a mass of wreckage. The strikers then made their way to the Plaine Falcon, where similar scenes of violence were repeated and a car laden with petroleum was burned. Meanwhile there had been a number of attempts to interfere with the Englishmen and others at work on various vessels, and the situation there became so threatening that at half-past eight the Burgomaster went down to the b arbour. Shortly afterwards matters ap- peared to be improving, the crowds of strikers diminishing considerably. Then for some hours there was a lull in the disturbances, but the complexion of affairs again changed for the worse in the afternoon, the chief trouble this time being along the Canal de L'Ancre, and at the horse market. In the Canal de L'Ancre the mob set fire to a barge load of timber. On charging them the police were received with volleys of stones and other missiles, and it was here that a policeman was killed by a blow from a brickbat. =In the hoise market and in the neighbouring streets carts were overturned right and left and the police fired on the rioters repeatedly. Six persons in the crowd were wounded, some women and children being among them. —Press Association Special Telegram.

TI M BER YARD IN FLAMES. Antwerp, Wednesday.—At about 6 o'clock this evening a serious fire, which there is every reason to believe was due to incendiarism, broke out at Warehouses 26 and 28 on the timber dock. At 7 o'clock the fire was still burning furiously, the flames rising to such a height that they could be seen from all parts of the city. The conflagration spread rapidly, and all the 14 sheds in the block were destroyed. The quantity of timber involved is estimated at from 800,000 to 900,000 cubic feet, and the loss so far at £16,000. The Civic Guard and the 5th Regiment of the Line are on duty protecting the fire brigade from interference. The Executive Committee of the Millers' Associatjpjr). has written to the burgomaster and the Ministry of the Interior setting forth the losses suffered by the millers through the strike, and asking that measures may be taken to remedy the present state of things. The Minister of Industry and Labour has arrived here, and ha-s had a long interview with the burgomaster. It is believed that the best means of finding a basis of conciliation were discussed. A number of Englishmen were attacked while going on board a boat for Harwich at the Quay Cockerill. The police and the Civic Guard quickly arrived on the scene and restored order.—Reuter. Antwerp, Wednesday, 3 p.m.—Things have been comparatively quiet here to-day owing to the vigorous steps taken by the authorities, and only a very few in- cidents are reported. Strikers have caused a few disturbances in town, where the police and gendarmery are not in the same force as in the neighbourhood of the docks. No men could be got to work on board the Cedia for a time, because there were no civic guards to protect them. Half an hour later, however, a detachment arrived, and the men set to work. In the Hue du Convent a cart was attacked by the strikers, who emptied it and turned it upside down. The police were obliged to charge the mob twice. No casualties are re- ported. On the Quay St. Michel a cart loaded with casks of oil was also overturned. The casks were broken open and the oil poured out on the ground. Four removal vans belonging to the firm of Walehot were thrown into the Herenthals Canal this morning. Five thousand loaves and 2,500 lbs of rice are being distributed to the strikers every day. The strikers held their usual meeting this morning, about 3,(0) men being present. One of the leaders protested against the violent acts of yesterday, declaring they were not committed by the strikers, but by young roughs paid to stir up trouble so that the civic guard might be called out. It is in fact true that the rioting was originated for the most part by women and boys.—Reuter. Antwerp, Wednesday, 10 p.m.—The fire is still raging. A whole regiment of Engineers is assisting in the work of fighting the flames, and trenches have been dug to arrest their progress. The Metropole announces that after his conference with the burgomaster, the Minister of Labour expressed the conviction that nego- tiations would result in the workmen resuming work at five francs a day, the question of an increase in their wages being considered sub- sequently.—Reuter. Brussels, Wednesday Night.—The conflagra- tion is spreading, and it is expected that it will not be extinguished for at least three days, and that timber worth half a million sterling will be destroyed.—Central News.

Fire & Sword in Russia. PEASANTS BURNED ALIVE. Official's Tragic Resistance. Rt. Petersburg, September 1.—Accounts arc constantly reaching St. Petersburg of terrible cases of lynch law executed by peasants on the dupes of revolutionary agitators. The most inhuman occurrence hitherto is reported from Vosdirgensky, a village in the district of Makarieff. A full account is published in the Volga Gazette." The huts of two peasants named Dourassoff and Retchkin burst into flames simultaneously and the fires spread to the neighbouring dwellings, which were also consumed. The furious villagers accused the two peasants of incendiarism at the instance of revolutionary agitators, seized and bound them, and threw them into the flames. A rush was made to the house of the local forest guard. There a young apprentice was found and captured. After horrible maltreat- ment he was dragged to the scene of the fire and thrown on a heap of burning straw. Four times he succeeded in escaping, screaming. from the names then he was strangled, and his body burned to cinders. Shouts were raised of Now, let's go for the politicals,' and the peasants dispersed in all directions on murderous intent. Many of them were armed with rifles. One party met and killed a young peasant of the village suspected of revolutionary leanings. The life of a second peasant, named Nossoff. was only spared on account of his turning informer. He recounted that the organisation received 25 roubles for every fire that occurred in the district. Their object was to lay waste the whole countryside between Vosdirgensky and Vladimirsky—if they succeeded they were to be well rewarded. Nossoff swore that the ringleader of the gang was the young forest- guard killed by the peasantry. There have been many false denunciations of "politicals out of personal spite, and perfectly innfecent persons, such as Zemstvo hospital attendants, have been shockingly tortured. The peasants assemble in crowds outside the buildings of the Cantonal Administration, and clamour for the names of political suspects, in order that they may hunt them down and kill them. TRAGIC CONFLICT. At the same time the Zemski natchalniki, or Government land superintendents, continue to be the object of hatred on the part of the peasants. One of these officials, M. Doubli- ansky, has just met a tragic death in the Government of Chernigoff. The circumstances were melodramatic. A band of peasants, some of whom carried carbines, passed late at night through the village of Gloukhovke. The gendarme on duty at the entrance of the village-asked Who goes there ?" The reply came, Escort," and the gendarmes saw several unarmed men, who seemed to be prisoners, in the midst of the band. This, of course, was merely to deceive him and prevent warning being given to the authori- ties. The pretended escort afterwards hastened towards M. Doubliansky's house, which stood in its own grounds, and drew a cordon round it. Hearing their movements, M. Doubliansky, who was at work in his study, appeared on the verandah, but when he saw the menacing attitude of the approaching peasants he again retired into the house and ordered all the lights to be extinguished. The peasants opened fire with their carbines. It was a moonlight night, and M. Doubliansky could see his assailants clearly, and took good aim in replying to their fusilade. For over an hour he successfully withstood the attack, but some of the peasants then crept close to the house and set fire to an outbuilding in the courtyard. The flames soon got firm hold on the house, but M. Doubliansky did not cease his resist- ance, and under cover of his fire his wife and children safely escaped to the neighbouring village. He himself perished in the flames. After accomplishing theirpurpose the peasants —who were 88 in number—harnessed M. Doubliansky's horses to the carriages and took to flight.-Press Association Special. A Cossack Onslaught. St. Petersburg, Wednesday.—A telegram from Elisabethpol states that a revolver was fired from a window at the paymaster of a Cossack Regiment, killing his horse. The Cossack escort informed a sotnia of cavalry, which was cantering in a neighbouring barracks and the latter galloped up. opened a heavy fire indiscriminately on the surrounding houses. Eleven persons were killed or wounded.—Reuter.

Etna in Eruption, FLIGHT OF PANIC-STRICKEN PEOPLE, Rome, Saturday Night.—Telegrams from Sicily state that the eruption of Mount Etna continues. The inhabitants of the neighbour- ing villages are much alarmed, and, fearing danger from the earthquake shocks accom- panying the eruption, are sleeping in the-open air. Naples, Sunday Morning.—Mount Vesuvius began to show signs of a recurrence of activity on Friday, and is now in violent eruption- The spectacle is very impressive lava is pouring from scores of fissures in the mountain, and the earth is being almost continuously shaken by seismic tremors. The main lava stream is travelling rapidly in the direction of Torre Annunziata, the inhabitants of which town are panic-stricken, and are seeking safe shelter for themselves and their belongings. The crater is shrouded in smoke, and is emitting large quantities of ashes, some of which have fallen in Naples itself.—Central

News. ————————— Rand Mine Disaster. CHINESE WORKMEN KILLED. Johannesburg, Monday.—An accident in- volving the death of a number of Chinese occurred to-day at the New Eleinfontein mine The day shift was coming up, when a terrific noise indicated that the hanging wall between the seventh and eighth levels had collapsed. All the whites in the mine reached the sur- face. Seventeen Chinese were entombed. The rescuers recovered seven seriously injured, but four have perished. Six Chinamen are still entombed. There is no hojje of rescuing them,—Reuter < <-

Another Horse Maimed. DAYLIGHT ATTACK NEAR WYRLEY. INTENSE EXCITEMENT. For the second time in a week the Great Wyrley district was on Saturday startled by the news that a horse had been found muti- lated in a field, as we briefly reported. As the scene of operations has been shifted some few miles from Great Wyrley itself it would seem that the perpetrator has either taken fright at the precautions adopted or is seeking to draw the attention of the police from his favourite hunting ground. The scene of the outrages has been trans- ferred from Great WyrJey to Walsall, where a horse was on Saturday found in a field in MeHish-road severely injured. The outrage took place in broad daylight, under the very eyes of the authorities who are investigating the atrocities. When the report spread that another horse had been wounded hundreds of people flocked to the district. The animal, valued at JE35, belongs to Mr Atkins, a grocer of Walsall, and was put into a field belonging to Mr Gaunt, farmer, Mellish- road, Walsall, a mile from town and seven or eight miles from Wyrley. At 5 o'clock a cowman was in the field and observed nothing wrong with the three horses which were graz- ing there. At 8 o'clock, however, a. waggoner named Goode went to the field to fetch his horse, when he noticed Mr Atkins' animal was in great pain, and discovered that it was bleed- ing from a wound in the hip. The alarm was given, and Mr Watson, veterinary surgeon, who was early on the scene, declared the wound, which extended along the hip for 11 inches, and was over an inch in depth, could not have been the result of an accident. I am certain the wound was maliciously done," said Mr Watson. We have searched every inch of the field for glass or barbed wire, but we could not find any, nor were there any traces of blood." The wound was successfully stitched up in the presence of Mr Thomson,\chief constable of Walsall. Mr Watson thought the injury had been caused by a billhook or similar curved knife, while another theory is that it could have been done with a boathook such as bargemen use, and which they are not infrequently seen carrying in the neighbourhood of the canal here and at Great Wyrley. Special police from Great Wyrley, Cannock and Wal- sall made an inspection of the field, but no weapon was found. The discovery was made just outside the borough, in the Rushall Divi- sion so now the work of the county police is made more difficult, through the wide area which they have to cover. As in the case of the recent Wyrley affair, the field in which the animal was found has a footpath leading right across it, and is next to the main road. Mysterious Letters. The most sensational phase of these outrages is the number of anonymous letters that have been circulated, and these all appear to be in the same handwriting. It would appear that Mr Atkins had been marked as a victim for some time. One of the anonymous letters referred to in the Edalji case was addressed to No. 3, Park-street, Walsall, which was for- merly occupied by Mr Atkins. It was, how- ever, vacated by him, and the letter was re- turned to the dead letter office, and it is understood that it afterwards passed into the possession of Sir A. Conan Doyle. Nobody in the district believes that the atrocities are the work of a sane being. A postcard, bearing the Birmingham post- mark, posted on Friday night, addressed to tha Rev. S. Edalji, was received by that gen. tleman on Saturday morning, but no sense whatever could be made of it. There are a lot of strange words of abuse put together hap- hazard. A Postcard Warning. Another strange postcard was received late on Friday evening by Mr Arthur Snape, of Stanley's Farm, Landywood, which is close to the scene f of the last outrage. It bore the postmark of Walsall, and the date of August 29th. On the back was a list in pencil of all the outrages to date. and on the other side was the following message, written in ink in a scrawl. ing hand Great Wyrley. Sir,—Be sure and get all your forces into the fences to-morrow, and look after all your cows in the Selds: There will be trouble. J.F.T. Below was the postscript .— Don't be about yourself after 10 to-night, or you will know it. The handwriting is believed to be that of many of the anonymous letters which have terrorised the district. Stanley's farm was the scene of the last of the outrages in* 1903. The police have taken possession of the post- card, and attach the greatest importance to it. Sherlock Holmes" Emphatic. "As far as you are concerned," asked a Press representative of Sir Conan Doyle have you finished with the case?" and Sir Arthur emphatically replied, I shall never finish with it until Edalji's innocence is abso- lutely established. I have had two years of great worry and trouble with the case, and sometimes I wish I had never touched it, but that is only a temporary mood, for I suppose if I had not done what I have Edalji's inno- cence would not be so clear as it is. And. things are moving every day now. I find there is still an amazing prejudice against him in the locality, but it is purely colour prejudice. He is the most harmless of men, he has no vices, and is quite incapable of committing the crime he was convicted of." It is not my place," he continued, to suggest what measure should be taken against the man who I believe committed the original outrages, in order to prove whether he is re- sponsible for the latest. I believe that the outrages will continue, though not perhaps immediately, now that the criminal knows he is suspected. But he is a madman, and there is no prophesying what a madman will or will not do. If the outrages are resumed, there are several obvious things that could be done. His house could be ringed round with worsted, and if the worsted were found to have been broken during the night, there would be something to go upon, or if his house were searched and bloodstains found on his clothes, or if the weapon were found with which the deed was done (and I could tell them what the weapon is !) that would be justifiable evidence against him. But, of course, without such evidence it is idle to talk of an arrest." Reward of £200 Offered. A correspondent at Great Wyrley telegraphs on Sunday night that no arrest has yet been made in connection with tho recent outrages, and the police are without any clue. A reward of JB200 is now offered for information which shall lead to the detection and conv ction of the perpetrators.

WYRLEY HAUNTED BY WEIRD FORMS. Wyrley at night is thus described by aspecial correspondent The Rev. Mr Elhlji and his little household were asleep behind bolted doors and barred windows. In the churchyard mouldy tomb- stones leaned wearily among the long rank grass, as if tired of standing sentinel over the dead who have laid so long in that dank and dismal burial ground. I felt inclined to howl and run for my life when I saw a rough-lodking head come up like a jack-in-the-box over the top of one of the tombstones, and began to act a scene amaz- ingly reminiscent of one of the hair-raising episodes on the Christmas Carol," but it was only a faithful policeman who, poor man, had left his tobacco at home in Caimock. He was sodden with rain and his moustache was wet. Wandering up by the little ivy-covered farmhouse, where Harry Green, the Hero of the slaughtered yeomanry horse lived and confessed in 1903, I found there was another concealed watcher, and between him the croucher in the churchyard, where a whistle could summon either, were the shadowy forms of tall horses sublimely ignorant of the stress and the trouble they were causing. And so all along for miles there was not a footpath in all the district that was not under surveillance. There was not a cornfield but therein lay and soaked some ragamuffin who is a policeman by day and a tramp (with a bludgeon and a whistle) by night. And in all this wide area there was not a horse but was the object of tender and careful solicitude, such surveillance indeed that princes might envy. Tramps slouched and slithered along, but neither the slouch nor the slither could disguise the regulation foot work of the profession. They were policemen. One miserable-looking specimen stopped me and begged a match. I had seen him in the morn- ing at the Cannock Petty Sessions. He was a sergeant. After that I fully expected to run up against Captain Anson, the chief constable of Staffordshire, but I missed him. He was probably on a hayrick somewhere. Daylight watching is going on as well. The work is tremendous, and interrogation is continual and systematic. So far it has led nowhere, and I honestly believe that the police are just as much in the dark as ever they were. Sir A. Conan Doyle's suspect," who is well known in Cannock, is rather proud than other- wise of his sudden leap into fame, particularly since his house has been watched by detectives and journalists. By the way, Sir Arthur's trusty henchman, Watson," is down here with full authority to take Inspector Campbell by the hand and lead him to victory. The police are very much obliged to Sir Arthur for his kindness and for all the trouble he has taken, and they admit that if Great Wyrley existed only in the pages of a magazine they might do wonders. But Great Wyrley is a hard, stubborn fact, and not fiction by any means. Hence the difficulty. At present, and for weeks to come, Wyrley will be watched as it never has been watched before, and unless tfie maimer pos sesses diabolical cunning he will be a fool to attempt another outrage. He will do as he has done before, a.nd wait for the police to slack off in their watchfulness, and then he will come down like the Assyrian. The offer of t jEZOO reward, in addition to the JE50 offered by Aaptain Harrison for information which. jsWl lead to the identification of the culprit may lead to something interesting, and I hear that several people have been to Cannock and had audience with Inspector Campbell, with what result I know not.

HORSE STABBED IN YORKSHIRE The Mysteries at Great Wyrley. A case bearing every evidence of cattle maiming was on Tuesday reported to the Hull police. A valuable mare belonging to Mr Brabncr, a local carrier, has been found with two deep wounds in her forehead. She was fastened up safely, and when a man went to attend to the animal he found the gate leading to the stables wide open. The affair is shrouded in mystery, and the police are making investigations. The mare was in great pain from the injuries, which were caused by some sharp instrument. The "Sherlock Holmes" Track. To add to the difficulties of investigation into the outrages at Great Wyrley is the cam- paign of postcards, which probably mean nothing in most instances butpracticaljoking. The latest is a warning to the Rev. S. Edalji. It is written on a Birmingham picture post- card, dated from Walsall and posted at Wolverhampton. It is addressed to The Rev. Edalji, the Vickrige, Gt. Wyrley, nr. Cannock," and runs Sir, we are sorry we eld not catch the old donkey, or it would be is time, and you get indoors or you will know abt it.-Yours A.L. Most of the talk in the district relates to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's suspect, or the man who is locally believed to be in that unfortunate position. It need hardly be said that the police are not neglecting to profit by the material which Sir Arthur has placed in their posses- sion, but so far as it is possible to probe the official opinion it is entirely against the results arrived at by the author of Sherlock Holmes." Captain Anson, the chief constable, will not, of course, discuss the matter, but the police view is that the whole of Sir Arthur's fabric of reasoning, investigation, and deduction is built up on false premises. Every credit is given to him for having made an earnest and in many ways remarkable attempt to throw light upon a peculiarly ba,ffling mystery, but it is considered that he went to the wrong quarters for his information. and was gene- rally misled. The police do not believe Sir A. Conan Doyle's suspect to be the author of the outrages.

———! !< .a-< J! British Soldiers' Protest. UGLY TRANSVAAL INCIDENT. Pretoria, Monday. — The Advertiser asserts that a field troop of the Royal Engi- neers, who were proceeding to the Orange River Colony for manoeuvres, mutinied as a protest against their inconsiderate treatment by a certain officer while on trek near Veree- niging. The men slashed up their saddlery. A troop of the Queen's Bays were requisi- tioned to escort them back to Pretoria. It is rumoured that this is the third time that a passive mutiny of this sort has occurred within the last six months.-Reuter. A Denial ? Pretoria, Tuesday.—General Sir H. J. Hild- yard, commander-in-chief, interviewed by Reuter's representative, said he had neither seen nor heard the report of the Transvaal Advertiser," telegraphed yesterday, that a mutiny had occurred among a field troop of Royal Engineers who were proceeding to Orange River Colony for manoeuvres.*

Pogrom in Odessa. I ANOTHER ONSLAUGHT ON JEWS Self-Defence Strictly Forbidden. Odessa, Monday.—On Saturday, while an artillery officer was examining a bomb re- cently seized in a house, he accidentally dropped it. An explosion ensued. The officer and three police officials were killed. In revenge for their deaths, the Black Hundred organised a pogrom, which is still going on. Their supporters are running through the steets firing upon the Jews. So far three men have been killed and nearly sixty seriously wounded. Terrible panic prevails. The police are quite inactive. Not a single hooligan has been arrested. The authorities have strictly prohibited any measures for self.defence.-Reuter. Odessa, Monday Night.-Rioting broke out at noon, and for three hours panic prevailed amongst the peaceful inhabitants. The mobs used their revolvers freely, and every Jew encountered by them was brutally ill-used and beaten. Inquires this evening show that 17 persons have been admitted to the hospitals suffering from serious revolver wounds. Not a single arrest was made.—Central News.

WOMAN SET ON FIRE. A woman named Mary Ann Moston, of Longton, Staffs, died on Saturday as the result of severe burns to the head and shoul- ders. Her sister, Ellen Shenton, is in custody in connection with the affair. Shenton is said to have made a voluntary statement to the police that on the previous Saturday Moston provoked her by some 'expressions, adding, I became excited, and threw oil' over her, and then went and fetched a match and set fire to her hair. As soon as it was done I tried to dowse it and screamed."

l I THE OPEN COUNCIL. The above is the Lion of St. Mark, Venice. Oppo. site the Dogex Chamber in the Palace wa" a head of this Lion, with mouth open, into which persons ecr etly threw whatever was t3 meet the eye of tha Doge. We place t at the head o: thi} column to ndicate that public letters are received by us, and also letters requiring answer3 on legal and general topics.

LEGALTTDVICE. By a Cardiff Solicitor. Inquirer.-The Aliens Act was passed on the 3rd August, 1905, and therefore by a Conservative Government. J.D.—Mr Robert A. Hudson, 42, Parliament-street, Westminster, is the secretary of the National Liberal Federation. Witnesses' Fees (County).—No, he is not entitled to any allowance except for travelling expenses, unless he is a domestic or menial servant, a labourer, a servant in husbandry, a journeyman, an artificer, a handicraftsman, a miner, or any person engaged in manual labour. Will (Anxious).-It should be signed at the foot or end." Each sheet should be signed by the testator, but there is no necessity for the witnesses attestiug every such signature. The operative signature, that is the one at the foot or,end" must be witnessed in the usual way. Evidence (D.J.P.).-We do not think so, because no inference is to be drawn from omission to answer a letter unless the circumstances entitled the writer to an answer. Whether it is so in this case we cannot say, as you do not give sufficient informa- tion. Tender (Arthur').—We take it the cheque would have been met. If it was refused on the sole ground that the amount was insufficient, we certainly think you have a good case. See a local solicitor. Duty (E.C.C.).-The executor is primarily the person accountable for estate duty, but the liability rests on all beneticiaries. Common (Tenant).-You have a grievance against the lord of the manor for allowing the rabbits to mul- tiply to such an extent. You cannot take the law into your own hapds by killing the rabbits, nor, indeed, can you fill up the burrows, for that would be meddling with the soil, and in itself a trespass your only remedy is by action. We would advise you to call a meeting of the commoners and make up your minds to take concerted action. Pardon (Bronwen).—It is now granted by warrant under the sign manual, and countersigned by the Home Secretary.

Alleged Customs Frauds. SENSATIONAL ARRESTS IN FRANCE. M. Ernest Mary in Custody. SOUTH WALES-ASSOCIATIONS A sensation has been caused in France (an. also in Cardiff and Swansea, where th firm is well known) by the arrest i Paris of M. Ernest Mory, of the Intel national Transport Company, Mory an Co.. on a charge of defrauding th French Customs. A Custom House examinei named Lhoste-Bulaine, and Messrs Mory's ovi Customs officer, M. Hippolyte Lefevre, ha\r4 also been arrested, being accused of actingii conspiracy with M. Mory, by making fase declarations on the nature and weights oi goods paying duty. As an example of the nature of the allepd frauds, it is stated that cases containig essence of roses, liable to heavy duty, were e. clared as being another kind of perfume "tp mixture on which no duty was payable ad cases weighing 1,000 kilos, are said to hee been entered as weighing 500 kilos. As soon as the arrests were effected/ Berthelot, the police agent, made a thorouj seizure of important papers at M. Morp private residence at 62, Boulevard Bourdc, Neuillv-sur-Seine. These have been giv< over to M. Blanc, an expert in writing, to d) cover over what period the alleged fraui have extended. Owing to the immense tran actions of this firm, established in 1814, iti impossible to give even an approximate id4 of the amount involved. The three prisoners, M. Mory, Lhost Bulaine, and Lefevre, were brought before Ik Andre. judge d'instruction, and committed t the Prison de la Sante on the charge of falsif5 ing documents and defrauding the Custom: and they now await their triaL On Saturday the accused chose aa the! respective counsel Maitres Georges Bellet, B L Canet, and Peret. M. Bula,ine, the accused Custom exam: nej was attached to the staif at the St. Lnzar Railway Station, Paris, where he was o ie c the oldest hands. His salary was 3,500fcs pe annum. It is over fifteen years ago sine a 8J:f frauds on the part of the Customs staff been discovered. This precedent was calld the Affaire Flageolet. At the head oftlce of Mory and Co., 3, JM St. Vincent de Paul, great consternajon ■ followed the arrest of M. Mory. There J a j general belief among the large staff ofam-J ployees that his innocence of the ciargr will ] be proved. livery year the firm piys *bou £ 1,500,000 francs to the French Custoxus ported goods. The firm of Mory and Co. ha-veoiensive international relations by reason o their very large transport business, having binchea throughout France, London, etc.

XH l -11 Is the safest way to steady health. Many people are kept ill because they do not knor < how to select food that their own particular bodies will tab up and build upon. i What will answer for one will not do for another. If one is ailing it is safe to change food entirely an* ( go on a plain simple diet. For Breakfast, say, Cooked Fruit, Dish of Grape-Nuts and Cream or Milk, j Two lightly-boiled Eggs, One Cup of our Postum Food Coffee, Slice of Toast, no more. Man I but a diet like that makes one feel good after a few days' use. t The most perfectly made food for human use is I Qrape~§Zuts Get the little book, "The Road to Wellville," in each packet, 1 A/ WARNING.—Imitations of Grape-Nuts are on the market, paying the retail grocer a special profit to push the sale. If you really want a skilfully and scientifically made brpin food, insist upon getting Grape-Nuts. Most grocers will promptly supply genuine articles without attempt to palm off something "just as good." If your grocer tries to substitute some imitation Nuts for genuine Grape-Nuts, perhaps the other grocer down the street might serve yon more faithfully. If you find Grape-Nuts food a bit soft from the late damp weather,, put it in an oven with the door left open and dry until crisp. Then add î sprinkle of sugar and some milk enriched with cream and there you arei the finest breakfast food extant. GrapeNut3 Co., Ltd.. 66. Shoe baDe. London, mak-i