It is reported that an American lady has been severely beaten while trying to assist her brother, who had been attacked by a number of men from the warship Naniwa.

While walking in the town with her brother, this lady encountered two sailors, who stood in her way and would not make room for her to pass.  Her brother pushed the men aside, whereupon they turned on him and began to beat him.

When she endeavored to help her brother the Japanese sailors beat her unmercifully.

The discussion between the United States and Japan seems no nearer a peaceable settlement.

The Secretary of State has made public the official grounds for Japan’s protest.

They are: 

First, that it is necessary for Hawaii to remain an independent state, in order to preserve a good understanding between the Powers that have interests in the Pacific Ocean.

Second, that annexation will endanger the rights which Japan has acquired through her various treaties and contracts with Hawaii.

Third, that annexation might lead to the postponement by Hawaii of the settlement of claims which Japan already has against her.

In Hawaii there is a strong desire that the Senate shall ratify the treaty immediately, and put an end to all further question on the subject.

Hawaii mistrusts Japan, and fears that she will do something to prevent annexation unless our Government is prompt.

It is rumored in Washington that Japan and Spain are forming an alliance to embarrass the United States in her dealings with both Hawaii and Cuba.

It is felt that speedy action may be the best thing to prevent complications.

The Government is seriously considering the advisability of sending another ship to Honolulu.  It is possible that the battleship Oregon and the gunboat Concord may both be sent to Hawaii.

The Navy Department realizes that annexation will necessitate a largely increased navy, and Secretary Long will ask Congress to arrange for the building of more cruisers and torpedo-boats.

* * * * *

On the occasion of the British naval review at Spithead, an illustration was given of the short time it takes to turn a merchant vessel into an armed cruiser.

England, despite her large navy, often has use for more ships than she possesses.

To meet this demand she has placed a certain number of merchant vessels on her Naval Reserve list.  By this arrangement the Government has the right to call out any of these ships when she has need for them.

At the time of the great naval review it was thought that it would be a good thing to put this system to a test, and so several of the Naval Reserve merchantmen were ordered to fit out as gunboats.

One of the vessels thus put into use was the Teutonic of the White Star line, one of the regular ocean steamers that ply between England and America.