WaybackWire

PARIS, Friday night.—M. Jaures, leader of the French Socialists and an opponent of the three-year military service law, was shot dead this evening as he sat at a small table in the Cafe du Croissant.

A man fired several revolver shots at him, and a couple of bullets entered his head. He died soon after.

The police had to rescue the assassin from the crowd, which shouted “Assassin” and “Death to the assassin.” Arrested at once, he at first refused to give his name. He is said to be a young man named Raoul Villain.

As the news spread there were cries of “Viva Jaures” and a demonstration before the offices of L’Humanite and on the boulevards. The Minister of the Interior left the Council of Ministers to give orders to prevent demonstrations, and the Government will post a proclamation on the walls of Paris expressing its horror at the attack and urging absolute calm.

Earlier in the day a dispatch reported: “Paris rages with the war fever.” No mobilisation order has been issued, but the barracks are crowded with reservists awaiting the call and business is at a standstill. Telephone communication between France and Germany has been interrupted since four o’clock this afternoon.

LONDON, Friday.—The London Stock Exchange has closed for the first time in its history, and every exchange in England and Scotland shut on learning of London’s action. The Bank of England rate has been doubled, from 4 to 8 per cent, and short loans commanded 10 and 10 1/2 per cent.

Depositors wanting gold instead of notes made the scene at the Bank look almost like a run. Very few banks are paying anything but notes, and Monday is a bank holiday. A governor of the Bank is the authority for the statement that the banking act will virtually certainly be suspended and that the Bank will issue one-pound notes.

In New York the Stock Exchange has closed, the first time since 1873 that business has been suspended for a full day. The decision was reached at a meeting of bankers at the offices of J. P. Morgan and Company. “The governing committee decided that the exchange be closed until further notice, and that all deliveries be suspended until further notice.”

“The National bank is besieged by 10,000 persons demanding their money,” a Brussels dispatch reports. In Paris the Bank of France is putting 20- and 5-franc notes into circulation, and savings-bank withdrawals are limited to 50 francs a fortnight, on 15 days’ notice.

The Economist judges: “The shock so far has been well resisted, but the crisis cannot continue indefinitely without a serious strain on credit.”

BOMBAY, Friday.—A special guard of the Sherwood Foresters has been posted at the Government Dockyard here since yesterday afternoon, and the officers and crew of H.M.S. Dartmouth are busy fitting her for her passage to home waters.

“Last night all soldiers in the garrison who were out in the city were recalled to barracks. The reason for this order did not transpire,” the Bombay Chronicle reports. Commercial circles are much troubled, though shipping bookings are not yet affected.

At Penang, ‘B’ Company of the Malay States Guides has arrived with war material and is encamped at the Fort until further orders.

In Singapore marine insurance on Russian and Austrian ships has risen by no less than 300 per cent in three days. “Rates now vary from hour to hour and it is impossible to fix any quotation ahead,” the Straits Times finds.

Across the Empire, Australia has recalled the warships Australia, Encounter and Melbourne from the Queensland coast, and at Ottawa the Militia Council has ordered preparations as volunteers pour in. The Transvaal manoeuvres have been cancelled. “The Conservative Press unanimously declares that if Britain is involved in war Canada must assist, no matter at what cost,” a cable from Ottawa runs.

LONDON, Friday.—The London morning papers are divided over what Britain owes her friends. “We must stand by our friends, if only because without their aid we cannot be safe,” says the Daily Mail, and the Morning Post holds that the general intention of Englishmen is not to look on at the crushing of France.

The Daily News answers that none but the weightiest reasons could drive Britain into the conflict, and that honour, principle and interest dictate neutrality. The Daily Citizen calls on the workers to “wage war against war”. A meeting of Liberal members has objected strongly to the assumption in the press that Britain is under treaty obligation to take part.

Lord Lamington, in a letter to the newspapers, holds that fidelity to the Entente requires Britain to take part, yet he writes: “The safety of India and the overseas dominions is of greater importance than the possible defeat of France.”