Notwithstanding the war with Turkey, which greatly hampered Greek trade during more than half of the year 1897, the value of the exports from Greece during the twelve months reached the sum of 80,734,074 francs gold ($15,581,676), an increase over the year 1896 of 7,873,643 francs ($1,519,613), the increase being attributable to the currant crops exported, which figure in the returns for 31,841,759 francs ($6,145,460), as against 23,208, 178 francs ($4,479,179) in 1896. The value of the imports into Greece during the year 1897 was 114,761,525 francs ($22,148,975), being an increase of 1,156,910 francs ($223,284) over the imports of 1896; the principal increase being in cereals, which figure on the returns for 33, 140,633 francs ($6,396, 142), as against 29, 202,491 francs ($5,636,080) in 1896. During the year the customs receipts on imports (no export duties are levied) amounted to 26,637,543 drachmas (about $3,462,881), a decrease of 710,662 drachmas (about $92,386) from the amount levied in 1896. Altogether, the foreign trade of Greece during the past year shows great steadiness and a surprisingly healthy condition. ATHENS, March 15, 1898. W. W. ROCKHILL, Minister. DUTIES ON SPIRITS AND TOBACCO IN GIBRALTAR. A report from Consul Sprague, of Gibraltar, dated February 26, 1898, informed the Department that, with a view of increasing the revenues of the colony, an ordinance had been issued on that date fixing the duties on wines, spirits, beer, and tobacco as follows: Wines: In bottles......... In wood or skin......... Spirits, strong waters, liqueurs, and cordials: ..per dozen... S. d. Cts. 4 For every gallon of spirits or strong waters, of any strength not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof... For every gallon of liqueurs or cordials, irrespective of strength... 4 N. B.-A similar duty shall be payable whether the spirits introduced are for the purpose of being infused into liquids of any kind or not. Malt liquors: For every gallon......... (Beer hogsheads are considered as containing 50 gallons; tierces, Tobacco O =97 O =97 ..per pound... O I = 2 The privilege of reexportation, frèe of duty, says Mr. Sprague, was granted tobacco when stored in bond. All the duties were to be paid in sterling money Under date of April 6, the consul writes that the ordinance went into effect on April 1, affording little time to those interested in the tobacco trade to increase their stocks. He adds: Some of the most enterprising, however, succeeded in importing considerable supplies just a few hours previous to the imposition of the present duty. An approximate estimate of the quantities of tobacco which were landed in February and March, 1898, and stored to await the future. demands of this market, is as follows: Direct from New York and via Liverpool by German and British steamships, 415 hogsheads and 1,799 cases; from Austro-Hungarian, Dutch, and German states, 6,184 bales and 149 cases. It is calculated that this will be sufficient to last two years, much depending, however, upon what might be required to meet the export trade from this port, which, owing to its general character, renders the traffic somewhat uncertain. Wines and spirits, the duties on which are now increased on account of importers being required to pay them in British sterling coin, were also imported in large supplies, causing a scarcity in warehouse room. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY IN WALES. The inventions of Herz and Marconi, respectively, have commanded much attention within recent years, and there has been a general feeling prevailing in this country that the experiments being conducted under the auspices of the Postal Department would result in the early establishment of telegraphic communication between distant points unconnected by wire. It was reported in the press last year that Signor Marconi was personally experimenting within the limits of the port of Cardiff; that he had succeeded in demonstrating the practicability of his invention; and that Mr. W. H. Preece, the engineer-in-chief to the general post-office, was quite satisfied with the result. Mr. Preece has, in fact, long since had a system of wireless telegraphy at work. at St. Martin's Le Grand, London, in connection with the general post-office buildings, but the intervening space has been necessarily limited, although intervening bricks and mortar have no effect upon the communication. Mr. Preece has personally spent a good deal of his time intermittently upon the experiments in this locality. It seems that a cable was laid across from Lavernock Point, near Barry Dock, to Flat Holm Island, in the Bristol Channel, at an enormous amount of labor and expense, only to find that all had been wasted, because so many vessels drop anchor in these waters that the cable was dragged about and broken within one week from the time it was laid. Consequently, Mr. Preece set himself the task of experimenting with "wireless telegraphy," and under the direction of Mr. J. Gavey, his chief assistant, no effort has been spared in determining upon the best practicable method of applying it. With 334 miles of water space between the points, no better place could be found for practically testing the new system; and, now that the desired communication has been established, the attention of the whole scientific world will be directed to it, and Mr. Preece will doubtless be invited soon to describe his experiments and their results. The invention of Marconi has become familiar to, although perhaps not fully understood by, the lay mind, the theory having long since been made public property, and it being generally supposed that the system associated with the name of this young inventor would be adopted. But it transpires that Mr. Preece has perfected a system of his own, and has arrived at a satisfactory solution of this great scientific problem of telegraphing through a space of no less than 334 miles. It should be mentioned that as far back as 1892 the results obtainable were such as to justify the expectation of the desired end, but the various methods tried have all been more or less affected by disturbing influences. The system arrived at may be described as electro-magnetic, and is claimed to be free from such disturbances. The introduction of a very large copper wire and the alteration of the instruments, so as to embody certain desiderata, have been made; and it is stated that no less than forty words per minute have been transmitted without any necessity having arisen for obtaining a single repetition. If this report be true (and there appears to be ample confirmation that it is so), the most sanguine. expectations of persons interested in this latest scientific wonder have been fully realized. The following brief description appeared in a local newspaper on March 29: Copper wires of a very large gauge have been erected parallel with each other, one on the sea front at Lavernock Point and one across the Flat Holm, near the light-house-3 miles apart—and the Morse code signals transmitted are very distinct. Many improvements in the apparatus have been introduced since the previous trials were carried out, and it is very satisfactory to know that a high speed of working has been attained. The vibrations transmitted through space from the electric motor produce on the telephone receiver a most pleasing tone, and the combination of dots and dashes are easily readable by a manipulator. As many as forty words a minute have been signalled across and read without any difficulty whatever. There can be no doubt that the system of communication now permanently established between the fort on the mainland to the fort on the Flat Holm will mark an important epoch in the telegraphic developments of the century, and Mr. W. H. Preece is to be congratulated on the great success his method has attained. The two methods of so-called wireless telegraphy, which have recently created such widespread interest, were fully explained to a Cardiff audience at Mr. Gavey's recent lecture before the Cardiff Naturalists' Society. The post-office has considered it wise, for various reasons, to establish the permanent communication between Lavernock and the Flat Holm by means of the electro-magnetic rather than by Marconi's system, and, without entering into technical details or criticising the action of the Department in this matter, we can merely say that a thoroughly satisfactory and trustworthy telegraph service is now established between these two points which, there is every reason to believe, will be free from the disturbing influences to which other methods are subject. sea. From other sources, I gather that on the mainland a stout copper wire has been fixed, as ordinarily, to poles, the length of the wire being three-fourths of a mile. The ends of this wire run into the On the island a similar wire runs exactly parallel, as previously mentioned, to that on the mainland; and the length of the island. wire is about half a mile, with the ends run to earth. It seems that the length of the parallel wires is governed by the extent of the space between them. The transmitting and receiving apparatus are duplicated, and it is said that the system is less costly than that of Marconi; that the parts of the apparatus are not so delicate; and that the necessity of having the instruments practically tuned to a nicety does not enter into its efficiency. The theory of electro-magnetic waves-that when wire A is charged with the current, so is its "field;" and that the circles of waves enlarge until they meet a conductor in wire B, which becomes charged to a certain extent-suggested to Mr. Preece the idea of his method; and the dots and dashes of the Morse system of telegraphy made it possible, the dot requiring a connection of shorter duration than the dash; and, as is well known, the arrangement of dots and dashes forms any letter or combination of letters desired. Ingenious mechanism is attached, by which a clear, musical note-C has been chosen as the best for hearing-is created. By means of a brass circle, in which there is an indentation at every three-eighths of an inch, the current is automatically interrupted at the rate of 250 makes and breaks per second, and when the dots and dashes are made by the operator at one end they may be heard at the other through an ordinary telephone. A great difference between this system and Marconi's is that the messages are read by sound, while in the young Italian scientist's they are recorded. This, I need hardly say, is of no importance; but if it be true that in Preece's system the transmission is no less than four times as speedy, the advantage is greatly in its favor. I may add that, instead of the ordinary "sounder," a telephone arrangement is brought into requisition, and the interpretation of the vibratory signals is said to be quite easy. Now that a permanent system of wireless telegraphy for communicating through space has been established, a new impetus will doubtless be given to further scientific researches in that direction. It is said that what led Mr. Preece to utilizing electro-magnetic induction was having it brought to his notice officially that, while messages were being transmitted over the post-office telegraph wires in Gray's Inn road, London, sounds could be picked up from the neighboring telephone wires. Thus, his mind was directed to the possibilities of the subject, it being obvious that the influencing of one wire by the current sent through another was inductive. This happened many years ago; but this famous electrician has been patiently experimenting ever since, until at last success has crowned his efforts. The hope of electricians to bring about telegraphic communication between vessels at sea and distant shores seems about to be realized, and soon the "transmitter" and "receiver" will be deemed essential on board every kind of craft sailing on the highways of commerce. CARDIFF, March 30, 1898. DANIEL T. PHILLIPS, Consul. MERCHANDISE MARKS IN GREAT BRITAIN. The Department is in receipt of a note from the British embassy, as follows: WASHINGTON, April 23, 1898. SIR: I have the honor, by direction of Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to transmit to you herewith copies of a memorandum recently prepared by the commissioners of Her Majesty's customs, setting forth the general requirements in respect of marks on foreign goods imported into the United Kingdom. I have, etc., The Hon. JOHN SHERMAN, JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. Etc., etc., etc. MEMORANDUM RESPECTING MARKS ON GOODS IMPORTED FOR HOME CONSUMPTION. 1. Foreign goods imported into the United Kingdom which do not bear any marks whatever, either on the goods themselves or on the packages or wrappers containing them, are not required to bear any qualifying statement or indication, such as "Made abroad," "Made in Germany," etc. 2. Foreign-manufactured goods bearing a name or trade-mark, being, or purporting to be, the name or trade-mark of a manufacturer, etc., in the United Kingdom, must have that name or trade-mark accompanied by a definite indication of the country of origin of the goods. The name of the country is a sufficient indication, without the words "made in," if a name or trade-mark only appears, e. g., "John Smith, Germany," would be satisfactory. If such a mark as "John Smith, |