The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-26
THE TRANS-SAHARAN RAILWAY.
Cardinal Lavigerie says It will be OF Great
Importance to France.

Cardinal l.avigerie says It will be of Great
Importance TO France.
PARIS. June 25.-Cardinal LaviGerie has
written q letter to M. ROLAND. the promoter
of the Trans Saharan Railway. declaring that
the new road will be Of great importance TO
French interests in Algeria and promising the
entire support to the project OF himself and the
missionaries under his control.
The great trouble in the way OF building
railroad across the Sahara has been the Toua-
reg and other bandit tribes who terrorize
nearly all OF the middle and western Sahara.
There is some prospect. however that the su-
premacy OF these perfectly lawless nomads Is
drawing to u close. 1t was reported few
weeks ago from Algeria that the Touaregs had
sent delegates to Biskra to ascertain II France
would receive an embassy for the purpose OF
arranging peace between that country and the
TouareRs. They said their people were con-
stantly expecting an invasion by France to
avenge tho murder OF the Flatters' expedition.
They no longer daro to leave their families to
fight their enemies or chastise their rebellious
serfs They are tired OF this sort OF lle and
wish hereafter TO live in poace with France.
The French press has nee announced that
Touareg embassy is about to visit France.
1t Is said that the Iouaregs oner compgnsn-
only for peace and the release Of their com;
rades now imprisoned in Algiers The journal
DIES Debdts says the upsnot Is likely to be
durable peace between France and the
Touare2s and liberty TO travel in security be-
tween Paris and Timbuctoo.
This is very sanRuine view OF tho situation.
and these rosy hopes are not likeyto be imme-
diately realized. 1t is not 1t all certain that
the willy and treacherous Touaregs are not
merely scheminR to get thoir comrades out OF
prison. few words will show. however, that
something must soon be done, for the situa-
ton. rs far as France is concerned. has become
Here are a very few thousand people, osten-
siby pious followers OF the Prophet but really
bandits and cutthroats OF the worst sort
They include the TouareRs, the Medaganate.
and some lesser clans, and they live In middle
Rerla lSparsoy as the sahara Is inhabited
those robbery are mere handful IN the desert
population.
Their business Is plumber. In parties OF four
vans big and little or course. most OF their
victims are themselves natives OF the Sahara.
They are put to death and their oamels and
IL that a perfect treiRn Of terror ext lists In the
Sahara. There Is no semi lance OF law or Or
der. Tho only. safety Of the natives is to be
constantly in force 30 strong that the desert |
robbers dare not attack them.
France has suffered severely from these no. |
raads. 1t Is they who killed Duperre and Jou-
bert The ENJOYS OF FTanee; the Rm1isssio9ariesi
Kermabon: Madame Time. the larger part OF |
the Flatters expedition. Lieut. Palat; and last, |
the young explorer. Camille Douls; Not sin.
murders. Here 10 France holding all the coun- |
try Just north OF the Touaregs. permitting |
them unscathed to kill her sons and thwar: |
every movement OF hers 10 extend her intu- |
The result is that France Is losing prestige
among the African peoples she governs. and |
she is confronted with the necessity Of punish |
Ing the Touaregs and making, them amena-
BILE to law. Until she does this the railroad she !
is talking 80 much about cannot be built.