The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-07-30
UNEMPLOYED AFRICA.
A. Portion o. the Darh Continent
YET UnknowM


y
appropriated section Of Africa extend
ing from the scene Of stanley's explora-
tions on the Congo northward to Lake
Tchad, says the Springfield (Mass.)
Republicsn- II lies east Of the equa-
torial province and south Of the new
line of the French sphere from the
Niger to Lake Tehad; Il Is a rich and
fertile country, and said to be ono Of
the most desirable possessions In the
dark continent The London Times
gives an interesting survey Of the man
euvering opathe part Of France, Ger
many and England for possession Of
this territory, which touches the
spheres of all these nations.
The French scheme is the most am
bilious, and 1t includes Ii railroad from
Brazzaville on the Congo-in that part
of lower Guinea given to the French by
the conference that fixed the boun-
daries of the Free State of the Congo
-northward through twenty-five de-
grees of latitude to Algiers. For five
hundred or six hundred miles north
ward the road would pass through this
upappropriated strip, then would come
cluded in the French sphere, and which
can only be annexed after prolonged
controversy with Germany and Eng
land. The valley of the Shari, includ-
ing the province Of Bagirmi and parts
of Adamawa and Bornou, lie south of
Lake Tchad, and are in the territory
under the eye of the Royal British
Niger Company, which would formally
resist their annexation to France. Nor
would Germany consent to this addi-
tion to the French sphere If she had no
The doctrine Of hinterland, however,
comes in play here.
Germany's sphere in the Cameroons
extends eastward to the fifteenth degree
of east longitude, and behind this
sphere lies territory appropriated by
France reaching to the Mobangi, which
is the property Of the Congo Free State.
This French appropriation Is contrary
to the German-English agreement, and
cuts Germany off from portion Of her
hinterland, as the appropriation Of ter
ritory along the line Of this proposed
railroad would form the remainder.
German parties are now pressing east
ward from the Gameroons to take DOS
session of this hinterland-a strong one
under the goverHer working steadily
toward the northeast; another under
Lieut.. Morgen mating It's way 10 the
sources Of the Binue, while . tHlrd is
on It's way to estahiiah.% . base OF opera
tions in the BsA country. on the Dor
ders Of AdamswA
French exploring parties are pene-
trating this region from tha north as
well as the soiEA. 4kom the Sbu tn they
have followed the Mobungi river And
it's branches-one party following the
Sanga to about &ur degrees npsth laAir'
tude; another the Mobangi 70 ths Bon
gra rapids, wAenes y Is proposed to
push across country 70 the Shari and
through to Lake 1ohsd From Algeria
and from SeneganbA expeditions are
trying to reach the upper Niger dnd
thence along 10 Lalss Tcha4
In the meantime tho Royai M1ges
Company are looking after their CON-
nections with the central Soudan and
trying to keep hold Of the countries not
granted to France to Che south and east
of Lake Tchad. Tho Shsri valley, Ba-
girmi, and Wadai they will keep in their
sphere if they can; the British East Az
rican Company will hold on to Darfur,
and will work its way as far 70 the
south and west Of that count try as it is
able. Whatever France and Germany
may claim when the time comes for the
new partition Of this una ppropriated
part of Central Africa by in nternational
agreement, as 1t must before long, Eng
land will probably manage to secure
the larger part If not the whole Of the
Central Soudan for herself.