The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-09-18
UNEMPLOYED AFRICA.
A Portion of the Dark Continent
Yet Unknown
Objective Point or Exploring Par
ties from Various
Nations.

There is yet an UNEMPLOYED and un-
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
Republican. 1t lies east of the equa-
torial province and south of the new
line of the French sphere from the
Niger to Lake Tchad: it is a rich and
fertile country, and said TO be one of
the most desirable possessions in the
dark continent. The London Times
gives an interesting survey of the man
euvering on the 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 it includes a 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
uuappropriatcd strip. then would come
disputed ground, not intended to be in
cluded in the French sphere, and which
can only be annexed after a prolonged
controversy with Germany and Eng
land The valley of the Shari, includ-
ing the province of Bagirmi and parts
of Adamavva 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-
ton TO the French sphere if she had no
other reason for opposing this railroad.
The doctrine of hinterland, however,
comes in play here.
Germanv'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 NIobaugi, wAich
is the property of the Congo Free State.
This French appropriation is contrary
TO the Gcrman-EnElish agreement and
cuts Germany of from a portion of her
hinterland. as the appropriation of ter
ritorv along the line of his proposed
railroad would form the remainder.
German parties are now pressing east
ward from the CamcroOns 10 take pos
session Of this hintcrlaud-a strong one
under the governor working steadily
toward the northeast: another under
Lieut. Norgcn making its way to the
sources of the Binuc. while third j.
on its way to establish base of opera
tions in the Bali country, on the bor-
dcrs of Adamawa.
French exploring parties are pcne-
trating this region from the north rs
well as the south. From the tn they
have followed the Mobangi river and
its branches-onc party following the
15as..--9 IL about four ,IHE1.''s north luti-
tudc; another the Mobtngi 10 the Bon
gra rapids, whence it is proposed TO
push across country 10 the Shari and
through 20 Lake Tchad. From Algeria
and from Soncgambia expeditions are
trying q reach the upper Niger and
thence along h Lake Tchad.
In the meantime the Royal Niger
Company are looking after their con
neetious with the central Soudan and
trying u keep hold Of the countries not
granted t. France T. the south and east
of Lake Tchad. The Shlri valley, la
girrui. and Wadai thoy will keep in their
sphere if they can; the British East Af-
rican Company win hold on 10 Darfur.
and viii work it. way as far TO the
south and west of that coun try as it is
able. Whatever France and tiermany
may claim when the time comes for the
new partition of this una ppropriated
part OF Central Africa By international
agreement, rs it must before long. Eng
land will probably manage 70 secure
the larger part if not the whole of the
Central SOud1n for herself