Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-27
UNEMPLOYED AFRICA.
A Portion OF the Dark Continent
Yet Unknown.
UnapprOprIated Parts of the Country the
Objective Point of Exploring Par
ties from Various
Nations.

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 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
unappropriated strip, then would come
disputed ground, not intended to be in
cluded in the French sphere, and which
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-
ton to the French sphere If she had no
other reason for opposing this railroad.
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-Enghsh 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 Cameroons to take pos
session of this hinterland-a strong one
under the governor working steadily
| toward the northeast; another under
Lieut.. Morgen making it's way to the
sources of the Binue, while a third is
on its way to establish base of opera
lions in the Bali country, on the Dor
ders of Adamawa-
French exploring parties are pene-
trating this region from the north as
we'll as the south. From the sou tn they
have followed the Mobangi riye r anc
it's branches-one party following the
Sanga to about four degrees north lati
tude; another the Mobangi to the Bon
gra rapids, whence it is proposed tc
push across country to the Shari and
through to Lat-3 Tchad. From Algeria
and from Senegambia expeditions are
trying to reach the upper Niger anc
thence along to Lake Tchad.
In the meantime the Royal Nige1
Company are looking after their con
nections with the central Soudan ant
trying to keep hold of the countries no
| granted to France to the south and cas-
of Lake Tchad. The Shari valley, Ba
girmi, and Wadai they will keep in theil
sphere if they can; the British East AT
rican Company will hold on to Darfur,
and will work It's way as far to the
south and west of that coun try as it Il
able. Whatever France and Germany
may claim when the time comes for the
new partition of this una appropriated
part of Central Africa by in ternationa
agreement, as it must before long, Eng
land will probably manage to secure
| the larger part if not the whole Of thu
| Central Soudan for herself.