The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-26
PsrceIlins Out the soudan.

the British and German Governments met
very quietly In Berlin and prepared little
surprise for France. They drew up and
signed Q convention In which they divided
between them the entire region OF the Lake
Tchad basin. They did not leave an acre In
all that wide domain for France. That
country has been very much engrossed by
her Internal affairs for some weeks. and the
Government. apparently. has done nothing
except to send Capt. MoNTE1L and NJ.
HAUsMANN to Berlin. duly accredited to
look into the matter. A part Of the Paris
press asserts that France will never agree
to the proposed freeze-out and that che
will assert her right to q fair share Of the
rich central Soudan. Some OF the news
papers say the matter must be submitted
to arbitration II England and Germany are
not disposed to render to France what
should belong to her.
As far as France Is concerned, the agree
ment between Great Britain and Germany
Ii. indeed. sorry outcome OF the fine rec
ord she made In the exciting race for Lake
Tchad, which began over two years ago.
In all that superior part Of Africa. where
semi-civilized governments exist, where sub
stantially built cities, with $4,000 or 10000
Inhabitants. are found; where manufactures
are considerably advanced. and where
horses are reared by hundreds Of thousands.
not white man was living two years ago.
European influence had Aot penetrated any
part OF the central Soudan. No white man
had been there since NAcHTIaAL. In 1871.
Tho first European power to reach Kuka.
capital OF the empire Of Bornu, near the
western shore Of Lake Tchsd. was likely to
reap advantages. and SO the race began.
Almost simultaneously the three Govern
msnts put their expeditions in motion. The
English. under MACDONALD. started from
the lower Niger; the French. under Mon
TELL. from the upper Niger; and Germany's
two expeditions. at an interval OF Some
months. started from the Cameroons. In
the language Of the turf. the Germans
were never In the race. Hostile tribes
brought their expeditions to the deepest
grief before their journeys were third
completed.
The English got to Kuka first: but ac-
oording to MAopoNALD's own story. he met
with q very cool reception. In Tact. the
Emir told him he wanted nothing OF the
English except to be let alone; and he adj
vised his guest to go about his business.
the sooner the better. because IL he dallied
on the way within the confines OF Bornu
his Highness would not be answerable for
the consequences. MACDONALD still has a
very poor opinion OF Bornuese hospitality.
Some months later. MoNTEIL arrived on
the scene. According to his story. he was
welcomed with open arms He says the
British made the fatal mistake OF trying to
impress the people by dazzling display OF
gilt buttons. red coats. and firearms. He
asserts that the Emir and the notables
pledged to France their eternal friendship.
However that may be. 1t Is certain that
MoNrEIL prolonged his sojourn at Kuka
for more months than MACDONALD did his
for weeks. and the Emir finally sent him.
under safe conduct. to Algeria. where he
was received as conquering hero.
Meanwhile France had started NIXON up
the great Benue tributary OF the Niger to
Yola, the capital OF Adamawa. He says that
on his second visit to Yola the Emir agreed
to French protectorate over Adamawa-
The Emir denies 1t. and he probably speaks
the truth. as there are various reasons for
believing that NJ. NIXON is gifted with
vivid Imagination. But another French
man, NJ. MAIsrRE, has made the most not
able OF recent journeys in Africa by advanc-
Ing north from the Congo into the southern
edge OF Baghirmi and then west through
Adamawa. revealing much new country.
and accompanied ia the last stages OF his
Journey by hundreds of native riders.
The agreement between England and Ger
many Is the result of glve-and- take COM
promises. and considerable sop is thrown
to France. which. however. has nothing to
do with the great basin Of Lake Tchad. for
a share OF which she has been struggling.
BY the treaty Of 1885 between Germany
and England the northern boundary OF the
German domain was to be a straight line
connecting certain point In her Cameroons
possessions with Yola on the Benue River.
But England has repented Of her generosity.
for Yola Is the centre of a large trade. and
che wants IL. So Germany has relinquished
the whole OF the Yola district. and England
Is left In possession of the entire navigablo
part of the Benue. the only river in!Africa
that affords uninterrupted communication
by steamboat from the sea to the far in
terror. She now adds Bornu and the rich
est part OF Adamawa to her sphere OF ex-
elusive influence. In other words. having al
ready an assured hold upon SOkoto. the en-
tire western half of the central Soudan
from the Niger River 10 Lake Tehad falls
to her share under the new agreement.
The eastern part Of the central Soudan.
including part of Adsmawa. the southern
shore Of Lake Tchad. the large countries Of
Baghirmi and Wadai. and the regions be-
yond TO the eastern limit OF the ShAri River
or Lake Tchad basin. becomes a German
preserve. Germany agrees not to go east
of the Shari basin. In other words. she will
not intruds upon Dariur. Kordofan. or the
Bahr-el-Gasal. which are left to England.
with the rest Of the Egyptian Soudan.
France is to enjoy more moderate bless
ing. For long time the enterprising DE
BRAZzA has beon pushing up the great
sanga tributary Of the Congo and its
northern atiuents. planting a line OF sta
tons almost to the borders Of Adamawa.