The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-07
LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE.
xyeIAND AROUSED oTER THE KILL
ING or IFS SOLDIERS IN AFRICA.


rr.,s. win Probably Bo Required 60 APoi-
osire and Fey On Gndemnitr-In Naval
Matters Mr. Glsdstons Comedies the Fall
Fable Dsmsnds-HIs Tsrdy Aeasieseencs
per.rdsa .s = Biundsr-Riso sna Prog
res. OF the Revolt N sieiiy-Refor-s
NEEDED .. Sank OF Engisnd hethOas-The
Geld Spell Throughout Europe = snow
Statue, in the Pebble Psrks-Ths Man
chester ship Csnai . succe-s-Feeiing
Against the British House OF Lords.
IoypoS Jan. o.-The English war alsrmists
ut last have something tangible to talk about.
The country IL genuinely aroused to-day by
The news OF the killing OF British officers and
men By French troops In West Africa. The at
f,ir IL regarded on all sides as OF grave inter-
national import. but public comment Is re-
served in tone until more facts are learned.
half century ago such an incident would have
beeu regarded ns tantamount to declaration
OF war Now tho only effect seriously dreaded
is that the event may aggrayate the existing
popular hostility between the two countries.
This hostility. on tho part OF Great Britain.
during the critical phases OF tho Siamese diff
nculty. and the outbursts of hatred Of England
IN France, has been no deeper than tho ire
sponslble criticism OF people who are not to be
taken seriously. To-day. however. John Bulls
blood IL up. Bellicose talk is the burden OF all
eonversation. 1t will not sufflce for France to
say that the AFFAIR Is an accident. According
10 the present view she must apologize. ex-
plain the presence Of her troops in the British
sphere OF influence. and pay q handsome in
demnity.
When the popular passion cools and the mat
ter reaches the slow stage OF diplomacy. 1t will
appear whether the French profession OF
,..,ofuI daairas ia raallv aincnra Tha Erauch
manner OF treating the incident WILL in word.
BE- a valuable indication OF the real DRIFT Of
European affairs. II tho apology is half
hearted and she shows an unwilling spirit In
complying with the demands Of decency the
situation will assume graver significance than
ell the talk OF alarmists has created.
Popular uneasiness had shown signs OF
quletipg for several days before to-day 3 ugly
news arrived. The Times, Telegraph. and
Standard have continued to emphasize the
national danger. The favorite form of putting
the case is 10 accuse the Gladstone Govern
ment Of being guilty Of gambling with the ma
tonal existence as the stake OF the game.
CONFIDENT with the warlike news from Afri-
"a, comes however. the announcement OF the
Government naval programme. which practi-
cally Is full surrender to the popular de-
msnds. The cost OF four battle ships. two first
class cruisers. four new-type gunboats. twelve
torpedo boat catchers. all built at once. will be
s30.0O0000. in addition to tho construction
already planned and begun. Add all this to
the ordinary expense OF the maintenance Of a
vast navy. and It Will be seen that the Govern
ment has committed itself to a heavy increase
IN the naval budget and in taxation.
1t must be admitted that Mr.. Gladstone has
been extreme ely pnIddrOt in the whole matter.
This has been another OF tho peculiar. tardy
concessions to the popular mandate which. in
the course OF his career have several times
enabled his opponents to reap all tho advan-
tagss OF policy which might we'll as not
have been his. When the country grumbles over
oths paymentof the enormous bill next sum-
mer, 1t will avail nothing for the Government
% say II incurred It unwilllngly.
IhAve been at some pains to trace the source
Of some OF the gloomiest war talk in high cir
cles. The ost significant suggestion gained
Is the intim alton that Lord Rossbery has
been for some weeks the most pessimistic
statesman in the country. The last time he
made public alrlson 10 foreign affairs. in the
autumn. his rather dark though vague COM
ments excited much interest. but were gen
orally aseribed to passing cloud. Still blacker
hints are now credited to him.
There 10 a great appetite lust now for tech
Meal Information Of the European situation.
and the highest military. naval. and financial
authorities are freely quoted The most i'm
portant point agreed upon is that France has
not only reached the highest possible point Of
military development. but that she cannot
much longer maintain it without sacrificing
the financial superiority which she now enjoys.
Jules Roche. tho ell-known Deputy raised
IN alarm in Paris this week by declaring that
there has been an annual deficit Of $50. 100000
to s6oOOO.oOo in tho revenue for several
years. In spite OF an apparent balance In the
budget accounts. Tho expenses OF the Gov
ernmsnt increased from s.. 775. O0O. 900 francs
In 1873 to 1851. o00. 900 last year. Naval az
penses Increased from 20i. 900. 900 francs in
1870 to 2o6 100000 in the current year. 1t
will not be surprising II an attempt be made
before long In France TO raise tho cry that war
wiz DO cheaper than peace.
II must be insisted. however. that the
GENERAL tendency OF tho holiday season.
throughout Europe. has been to calm tho war
Fever In the popular breasts. and unless the
west African or some other incident reyives
II. mid"inter will pass under more peaceful
auspices
Sicily Is fairly In revolution and the peril Of
constitutional Government In Italy is very
grave such Information as tho telegraph has
esen permitted TO give OF the events on the
STAND and OF tho situation in Italy itself
presents an adequate idea OF the nature
OF the crisis. The Rome correspondent
OF TIE Sun forwards by mail TO Lon
don important details of the events OF
me last lew days. The military Governor OF
The island notined the Government some time
ago that the 10000 troops at his command
we're Tar too few TO deal with the emergency.
several thousand more are on route, but tho
government Is fearful OF similar uprising at
nome and hssitates 70 send great force
4ne trouble began at MRzEara. a town Of
.fVVo Inhabitants. The system of local taxa
Ia Nlaa rnVs a..
IouEhous Italy, exists In Sicily The rich
sespe through corruption. and the poor
U the whole burden. Tho people
met Ia mass meeting and voted TO
aoon'h the municipal taxes. The authori-
. ss alter PRETENDING to yield sent for
troops The mob was snraRsd. and burned all
.ns public buildings. The troops EttAeks
mem, but were overmatehed. surrounded aud
unable 4 return 10 their barracks. They tried
70 pNolae In the square The mob renewed
'he sl'acG. and this battle lasted all night and
many were killad n N hath Eidaa In m p,,-,