The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-06
MADAGASCAR DISPUTE
BITS OF HISTORY BEARING UPON
THE QUARREL WITH FRANCE.
The War Against the Hovas Does Not
Enthusiasm Among Frenchmcn.
New York Tribune.

land at the end of April after sea voyage
of about twenty days through the Medter-
ranean. the Suez canal, the Red sea and
the Indian ocean, from Marseilles and Tou-
lon, to Majunga, the northwestern port of
the African island. That port has been
chosen as the basis of the military opera
lions, rather than the better known and
more important one of Tamatave, on the
eastern coast of Madagascar. because the
road from. Majunga to Antananarivo, the
capital city of the island and the objective
point of the expedition, is the most practi-
cable and the least unsalubrious, though
somewhat longer. In fact there is no road,
so called, between the two cities. The troops
will have to make 400 kilometres about 2so
miles) through dense forests or denuded
plateaus, up to the table-land where is stu
ated Antananarivo, with the "Silver House"
of Queen Ranavalo, 4,2Oc feet above the
level of the sea. The distance is passed
over in eight days by Malagasy couriers. in
thirteen days by Europeans carried in
flanzana, sedan chairs, and, last No
vember, the column of French refugees and
soldiers of the Residents escort, fleeing
from the capital took twenty-six days to
reach the coast at Majunga 1t is expected
that General Duchesnes army will not
consume much longer time in its ascent
to Antananarivo, and that it will arrive
there about the end of June. The Queens
government, if it persists in its hostile at
titude after the landing of the French
petition. is not likely to attempt to resist
its advance before the invader appears in
manders will leave to their traditional
friends, General Fever and General For
est. the care of delaying the march of
The expeditionary corps is a real army,
of less than 1900 men, consisting of
infantry. artillery, cavalry and especially
marine infantry, The soldiers were taken
from the regular regiments, where vol
unteers came forward in large numbers
inSDec-
ton 10 per cent. of them were refused, as
being incapable of bearing the fatigues of
preparations have been made to receive
the troops at Majunga; two or three
government, two months ago. to transport
there General MetZinger, with ammunition,
provisions. medicine chests, camping APP
pliances, small tugs for river services, etc.
Now it appears that those preparations
would have been more perfect but for the
jealousy too often existing between the
claiming too large a share in the direction
and management of the. troops. which are
squabbles between the two departments.
This jealousy has already caused the
on sin 70 esvey s o
transports to carry troops and war ma
terials. 1t has been reproached also for
having chartered some vessels from Havre
and Marseilles firms at the rate of 80 francs
a ton, when the regular rate on the ship
ping market was only from 40 to 45 francs.
These things. and many others, were not
calculated to render popular an expedition,
rather a war, occurring so soon after
those of Tonquin, Dahomey, the Soudan,
etc. French patriots are generally opposed
to those colonial expeditions which, while
they enrich few politicians, contractors
and officials, consume soldiers and money
which might be needed for an emergency
nearer home than Hanoi Majunga, Abomly
or Antananarivo. The Chamber of Deputies
voted, in November, 1894, a credit Of 65,000,-
Madagascar expedition, upon the formal
assurance given by General MERCER, Min
lister of War, and M. Dupuy. Prime Min
lister, that this amount would be sufficient.
Some Deputies reminded the Chamber that
the same ministerial tactics had been fol-
lowed in regard to the demands of credits
for other expeditions which had cost a
hundred times more than the amounts
asked for them. 1t seems that these Depu-
6 900 francs would not be sufficient for
the Madagascar expedition, since it is al
not cost less than 125. 900 francs It has
been urged, also, that Madagascar is not a
only 597 French people living there. includ.
ing the Comoreans and the creoles from La
Reunion, neighboring island. The French
nually, out of 100000 francs recorded in the
agencies of the Compton d'Escompte. 1t is
agascar is about Is, O5e, 900 francs yearly. but
no reliable statistics can be obtained ex-
cept at ports where the Paris Compton
d Escompte has branch Offices
According to the French newspapers. the
immediate causes leading to the present
ment are not of mercantile or interested
nature. France wishes to assert the ma
countrymen who were deprived of their
lives and property by the subjects of Queen
Ranavalo: She has rejected the protectorate
the Malagasy government is the final re-
suit of the relations which, for two GEN.
turtles. France had maintained with NADIA
Pronis established French settlement at
Fort Ts as # @ s, and
and in 1865 the African island was already
called in public documents lie Dauphine''
bert made great and successful efforts to
maintain the French colonists, who were
Iovas, a Malay tribe who. like the Danes ssss
Saxons and Normans. had landed in MAZDA.
gascar. occupied the healthy tableland of
more or less completely, the natives of the
coast The Hovas were defeated by the
but in 1854 they took their revenge at
Foulepointe, and drove the French from
kept flying. however, during the a reign "a Of
Louis XIV and Louis XVI. over some forth
island of La Reunion. Sir Robert Farauhar.
Governor of Mauritius, tried to drive the
matte intrigues. but he was blamed by his
government
During the reign of Louis Philippe and
Napoleon III France increased her prestige
and her colonies in Madagascar, thanks Ia
the diplomacy of her agents. NM Laborde
and Lambert. But, the Hovas. about 1881
became restless and practically abrogated
valuable privileges to French residents
who were so. much harried that an exoedi
ton was finally sent to punish the natives
and new treaty was signed on Dec II
1885. The terms of that Diplomats instru
ment, however, were ambiguous. The Nal
agasy and the French texts were at vari
ance in regard to the essential point A.
ticle / said: The government of Inc
French republic shall represent Madapas
car in all its external relations ArtscIe
III said: "A resident, representing the gov
eminent Of the French republic. shall pre-
side over tie external relations or Nd
gascar." Therefore, 1t was Understood in
France that the exequaturs to const,Is
could not be granted by the Malagasv GOV
eminent unless application should be made
through the French resident This readine
Of the treaty wa, was admitted by England and
Aug. and Nov. Is. 1880. convention with
France, by which they recognized the
Franco Malagasy treaty OF protectorafe of
1856, with all its consequencesD Rnt az
TDrsv<, finite xn~lx.