Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-24

compiish that object. Tho oases In question
lie almost duo south OF hlgicrs, at q distance
OF about 600 miles and are the keys NJ all
tho trade routes from tho Mediterranean to
tho Niger country and the great negro sui
taustes around Lake Chad. Nominally they
are under the Sovereignty OF Morocco; but
the shAdowy claim of the sultan at Fez In
not to be considered as an obstacle TO the
advance OF the French compared with the
possible opposition OF the robbor tribes of
Tuaregs, who inhabit the inhOspitable Sa-
hara. The occupation Of these places by
tho French would be a step toward inc
realization Of the great project OF a railway
from Algicrs to Timouctoo. Much water VIII
run down hill. however. before the accom-
plishment OF that project.
whilo no, denying the Importance, from
political standpoint OF Russias new rail-
way across Siberia, English exporters and
shipping men assert that not for many
years, II ever, will Il become an apprcclable
factor IN international commerce. The road,
they say, viii make possible the transfer OF
troops and. perhaps. OF few favored pas
sengcrs from St Petersburg TO the Pacific
In ten days but its facilities for moving
freight are OF the most primitive and in
adequate kind. This Is true OF the oldest
and best equipped railways IN Russia. II
takes week for goods 20 reach Moscow
from thc capital. and the time OF the new
road will be at least thirty days, which,
taken IN connection with the much higher
freight rate, will make competition with the
English steamship lines out Of thc question.
During The last few weeks series OF ex-
perimcnts have been made at Lydd. in Eng
land, with a new explosive and a new pro-
jectile for artillery purposes. The trials
made both by night and by day. firing at
fixed and moving objects, bave given very
important results, 1t is said the projectile
having produced effects far greater than
any now In use and the new explosive
proving itself exceedingly powerful, with
out giving out any smoke. In consequence
of the success of these experiments, large
quantities OF the proJec,iles ana the new
explosive are to be manufactured at Lydd
under tho supervision OF a committee OF
artillery officers. Those that were used in
the recent experiments were prepared In
a noighborhood at a little distance from
the coast, about two miles from any bab-
itatlon. and patrols were kept night and
day watching to prevent any curious per-
sons approaching the neighborhood II this
new explosive meets English expectations
It will be an important discovery and hence
the military world will wait further in
formation with much interest.
A formidable expedition is being organized
In southern Algeria, with the object OF
taking definite possession of the fertile
oasis OF Touat. which has long been nom
inally a French possession, II was orig
inaly intended that the expedition should
consist OF 5000 men. but the number has
now been reduced to 500 OF the rank and
fle and seventy officers More than a
thousand oafnels and nearly iO0Ihorses will
be employed, and the commissariat will
be organized ON a large scale, In conse-
quence of the unproductive character OF
much OF the ground that has to be ira
versed. An expedition of this character
has been in contemplation for some time by
the French government and II is hoped
that such a considerable display of force
will have the effect OF preventing all OPP
position from the native tribes which have
not yet submitted to French rule.