Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-14

While II Is true that Rudlnl has promised
to supply the Italian commander-in-chlsfi IL
Abyssinia with all the relnforcemcnts needed
for vigorous prosecution OF the war Gen
eral Baldssera Is Identified with a more
moderate policy OF colonial expansion IN
Africa than was his brave but rather jaunty
predecessor. The withdrawal OF the Italian
garrison from KaSsala and the concentration
OF the army under Baldissera In the COM
paratively narrow space included In the
strategic triangle Of which Massowah, Keren
and Asmara form the three corners indicate
considerable reduction of the ambitious
plans Of Italy in that quarter OF the globe.
Any success, however slight that should be
gained by General Baldissera over the forces
of Menelek would probably be considered a
sufficient vindcation of Italy's soiled military
prestige and might lead to the treaty OF
peace which the Abyssinian monarch seems
quite anxious TO conclude. Notwithstanding
the vaporings of the megaomanIacs at Rome,
IL Is fair to presume that the Rudni min
istry will pursue a conservative policy, with
a view to freeing Italy from her costly for
eign entanglements and Initiating those re-
trehchments In her finances and reforms in
her administration of which she stands in
such dire need
The prospect OF Great Brtains evacuation
Of Egypt grows wonderfully less after a
perusal Of the army estimates Of Lord Lans-
downe, secretary of state for war, for 1896.
This official states that in view of recent
events 1t will be impossible to reduce the
strength of the Egyptian garrison during
the year, which means that Great Britain pro-
poses to hold on there tenaciously, not be-
cause any recent events have rendered it
particularly necessary and advisable that
she should but because 1t best suits her
purposes. And as 1t always Will suit Great
Britain's purposes to hold on to Egypt, the
chances of her evacuation become more re-
mote with the rounding out of each addi-
tional year. France, which is the nation
most concerned in the matter outside OF
England herself, is powerless to do anything
in the premises. England is left the sole
judge as to when her occupation can be
appropriately brought to an end, and she
may be depended upon to defer this to a
time far in the remote future.
When. by bringing the rich province Of
Manchuria within the sphere Of her in
fuence, Russia under her new czar, in
augurated the aggressive foreign policy
which has eliminated in such a remark
able series of diplomatic triumphs, all Eng
land was up in arms; the government was
urged to take immediate action securities
fell, and a genuine war scare was the re-
suit. Then came the depressing conscious
ness that protests were of little avail. The
lion had been caught mapping Prince Lo-
baEof had the emperor of Germany on his
side. The English saw that a fatal blum
der had been made and when the next
great move in the diplomatic game was
announced, the revival of the obnoxious
treaty Of Unkar-Skelessi, the situation was
accepted with gloomy resignation. Russia
is now apparently free to work out her
oy,sT t,,.t Itt,Ac e-bn
may deem best and Prince Lobanoff is
evidently bent on making hay while the
sun shines. Corea is fast going the way
OF Manchuria Turkey and Bulgaria. With
this bone of contention in the bears claw,
the mikado will have good reason to ask
war. But it is in her splendid prospects
and magnificent possibilities as a rising
naval power, in the Mediterranean as on
the Pacific, that Russia has gained her
most signal triumph When in 1901 Alex
ander III took advantage of the Franco
Prussian war and the English difficulties
over the Alabama claims to repudiate the
treaty Of Paris and convert the Black sea
into a Russian lake he laid the ground
work for Russias present policy. 1t has
taken her twenty five years to crown the
work. With Turkey in her tolls today she
virtually controls the long -wished-for gate
way to the Mediterranean as certainly as
England holds the Suez canal. No Rus
sian war snip may plOuBn tne waters OF
the Bosphorus. English supremacy in the
Mediterranean is none the less a forlorn
hope.
The Japanese government, it is said, has
resolved to undertake scheme of naval de-
velopment which will require seven years for
completion. During that time the sum to
be expended on building and arming men,
of-war is 81 900, 900 yen in round numbers,
and $4,000, 900 will be devoted to the con-
structon of docks and various edifices neces.
sary for the needs Of the greatly increased
navy. These figures are independent Of ap-
preparations on account of vessels already
ordered abroad amcng which are two line-of-
battle ships Of over $4,000 tons each, which
will probably be ready for sea in the course
OF year. The reported intention Is to place
the country in possession of q navy which, in
point Of displacement 100000 tons, shall
be more than equal to the combined squad
rons of Great Britain, Russia, France, Ger
many and the United States-aggregating
1SS000 tons-ncw on the Pacific station, and
which shall include at least six-line- battle
ships far more powerful than any vessel now
flying a foreign flag in Japanese waters.
1t has been asserted since Italys troubles
reached such an acute stage that she would
now find herself without friend in Europe.
And yet her condition is not likely to be
one of complete isolation. 1t was with
the full consent of Great Britain that she
began operations in Africa. in fact, the port
of Massowah was ceded to her by England,
1t having been originally an Egyptian pos
session. England was willing that Italy
should do police work for her along the
Red Sea littoral, and as she (Engand) had,
strangely enough, surrendered any claim to
Abyssinia, she had certainly no objections
to the establishment of an Italian protec-
torate over that country, especially as 1t
was feared that Russian Vaccinations were
at work in Abyssinian councils. Kassala,
which the Italians took from the dervishes
two years ago, is looked upon by the Arabs
as the gate Of the Soudan, and Is the CEN
ter of the trade between the Nile and
Abyssinia. Egypt consented to an occupa-
tion OF the town, and that occupation, 1t
was claimed. consolidated the interests OF
Great Britain and italy in Egypt and the
Soudan. 1t would not be surprising were
Great Britain to come to the support OF
Italy and augment her possessions in Africa.