The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-28
Due Entirely to the Grab-AnythinS Meth
OdS OF Both Governments.
END OF THE DIFFICULTY NOT SEEN
English Officers and Munitions Being Moved TO
the Front-France Stands Firm in the
Boat "A Proposed Statue
TO Washington.

cheety optimism OF officials OF both Gnsl1t
Britain and France as regards the con-
fiict at Mkt between French and British
forces, it is matter Of greatest gravity.
The reasons for disbelieving the reports
are far from convincing. Since the in
itiation of the wilder policy of sending
armed bands from Dahomey and Lagos
led by hot-headed officers to assert the
authority of their respective nations
and grab everything in sight which
might still be unconquered it is obvious
that a collision was bound to occur
sooner of later. Both governments have
repeatedly been warned to recall these
rowing expeditions and await the settle
ment of the delimination commission
which is sitting in Paris.
Which Is to Blame
1t is difficult to apportion the blame
for this state of affairs. That the
French initiated this system of Railing
the contested territory in West Africa
is undeniable, but the "Discoverer, Co
lumbus," as SIR William Vernon Har-
court, the liberal leader, has nick-named
Mr.. Joseph ChambeII ain, the secri barry
OF state for the colonies, has made
serious false step in following suit. If
a diplomatic protest on the subject had
been Immediately lodged in Paris and
vigorously pushed the whole question
would probably have been amicably set
tied by this time. But instead of this
the French have been permitted TO bold
ly invade the limits of the British
Lagoa territory, fight the natives and
OCCUPY towns so they might more easily
reach and occupy the Say-Bousha-Niki
triangle, which is the subject of dispute.
so tar as is known the Marquis of Sal
isbury has not asked for reparation or
even for explanations, and the whole
story appears 10 be incredible. If the
Marquis of Salisbury and Mr.. Chamber
lain have a settled policy regarding
West Africa they have failed to make it
known and they seem to be trying at
present to impress the French with
Great Britains unlimited "squeezab!l-
ity."
English Officers to the Front
The present situation is fraught with
perilous humilia tion. In the meanwhile
another batch of eighty British officers
and nom commissioned n icers sailed
from Liverpool today to Lagos, West
Coast of Africa, accompanied by SIX
twelv e. FOUNDER Maxim : Nordenfeldt
howltzers especially supplied by the CO.
lonial office without consultation with
the war office. 1t is computed when the
forces in progress of being dispatched
are Joined to the troops already there,
Great Britain will have $50 officers and
-non-commlssioned officers ard 1000
troops in West Africa.
France Remains Firm
Commenting upon this fact, the semi
official Temps, of Paris, says:
'"The British troops will be received
by our troops, who are already de facto
in possession and who propose to re-
main SO until the pending negotiations
are settled by equitable compensations,
legitimately shared by France and
England. Until then we shall not
swerve."
If this means anything it means that
France intends to extract further
graceful concessions from the Mar
quis of Salisbury similar to those in con-
nectfon with Siam, Tunis and Madagas-
car.
A Statue to Washington
d. c. Murray. the novelist, is propos-
ing national subscription to erect in
London a statue i'm honor of George
Washington. Messrs. Bayard and Hay
haNa both approved this scheme The
Daily Chronicle, however, questions
whether the statue might not result in an
embitterment between the nations.
Thu engineering conference apparently
BODIES i'll ito the trades union. The essen
tial part of the concessions is that the
Masters Federation is to be free to Intro
duce into fedrration workshops the con-
dltions xxi ting in other workshops, with
out reference TO the wishes of the trl des'
unions The situation has become so
critical that tliee1@ is talk of summoning
a national conference of representa-
tives of all organized labor to disclss the
maUter.
America Thorn
The ne wspapers are apparently trying
to find violations in ths documents at
Greytown 10 prove tlre NEEDLES oneness
of Americans in their nsigEbo s. affairs.
Accord ng to the colonial office, the doc
unr:nts are believed to be altogether in
significant and thai. i.hsy will not cause
an alteration in the British st stement as
already submitted.
The VIA ming of Cunt Gaiouchowski.
the Austrian minister of foreign affairs,
againsa. trans Atlantic compei ition," is
much discussed, and Ut Is variously re-
garded as me1aacing to America and as
indorsing Emperor VIII Jams criticism
of THE yellow peril or as a warning
against the British zollverein. European