The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-03
TO REDEEM THE soUDAN.
The AngIO-Egyptian Expedition Pre-
nnring TO ADVANCE on Abu Hamed.

DnT1nE 10 ADVANCE Oh ANU haAhSu
LONDON. May 2.-The A~nglo-Egyptian
expedition is only waiting for the rise OF
the Nile to continue the advance up the
Nile to Abu Hamed, about one hundred
miles beyond the present frontier post of
Merawi. This addition to the territory re-
covered from the Dervishes would have
been made last year, but that the fourth
cataract presents a very serious if not in
surmountable obstacle after the Nile begins
to fall. There is no other way of reaching
Abu Hamed at present than by water. it
being impossible to march any substantial
force across the Nubian desert.
But all is in readiness at MeraWi to
dash ahead the moment there is q sufficient
depth of water to admit of the steamers
passing up the cataract, and a week should
suffice to bring the expedition into contact
with the Dervish garrison at Abu Hamed.
1t would not be surprising II they were
to evacuate the position after snght resist
ance. With no support nearer than BerDeT,
this detached outpost is practically IN a
situation for which Dervishes nave httle
relish.
The immediate reason for continuing the
advance 10 Abu Hamed Is to allow OF the
quick completion of the railway from Wady
ELalfa. Some thirty miles are already nm
ished, but 40 remain to be constructed be-
fore the steam horse enters Abu Hamed.
When this becomes an accomplished TACT
the way will be smoothed for that tnaI
sVoop on Khartoum, against which the
khlaifa is already making strenuous prep
Above Abu Hamed the river route pre-
sents no serious difficulties, while, by con-
veying troops straight to the base from
Wady Balfa by rail, instead OF around the
great bend of the Nile. the saving of time
and trouble will be very considerable. As
the desert track is level throughout, while
e. large quantity of railway plant is already
in hand at Wady Halfa, the construction OF
the line will be easy and speedy.
Another African matter of the first i'm
portance is about to come up. Great Britain
Is i'm communication witt the other powers
on the subject of the desirability of an in
ternational conference as to the treatment
of the native races. The immediate, justlf1-
cation for this is the approach Of the time
for the revision of the Brussels act OF 1892,
as bearing upon the Congo Free State.
1t is admitted on all sides that the Belgian
control has been very ineffective and that
misgovernment and oppression have been
rampant. Great Britain has never been
ackward in insisting that the colonization
and exploitation of West and Central Africa
shall be under adequate European control.
The Brussels conference of 1SS9-90, which
resulted i'm the PRONUNCIATION of the general
ACT to which the Congo state owes its pres
ent authority, was called at Lord Salls-
bury's suggestion. The act, which came
into force in January. 1882, contains regula-
tions restricting the sale OF alcoholic liquors
and firearms. These provisions nave been
a dead letter.
So many rival nationalities have Inter
ests." real. or imaginary. on the congo,
that political agents have winked at the
supply to the natives of arms and ammuni-
ton for use in their internecine wars. and
traders. influenced by more sordid motives.
have not been loath to make a proht out OF
the forbidden merchandise.
The sale of alcohol has been vigorously
pushed. and there is something more than
humorous eXaggeration in the. story that
cheap gin is the one import carried up eoun-
try by the Congo Railway. There is an
other side to the picture, for the Congo
state has done an honorable work in dimtn-
fishing the horrors CT the slave trade. But
no doubt a European joint control along
the Congo would now be an Improvement
upon King Leopoid's experiment.
Lord Salisbury will do his best to make
European control serve the ends of the rich
and powerful British Royal Niger Com
pany which. as George Curzon says. 'by
virtue of superior wealth and organization.
by its tactics and by the length of time it
has been in the field, has acquired for itself
q position almost impossible for any private
agency TO compel with" 1t will not be
Saiisbury's fault If England does not retain
the monopoly she already enjoys on the
Ammonium river of West Central Africa.