Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-05
WARS AND sTRrTns or 90.
Considerable Blood Split Mainly in
the Old World.


No sword has been drawn by one great
civilized state against another through the
whole of 1896, but the gates of the Temple
of Janus shave by no means been shut. by
far the most blood-stained portion of the
worlds surface so far as 1896 is concerned
is the Ottoman empire. There has been
actual fighting in Crete. while the tale
Of massacres of Armenians in all parts OF
the empire is still far from complete. THE
Shadow of God" in Constantinople is
haunted by a perpetual fear, and he
imagines, like most men in panic, that he
can best secure his own safety by striking
terror. Abdul Hamid embodies in his reign
and in the massacres by which its closing
days are being marked a great object les
son as to the real nature of Turkish rule.
Without some such demonstration it would
have been impossible for us to con-
ceive the popular enthusiasm which
launched medieval Europe on the Sc
ries of enterprises that we call cru
sades. There are many persons today who
preached for the determination of the "in-
iidel," not because he Is an infidel but be-
Cause he has established assassination as an
instrument OF government and replied by
massacre to the protests of the conscience
Of Europe and America. Casting a rapid
glance over the world, it is curious to note
how much fighting mas gone on in the is
lands. On the continents there has been
little war; but man has faced man in deadly
wrath In Crete, in Cuba, in Madagascar and
in the Philippine islands. In fact with the
exception of the continent of Africa and
certain of these islands, 1896 has been a
year CT peace. These, however. are consider
able exceptions, and neither in Cuba nor
the Philippine islands did 1896 bring any
prospect of peace. The struggle on both
sides Is marked by atrocities Of which the
civilized world hears little from Cuba, but
nothing much from the Philippines. In Mad
agascar French expedition to Antananariyo
has placed the French in nominal possess
sion of the island. 1t is only nominal, for
outside the capital the French appear to
DO obeyed only as far as their guns will
carry, and until such time as their guns are
removed On the African continent there
has been more serious fighting. Italy
suffered great defeat in Abys-
sinia, which, however, has been a
blessing in disguise, in that it has led to
of establishing an Ethiopian empire raised
upon the colony of Erythraea The defeat
in Africa shock down the Crispi ministry
and crippled Italy in the estimation OF Eu-
rope. 1t was also the means of launching
the long-expected expedition for the recov-
cry of the Soudan. The Anglo-Egyptan
force under the Sirdar. Sir Herbert Kitch-
ener, achieved an almost bloodless success
when it marched southwark along the Nile
valley, and cleared the soldiers of the mahdi
out of the fertile provinces Of DOngOla. 1t
Is understood that this year when the Nile
IS high Dongola will be used as a base for
the reconquest of Khartoum. But for the
unfortunate issue of Jameson's raid Cecil
Rhodes would probably have realized his
ideal of joining the Cape to Cairo before the
end of the century. Matabeleland has risen
in revolt and has been recOnquered. The
Transyaal has been the scene of fighting
which could hardly be digniaed by the title
of war. On the other side, the Ashanti
power has been broken by an English ex-
petition, which has opened up one OF the
dark places of the world, full of frightful
cruelty, to the milder influences of com
merce and civilization. AS the year closed
Sir George Taubman Goldie was departing
for the Niger in order TO strike blow at
one of the saye-trading tribes which still
live and thrive under the nominal protec-
ton of the Niger company.