The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10
This Declared an Encroach-
ment Upon the Possessions
of Great Britain.
HOSTILlTIES MAY CLOSE
NEGOTIATIONS.
In Order to Supply Sold ers for Its
Small Wars England VIII Draw
Upon Volunteers.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

LONDON, ENG, Oct. 9.-The difficulties
in West Africa between the Brit 81 and
French which were foreshadowed in dis
patches 10 the Associated Press on Octo-
ber are assuming Inc form of a French
exnedi'ion, consisting of 500 soldiers and
2000 carriers, which has started from
Porto Novo. on the coast of Dahomey, for
Mikki. whence it proceeds 70 the Hinter-
land OF Lagos, according TO reports, but it
is said that this movement is really 10 re-
enforce The French troops which are
already occupying Mikki, and does not
auEur we'll for a smooth settlement of the
disputes. among which is the question of
the ownership of Mikki, and il is possible
the dipomatists will awake 10 find them
selves saved the trouble of the delimita-
tions negotiations by serious events on the
spot, for it is known that the British
colonial authorizes are taking active steps
to prevent the French force from en-
croaching uroa British territory. Fur
ther trouble may be added to the situa-
ton by the fact that the French officials
are said 10 have pressed natives of La COS
and their canoes into the service OF the
expedition.
rs 1dkOS Is - DIlllsA COL C0y lDlb uCtlOu
upon the part of the French is not likely
TO pass without strong protests at least.
Thus far. the Marquis of Salisbury. or
Mr.. Cham berlsIn, the Secretary of State
for the Colonies, who is generally credited
with being the power behind the throne
at the present moment, has not shown q
sigr of yielding an iota of the British
claims in the Hinteriand, and the authori-
Ties at Lagos have been preparing for some
time past to circumvent the French plans
They have already sent numerous re-
endorsements of troops and guneoats TO
the front. and on Friday they ordered
Captain Frederick Lugart, a Thoroughly
experienced officer of the Royal Niger
Company. who has served in the Afghan
war, the Soudan campaign and ,he Bur-
nese expedition. in addition to seeing
much service in AfIlcn, 10 20 to the front
All the ct amers from Liverpool to the
west coast of Africa are taking officers,
troops and large qusntitie. of munitions.oi
war.
In addition 10 his attempt at colonial
expansion upon the part OF the French in
West A rica, France is apparently prepar
ing o swallow the Kingdom of Siam. The
Times. organ of the French foreign office,
enumerates the points In difference with
Siam in such a manner as to lead to :he
belief that the French Government in
tends to force Siam into vassalage unless
Great Britain intervenes.
In spite of the French balloonist D'Ersai
suggesting a European coalition TO turn
Great Britain out of EGypt, the evacuation
OF that country by the British troops was
never so remote as it is now. Indeed,
signs point 10 the possible deposition OF
the Khedivc OF Egypt, whose attitude
lately has not been as submissive as the
British agent and Minister Plenipo en-
tiary, Lord Cromer. desires, in which
event a British protectorate will inevita-
bly, follow. Russia. it is said, has effectu-
ally snubbed the French efforts to make
the Egyptian question a European one.
Lord Wolseley, the commander in chic f
of the British forces, is making desperate
efforts TO surmount the difficulties which
Great Britain is experiencing in finding
troops for her numerous small wars. The
Government is at its wits ends to secure
the additional 10 900 men, which Parlia.
ment Will be asked to add 10 the perma-
nent strength of the army, as shown by
the plan elaborated by the War Office, by
which the volunteers OF Great Britain will
be bic for service abroad in Gaze of war;
Up to the pre-ent IL has been i'm possible
to cali upon them for duty abroad, only
for the defense of the colonies and in ex-
ceptional cases.
Tne proposition, however, is regarded as
threatening to smash up the volunteer
forces. In addition to the proposition to
make the volunteers liable for service
broad in case of war the Government will
introduce an army reserve bill during the
next session of Parliament. According TO
this measure it is proposed TO enlist 5000
recruits at an extra rate of pay, thus
forming a reliable force, which can be
drawn upon at any time for use in the
small wars.
The British Government is also con-
sdering the adoption of an Internal bullet
invented in Birmingham. This bullet is
m ade of lead and instead OF being conical
the top is level and has a cuplike cavity.
On entering the flesh this bullet acts like a
punch. cutting a clean round hole, which
does not close. The bullet beg ms to ex-
pand im M ediately after entering and after
It has travelled six inches it produces a
isgged hole three or four inches in dia-
meter. The bullet is said 10 be the most
terrible known, and it is a question
whether its use will not be a breach of the
International convention.