The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-10
BRIT0NS DOWN ON TAMMANY.
ITS TRIUMPH MEANS A VICTORY
FOR PLUNDERERs OF NEW YORK,

Brttish-French Contention in West
Africa-Strike Situation by No
Means ImprOved-LOss EntaiIed So
Far $780, 0,OOO-GOssip From Lon
don.
Copyright, 1897, by the Associated Press.)
London, Oct. 9.-Not even in the case of
a presidential campaign in the United
States have the English newspapers dis
played such interest as they are now TAX
ing in the struggle preparatory to the
election of a mayor of Greater New York
Even the heavy weeklies to-day devote
much space to the subject.
The Spectator and the Speaker both
print long articles on the mayoralty con-
test. The Speaker says: Never since
the days of imperial Athens or republican
Rome has municipal contest involved
such important issues. Many a king has
not had so much power as the mayor of
Greater New York will have" Continu-
ing, the Speaker expresses the opinion
that the success of the Tammany ticket
would not merely mean victory for the
"plunderers of New York." but the
triumph of the silverites at the next
presidential election"
The Spectator says it breads the sue
cess of Tammany and asserts that the
election Is a matter of deep interest to
the whole civilized world. After outlining
the immense power which the future may
or of Greater New York will have, the
Spectator remarks: 1.-The success of such
an elected officer will almost realize Car
lyles ideal of a democratic king. On the
other hand, should failure attend this
great experiment, it will be felt through
out Europe as well as America and will
sound the doom of the principle of demo-
cratic self-government in vast modern cit
les"
Lord Wolseley, commander-in-chief 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. That
the government is at its wits ends to Sc
cure the additional 10000 men which par
lament will be asked to add to the per-
manent strength of the army, Is shown
by the plan elaborated by the war office,
by which the volunteers of Great Britain
will be liable for service abroad in case
of war Up to the present it has been inn
possible to call upon them for duty abroad
only for the defense of the colonies and
in exceptional cases. The proposition,
however is regarded as threatening to
smash up the volunteer force
The British government is also consider
ing the adoption of an internal bullet in
vented in Birmingham. This bullet is
made of lead and instead of being conf
cal the top is level, and has cup like
cavity. On entering flesh this bullet acts
like a punch, cutting a clean, round hole
which does not close. 1t is a question
whether It's use would not be a breach of
the international convention
In spite Of the French Balons d'Essai
suggesting a. European coalition to turn
Great Britain out of Egypt, the evacuation
of that country by the British troops was
probably never so remote as it is now. In
deed, signs point to the possible deposit
ton of the Khedive of Egypt whose atti-
tude lately has not been submissive as the
British agent and minister plenipotentiary,
Lord Cromer, desires, in which event
British protectorate will inevitably fol-
low
Russia, it is said, has effectually snubbed
the French efforts to make the Egyptian
question a European one.
The difficulties in West Africa, between
the British and the French which was
foreshadowed in dispatches to the Asso-
ciated Press on oct. 2, and which have
been brewing since 1889, are assuming
definite form A French expedition, con-
s.sting Of 500 soldiers and 1900 carriers,
has started from Porto Novo, on the coast
of Dahomey. for Mikki. whence 1t pro-
ceeds to Hinterland of Lagos
The French officials is said to have
pressed natives of Lagos and their canoes
into the service of the expedition. AS La
gos is a British colony, this action upon
the part of the French is not likely to
pass without strong protests. Thus far
the Marquis of Salisbury has not shown
a sign of yielding an iota of the British
claims in the Hinterland, and the author
tiles at Lagos have been preparing for
some time past to circumvent the French
plans. They have already sent numerous
reinforcements of troops and gunboats to
the front, and on Friday they ordered
Capt Frederick Lugart, q thoroughly eX-
perienced officer of the Royal Niger Com
pany to go to the front. All the steam
ers from Liverpool to the west coast Of
Africa are taking officers, troops and
large quantities of munitions of war.
In addition to this attempt at colonial
expansion upon the part of the French
in West Africa, France is apparently pre-
pairing to swallow the kingdom Of Siam.
The Temps the organ of the French for
eign Office euumerates the points in dis
pute with Siam, in such a manner as to
lead to the belief that the French govern
ment intends to try and force Siam into
vassalage unless Great Britain intervenes.
An American diplomat who has just ar
rived here from Madrid says the condition
of Spain is even worse than the correspond
ents depict. Whoever is sent to Cuba, he
adds, viii attempt to buy off the insur-
gent leaders. The diplomat further says
that the Spanish government is so hard
pressed for money that it is attempting
to sell ali the public lands and buildings
that can possibly be spared. Not only
have the soldiers been unpaid since last
March. but the pension lists are in arrears.
All social intercourse between the Amer
lean minister at Madrid and the Spanish
officials and the diplomatic corps, had been
suspended for more than a year. This
was partly due to the fact that Hannis
TAYLOR, the former United States minister
to Spain, was persona non grata to most
Of the members of the diplomatic corps.
For eighteen months Mr. Taylor had not
been on speaking terms with the French
and Austrian ambassadors, and with the
papal nuncio. The rupture with the
French ambassador was because Mr.. Tay-
lor protested against being omitted from
the list Of guests at a reception given by
the ambassador.
There Is no indication Of an improve
ment in the engineering strike Seventy