The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-27
CLOSE TO CONFLICT.
French and English About Ready
to Fight in West Africa.

French and English About Ready
to Fight in West Africa.
PARIS, Oct 26.-The Journal says
news has reached st. Louis from the
Dahomey Hinterland to the effect that
complications are imminent at Nikki
and elsewhere in Borgu, of which ter
ritory Nikki is the capital.
A semi-official statement regarding
the reported trouble in West Africa
was issued this evening. 1t says:
f'The news from West Africa fore
shadows great difficulties in Nikki and
Rorgu The Niger company (British)
in sending officers there to incite re-
bellion and distribute arms to the ma
tives Inview of this situation French
troops have been dispatched to that
district from Senegal as a preventive
measure. Moreover, the British nego-
tiations for a settlement Of the Niger
question have been in Paris for over
a week and everything points to Great
Britain seeking to let matters drag.
Seemingly, she does not intend to dis
cuss the question, but means will be
undoubtedly found to foil these tao
tics"
LONDON, Oct. 26.-Replying to the
semi official statement concerning the
dangerous state of affairs in West
Africa, issued in Paris this evening,
the British colonial officials tonight
declared that there does not seem to
be any reasonable fear Of complica-
oh
government behaves reasonably"
But it was added at the colonial Of
flee that Great Britain has taken the
determination to more effectually po-
lice her territory, and IF the French
persist in trespassing, complications
will naturally ensue."
SIMLA, Oct. 26.-Official advices re-
ceived here today from Kharappa an
nounce that a large foraging party Of
British troops yesterday captured the
village of Rimadlan and secured
quantity of supplies. On retiring the
troops were holly followed by the
enemy to within a mile of the British
camp. On the British side nine men,
including Col HadoWa, were wounded.
The confidence Of insurgent tribesmen
is increasing and they are offering
determined front in all directions. The
British officers say the tribesmen excel
in guerrilla warfare and are wonderful
skirmishers. The enemy is fully sup
piled with ammunition and large re-
Inducements are joining the insurgent
camps dispatch from Semphagha
gives the official list Of the killed and
wounded at the storming of Dargal
ridge as being 1876. of which number
thirty-Seven were killed. -
SIMLA. Oct. 26-It is estimated that
the tribesmen have massed $1,000 men
at Sempagha pass, where they are busy
making rifle pits in the SangarS and
STRENGTHENING their defenseS. 1t is gen.
orally believed, however, that 1t will be
possible to turn the position by either
flank and, though hard fighting is pos
sib1y in store, it is hoped that the pass
will be carried without great effort
Meanwhile it is bad news that the
tribesmen have begun to operate on the
British lines of communication. The
fear is that, finding this the most sue
ccssful means of delaying the British
advance, they will detach still larger
bodies to attack the British conveys
and cut up the escorts This Tues-
day. evening the tribesmen haraSSed
the British camp near khangabur by
a constant we'll directed fire for sew
eral hours. Nearly thirty HoH-colhliliS
stoned officers and men were slightly
wounded. A telegraph wire was cut
close to the camp. A picturesque, but
unfortunate incident occurred on the
Shinwari side of the SANTANA range. A
party Of Gurkhas, sent out under
Lieut.. Willard, had crept close up to a
large body of the enemy. Just at this
moment, through some mistake, mag
nesium star shells were fired from the
British camp and revealed the whole
situation, enabling the enemy to escape