New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-07
BRITISH MOVEMENTS IN AFRICA.

| THE NILE EXPEDITION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
AGAINST FRENCH AGGRESSION.
London. Nov Con the Brink is the editorial
caption under which The Daily News" to-day dis
cusses the Anglo French relations and wonders
! how many times Of recent years Great Britain has
been upon the brink of with France. The
same feeling is known to exist among the we'll
| informed in both countries The news from Lagos,
West Coast of Africa. on Thursday last. that the
| French had evacuated Sak one OF the posts in the
| Lagos interand which had been occupied by the
troops In contravention OF the agreement of 1880
| leaving that place soon as the British force
sent there by Governor MacCallum appeared near
| Saki. shows how serious the situation IN West
Africa has been. and demonstrates that collision
between the French and British troops In this IN
| stance was only averted by the retirement OF the
former and II further shows that such collision
may any day.
The definite announcement that the Anglo Egyp-
tan campaign up the Nile has been abandoned for
| the present. although expected has been the sig
nal for howl OF disgust similar in tone to the out
burst of 1.-THE Morning Post yesterday. which
paper. In specially displayed editorial on the sub
ject denounced the Government for ITS hesitancy
| and invertebrateness all great occasions" add
ing that the unfortunate losses in money and
blood are due to procrastination and. now when
the hour Is ripe to vlndicate Gordon and TO smash
the Mahdi. nothing is to be done, but baneful
hesitation sets In. a moral Influenza which par
ayzes statesmen and is the curse OF constitu-
tional government" Similar announcements have
been heard even from the most ardent supporters
Of the Ministry The atteris decision not TO con-
tinue the Soudan campaign Is attributed both 10
| lack of money and to the impossibilty of finding
British troops for this service until the Indian
troubles over. Any suggestion that the Egyp-
ton troops have already broken the khaliias back
and are capable of reaching Khartoum alone IL
frowned down, until 1t is beginning to be whis-
| nfvnfI Lat tha EsC
tians know how much they are capable of accom-
plshing alone. In any case. whatever the reason
for stopping the campaign may be. 1t seems to be
folly bordering madness. to wait until next year
easily realized while the Dervshes and other tribes
already rescued from the tyranny OF the khalifa
complications are threatened would to en-
phaslze the ACCESSIBILITY Of Fastening the recapture
Dremacy in Central Africa Is seriously threatened
by the French. whose unnistakable intention is to
| off direct communication between Egypt and the
British possessions in the Genre ana fSqh 81
| resting on her oars win cause them 10 Tedoublee
o. all sides to take spirited action, aud II Is insist
ell that If funds are lacking Great Britain must
aivance them or even supply the amount requisite
While the Ministry is apparently vacillating IN
the diapute With the French regarding the Lagos
| Hinterland. The Foreign and Colonial offices are
most buslly at work. and are closely following
| every detail OF the movements made. special
map Is sent the Secretary OF State for the Colo
| MES, Joseph Chamberlain, every night. with the
| latest moves marked on II with little fiags.
The from Saki and elsewhere shows that the
British Governors i'm West Africa are determined
| to stop any further French aggression lnmedi-
ately after the occupation of Saki became known
at the British Foreign Office. the Marquis OF Sails
bury sent a strongly worded dispatch to the French
Foreign Office saying that If a conflict occurred
the responsibility would rest with France, and he
also cabled Governor MacCallum to instruct the
officers Of the British expedition sent to that place
not to allow anything 10 prevent the reoccupation
OF any British territories trespassed on by the
French or other European forces TO this is prob
ably attributable the hasty retirement OF the
French troops the Approach Of the British force
A statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary
OF the Colonial ONCE the Earl OF Selbourne. yes
he carried out will have the effect Of opening the
British Niger Company's territories TO all trades.
shows the Government intends to take over these
territories.