New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-04
THE RAHR-EI-GHA/II.

Westward the scene of interest in Africa, like
the course of empire, takes It's way. FasDoda
is to be abandoned SO much has been con-
fidently expected from the beginning OF the
present complications. and seems now assured.
Some say the Bahr-elGhazal will likewise be
relinquished. or. more properly. all claims upon
it will be relinqushed. by the French. Or that
we are by no means so sure. On the contrary
II appears far more likely that there will be
some protracted and pretty vigorous diplomatic
NEGOTIATIONS before the final ownership OF that
territory and the exact limits of it are deter
mined 10 the satisfaction of all concerned.
Tho Bahr-el-GhaZal is both country ana
river The river Of that name is the chief trib-
utary of the Nile from the west and south OF
the Rahr-el-A Zrel or Blue Nile. 1t is in itself
q large stream. more than 800 miles long. ana
receives the waters Of the Bahr-cl-Arab, Bahr
Dembo and other streams. The country OF the
same lame is the region drained by that river
and it's tributaries. II lies in the heart OF the
Continent mt the southern edge of the Soudan.
west of the Nile and Immediately north of the
Congo Free State Ii is in form triangle,
with one side extending along the Nile from
NoLren- ell Bohur to I.adO, another from Mok-
ren-el-Rohur along the Bahr-pl-GhaZal ana
Rahr-ei- Arab to the confines of the independent
Sultanate of Wadai, and the third from Wadai
to Iado along the watershed between the val
Ieys of the Bahr-el-Ghazal and the tbanghi
OF These sides the first is about 800. the second
200 and the third nearly 500 miles long. This
region Is traversed by innumcrable streams, Is
wonderfully fertile and productive and Is
dcnsely populated. 1t was one Of the most val
uod parts of the Egyptian Empire i'll the days
when Gordon was GOvcrnor-Genera of the Sou
dan. and the title Of Egypt TO it today seems in
disputable The gallant Major Marchand trav-
erscd It with his expedition OH his way 10
Fashoda and established posts at half dozen
places But he was unable TO leave at them
effective garrlsons and did not Of course. take
such actual possession Of the country as would
give France a title TO il, even If II had been
omen 10 such acquisition by any Power
The dispute will be, then. over the boundaries
of the province and especially over the bound
arv between IT and the French Congo. That
boundary has never yet been delntcd. II IL
,ruc that In 1890 when the German colony of
the Cameroons was rudey regarded as extend
ing up to the Egyptian borders, Great Britain,
acting on behalf of Egypt. made Il convention
with Germany. by which the boundary between
the Cameroons and the Bahrel-Ghazal was
fixed at the watershed between the two great
valleys as already described The validity Of
that settlement was recognized by Italy and the
Congo State, though France has never accepted
it. but has, on the contrary. denounced it. More
over. and this is most to the point. France has
since that time pushed the borders OF her Con
go State up the north shore OF the Uban,hi to
Wadai, selling a vast tract Of what was in
formally supposed 10 be German territory and
making the CamerooDs a mere coast province
cut off at the back by French possessions The
| line formerly traced between Egypt and Ger
many proves. therefore, to be between Egypt
| and France, and will have 10 be traced anew
| Ii Is over that line that the controversy will
be- That there will be a war over IL is scarcely
! 10 be though, Of. The matter is emnenty one
10 be settled by diplomats and engineers Not
| the least interesting factor in the problem is the
formal statement made a few years ago by NJ
Uanotaux then Foreign Minister Of France
| that all The territories formerly under the do
| mnlon of the Sultan and the Khcdive must still
be deemed Egyptian. If that principle be main
tanned all the Bahr-clItbazal, TO It's widest linn
It's, belongs 10 Egypt. And It Is not easy TO see