The evening times., 1898-05-26

Paris. May 2s-There Is nothing more
| remarkable in Paris. and. one may say.
| in France. than the spirit of nervousness
existing with regard to what is Ameri-
| cas- real sentifent toward France.
1t is manifest that the press realizes
that 1t took a false step at the outbreak
of hostili;ies between Spain and the
United States, and now the papers have
come to a confused halt. They are feel
ing their way in the dark. and wondering
what their next move should be.
OF course. la perfide Albion is always
there to be struck at. and. as usual. she
is being accused of having created the
unpleasant feeling that undoubtedly ex-
lists between this country and America.
In fact. it is not going too far to say that
were war to be declared between the two
nations. Americans would hardly be held
responsible by the French. while the Eng
lish would be roundly accused of having
brought 1t about.
There is a noticeable change In the pa
pers day by day. The Gaulois is nerv-
Gus. The Figaro is hedging. The Temps
is dignified and courteous. The Debats.
evidently looking to the future fears
CohlphSdtAohSs diior III AeCAs oSSS udu6cI
ahead.
The news that the Queens birthday had
been celebrated in America is printed in
all the papers without comment. which
is an ominous sign. 1t Is impossible to
deny that the rapprochement between
England and America is viewed here as
q threatening indication for the future.
1t brings no comfort to any one to real
ize that a portion of the press has been
for tot nf orr oil
stretching out of England's hand toward
America, with a responsive gesture on the
part of the American Republic, Is felt to
be full of menace for France. Not only
Is 1t q loyal and profitable customer lost:
1t is also a weakening of the long-stand
ing sympathy between France and the
United States.
OF course. there Is absolutely no truth
in the rumor that Americans are either
badly treated or coldly looked upon here.
On the contrary, people. individually, are
trying by every means in their power to
show that they have been misrepresented
by their papers. Americans are receiving
all the courtesy to which they have al
ways been accustomed from the French.
At the same time the situation may be
summed up in one phrase: France is dis
turbed to see the Anglo-Saxon race be-
coming a unit for peace, and she fears
also for war.
The Debats denfends in its evening
edition the conduct of the war by the
Americana It says: ITO cause the most
damage to the enemy. to use 1t up bit
by bit. Ia a way of conducting campaign
that may be less brilliant, but is often
surer than a series of massacres. 1t is
forgotten too often by those criticising
the war that the object Of the Americans
Is to drive the SDaniards out of Cuba:
that the 1affoP remain there
and that one of the two adversaries
which becomes uncontested master of the
sea Is certain of success. The game Of
the Americans, therefore, is to seek to
destroy at any cost the Spanish fleet"
The Debats then sums up for and
against the present situation, without
committing itself to any definite opinion.
Spain. even though Admiral Cervera's
fleet may be blocked In Santiago.
The Temps has a sarcastic leader upon
the news that Mr.. Goshen, of the adj
miralty board, and Mr.. Austin Chamber
lain have left for Gibraltar. It uses this
departure as peg upon which to hang
a denunciation of England's policy, and
drags In a reference to the feeling of
which France has for America,
which feeling. according to the Temps,
England has been doing her best to de-
stroy with a series Of stupid inventions
The Gaulois gives the news OF the war
In rather a fiippant style. sneering at the
that hospitals at Key
West are being put In readiness to re-
ceive the wounded in the expected battle.
NJ Marc Landry, In the Figaro. says:
''The sensational news Of the day Is the
apparently well founded,
that the American squadron has received
orders not to blockade the Spauish force
Or to wait until 1t issues from Santiago,
but to sail beldly In and attack It In the |
bay. The important point in considering
khis news h to know that in the state Of |
defensive works covering the narrow en- |
france to the bay-ik there are. - It u |