The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-30

outposts. though corner Of the Sahara
intervenes, already touch Lake Tchad on
the west French Congo reaches up 10 Il
on the southeast.
Nothing can be more plain than the sit
uation as 1t now exists. 1t is clearly set
forth in an article recently published by
Henry Norman, though OF course with a
British bias. Tile case on each side" says
Mr.. Norman. lis simple. France claims
that as the Egyptian government was
driven out Of the Soudan bv force of arms,
that territory becomes the right Of any
nation the first TO occupy it, all previous
sovereignty being at an end, England, for
EGYPT, replies that although the Egyptian
forces We're driven out by a. revolt Egypt
has never abandoned her rights there, but
has ceaselessly prepared Ialsrself for the re-
establishment Of her authority. That the
whole Soudan was administered by Egypt
is beyond question. When Gordon was gov
error general his steamers we're up and
down TO Fashoda and he himself once went
to Bahr-el Ghazal and declared that II he
could have "a free tband he wouli guarantee
to pay all of THE expenses OF The Soudan D.
On her own behalf England adds that as
Egypt evacuated the Soudan on British nd :
vice. Great Britain Is in honor bound to see
that she returns to 1t. Moreover, the south
ern provinces are the richest in men and
products TIE Bshr-el Gl:iazal Is perhaps
the finest recruiting ground in Africa, and
SEMINAR is the granary of the Soudan'
TNerefore the Soudan can not be success
fully administered without them. Finally,
as the life of Egypt Gown to the sea de-
ponds upon the Nile and its periodical rise,
1t would be fatal to Egypt for any foreign
or hostile power to be seated on the Upper
Nile, where modern engineering skill could
draw off it's waters for irrgating purposes
and thus Instantly ruin whole districts OF
Lower Egypt"
British arguments such as Mr.. Norman S
only Prove to France the wisdom OF taking
and holding the Upper Nile. France realized
its value before England did. AS long ago
as 1895 French efforts to checkmlte Eng
lands advance were begun. TIL two ex-
petitions under Marehand and Liotard Sc
oretly advanced from the west coast to-
ward the Nile. When Knowledge OF tn sc
movements reached London SIR Edward
Grey. the under secretary for foreign al
fairs, s1tei In the house Of common that
the "vslley Of the Upper Nile was included
In the British ana Egyptian spheres OF IN
fluar ce ana any advance o, the part OF
France would be an unfrieudly act The
British claim is based on the Anglo-Ger,
j
the British sphere as extending from
Ugr as fan as the corfEnss OF Egyit;
but France has never recogiized this claim
and Marchand coolly ignored II,
Msaona Il 8 y av man and a man oil
wide experience in African exploration.
With twenty-three Frenchmen sui 300 ga,
tives he started on his way. "H. 8 obje u,
sad the Revue Heb lomaire, In 1896 was
to reach the Nile. To achieve that object
It was necessary to march across Africa.
The different stages OF the journey wsre
rs follows First. departure from the Az
lantr seaboln;i seconi marching through
the Congo: three, crossing the reg ons OF
the Ubsnshi; fourth, crossing the regioss
OF the Bahr-el -Ghazal; fifth, arrival on tins
Nile wheis the jun,ciion was 10 be effe2 ed
with the French Bondhamp nilsson comins
from Abysslnia sixth. return 70 France
via Abyss,rla and our port to ObocA.
The first part Of the journey was sue
cessful. strce the M.rchand expedition
reached Fashoda. But the main oojsct q
the expedition was etatei in Eng am e
have bern TO reach Khartoum befors tns
British Marchand had not a large army
He was to have won the nah'e by pacitis
measures for which duty he was wei
fitted by reason of his long African exoe-
rience In dealing with the natives. Inc
exncdit.on urdsr the Marquis de Bon
champs, 10 which reference is made n tns
u, agisla.ion from the Revue heplona,,s
succeeded some time ago 10 reaching tnt
Abyss.rian frontier OF the Soudan bon
chf.nps will undoubtedly reach Fasnoia
before mary days. His arriva' may .s
reported at any moment. II ne does, ana
Fse,csa ard the country round about car
ha held. then Frarce will have It's path
from east to wsst with the aid OF the -rieho-
~ Melelik OF Ahyss'nia
~
on December 10. 1887, Lord Salisbury
wrote TO Hanotaux then the French ior'
elen minister. that. while Great Britain
would not interpose concerning the French
claim Of territory on the north and cas-
shores OF Lake Tchad. the British govern
ment would not permit encroachment OF
the Nile valley Since the deyelopuaems q
Khsrcum and Fashoda Salisbury has MADE
Z speech declarfnx. the EnsiAn pQsiuon'
and practically mad: AZ appeal 20 ~ HIuI ~,
NE a. Groak Britain for sppport ~
s,Ianed heforo ~ pub33o - thD En9nQ9A