The Atlanta constitution., 1898-10-17
FRANCE MUST GET
OUT OF FASH0DA
England Declares That 1t Must
Be Evacuation or Fight-It
Is For France to Say.
WAR PREPARATIONS BEGUN
British Statesmen Have So Committed
Themselves That Compliance Only
Will Prevent War.

London. October 15-The week opened
with an ominous rattling of sabers over
Fashoda and ended witI the rumbl'ngs of
q revolutionary volcano in Paris.
The situation arising out of the question
between Great Britain and France as to
the right of occupying Fashoda is extreme
ly grave Everything hinges on the nature
of the report of Major Marchdnd, the
French commander d FashOda, which is
now on It's way from Khartoum to Iarls,
thanks to the courtesy OF the Brltlsh gov
ernment in permitting one OF Marchahd
officers to use the British lines of conlnuih-
cation. The evacuation of FaShoda by the
French must, however, take place II war
between Great Britain and France is to be
averted, as the marquis of Salisbury has
nailed his Coiors to the mast and cannot
recede fro1n the position he has taken up
and in which he has received the uhttti4-
nous support of the country.
The clear, strong speeches Of the liberal
leaders, Lord Rosebery and Mr.. Asqhth'
coming at this critical moment, were very
important in that they demonstrated to
the world that the liberal party is soldiy
with the government In the stand tho lat
ter has taken on the Soudan question.
The Speaker the organ of the liberal Taf-
ty. refers plainly this week to the impos-
sibillty of relinQuishing the British Ial'na
and points out that if 1t comes to war, 1t
will not be merely for Fashoda. but Tor
the maintenance Of Great BritainS place
in the world plus her unuouptca i'Siit7'
The Speaker adds:
IF we abandon our claims Englishmen
would lose their own Self-reSpcct and Eng
lish statesmanship should be dragged IN 'he
mire."
The emphatic declarations Of the Eng
lish press and public men have already had
a certain influence across the channel
and the inspired statements of the frehch
press bclittle the Importance OF Fashoda
and Shift the ground to an underlined claim
upon the province Of Bahr- -El-Ghazal and O
port on the Nile.
Preparing for a Backdown.
The mouthpIece Of tho French foreign Of
fee is preparing France for the abandon
ment of Fashoda by asserting that Major
Marchand overshot his goal. and that IN
stead Of going to Fashoda he ought 10
have stOpucd at the confluence Of the
Bahr- Ghazal. Many British pubicists,
however. scout the idea that France VIII
be permitted to install herself on the BaAf-
El-Ghazal which is described as the pay
ing reef of the Soudan. All the rest or
the reconquered territory. as far as faSh-
oda ie, comparatively ValueleSs, being most
ly desert ground, which cannot be mace
to pav for many years to come. But the
ahr-Ei-Ghazal territory is thickly popu-
lated and has magnificent trade prospects.
During the goVernorship of the late Gen
eraI Gordon Bahr-El-Ghaza had immense
exports of ivory, grain, beeSWaH' SklhS.
etc while it contained whole forests OF
arrow root. Besides the cotton grown thefe
SURPRISES the Egyptian product Inc
,hauvtnistic Paris papers are dcnounclhE
Great Britain and are doing their utmost TO
excite French feeling II the matter. Other
Trrnnch 1,apers are making bitter complaints