Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-10-27
IICKNGS OF THE TELEGRAPH
News Of the Day as Told Over the
Slender Wires.
DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN NEWS
War Cloud Darkens Because of the DIFF
ferences Between France and Great
Britain Over the fasboda Matter
Both are Preparing for Trouble.

ferences Between France and Great
Britain Over the fasboda Matter
Both are Preparing for Trouble.
Never since Great Britain and France
began TO dispute over Egypt, years
ago, nor during the most acute stage
of the numerous Niger differences be-
tween those two countries has the sit
uation looked so ominous as IL now
does over the Fashoda incident. 1t is
n fact that the French naval and mill
tary authorities are making feverish
preparations for war, and significant
orders have been issued from the Brit
ish admiralty. indicating the belief
that Great Britain and France arc on
the brink of war The French naval
preparations were at first declared to
be mere routine arrangements. but
they are now admittedly directed
against Great Britain. The French
backwards and arsenals are working
at full pressure, hurriedly preparing
warships and torpedo boats for active
service. At Chcrburg and Toulon
the schools have been closed to
hermit the use of the school build
ings to be used as barracks for
troops and marines ordered to those
points. On the British side, feeling
of absolute self-confidence is displayed.
"Everything ready" is the burden of
all the statements from naval quar-
tiers. In fact the British navy has
practically been on war footing for a
wear past, and an authoritative an
/ nouncement to this effect has come
! from the secretary of the admiralty.
The British admiralty list shows that
nine British battleships and IL fast
cruisers are lying in the Mediterra-
mean. while the British channel squad
ron, which was last reported off Viii
largarcia. Spain, consisting of eight
battleships and five cruisers, consti-
tutes the most modern and powerful
homogeneous fleet of warships afioat.
The commanders of all warships of the
British North American squadron have
received orders to mobilize at Halifax.
1t is understood that the British gov
eminent proposes to take the steps
necessary to insist upon an early and
definite statement from France.
kilograms from Balinoral intimate
that Queen Victoria is following the
trend of events VITA much chagrin
Her aversion to war in the declining
years of her reign is well-known and i:
an appreciable factor in the situation
The French yellow book on Fashods
seems to indicate an intention on the
part of the French government to util
ize the Marchand affair as a means o
raising the whole Egyptian question
1t sets forth that France does not re
gard the British claim to the Soudai
fby virtue of conquest as applying t
Fashoda. The Marchand expedition
pushed forward at time when tn
equatorial provinces were lost to civil
iZation and France considered hersel
equally entitled with England to tn
possession of any point occupied b.
; French officers. As Marchand reached
Fashoda first, England has no right t.
demand an evacuation of Fashoda prio
to negotiations, and that such a dc
: mand would be equivalent to an ulti
: matum. and no one could doub
, what would be the reply of France.
, The London press admits the gravit
of the situation revealed by the yellow
book, but the papers are unanimous i
I declaring that it is impossible for Lor
I Salisbury to consent to any negotis
: tions until Fashoda is evacuated. N
4 Delcasse with equal firmness decline
5 to withdraw Marchand without prev
S Gus negotiations, the situation has a
1 ominous look However, Baron d
Courcel, the French ambassador 9
. London, and Lord Salisbury held
. conversation in which the former pra'
r tically stated that France would reliI
e ouish Fashoda if she were granted
: Nile outlet on the River Bahr- ell GAIA
o one of the tributaries of the Nile, ell
). tering it about $50 miles southwest {
I Fashoda at Mokrem-el- Bohur. In r
. ply Lord Salisbury said it would
6 necessary that he consult his colleague
. and some claim to see in this poss
o bility of compromise.