Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-23
on THE UPPER NILE.


Kitchener's demonstration against ia
shoda Is. II is said. awaited In LondoI
with intense interest, not unmixed WIN
anxiety. And naturally. Neither TN
sirdar nor the British Government mas
taken the public into confidence touch
ing the matter, and a cloud OF doub'
hangs oyer the situation there. and wha'
the movement may portend as to the re-
lations between Great Britain and
France. General Kitchener has sent all
newspaper correspondents to the rear
and the British War Office is retcent.
A few days ago 1t was announced that
France. needing the warning as to French
aggression In the Upper Nile Valley,
which was uttered by Disraeli and re-
| peated by Gladstone. Salisbury and Rose
| berv had abandoned Major Marchand,
| the leader OF the French expedition
| against Fashoda, to his fate, and would
| disayow the official character OF his mis-
sion. Now It is reported that the French
| Government has decided to send rein
forcements to Marchand.
|
| "a much in the history OF recent French
policy in respect of Africa to indicate
that II may be true, Great Britain cam
not but accept 1t as showing determine
ton on the part of France to bring the
Understanding Anglo-French trouble over
the African question to final crisis.
And II is hardly to be questioned that
Great Britain will meet the crisis firmly
and vigorously. She cannot afford to do
otherwise. The establishment of French
mower at Fashoda would rob her of the
chief fruits of her victory at Omdur-
man.
The truth Is that Fashoda Is the crux
of the whole Nile situation, and repre-
sents the key TO the contamination of
British ultimate designs In the Dark Con-
tinent. 1t is situated on the west bank
of the While Nile, some 400 miles south
from Khartoum, and is the centre Of a
densely populated and fertile district OF
the equatorial province of which Emin
Pasha was so long the captive Governor
It's strategic value is of the highest i'm
portance. According TO scientists and
geographers, at Fashoda the Nile could
be so damned up and It's course
be so diverted as to prevent the
annual overflow of the liver In
Lower Egypt, and convert that country
into a bowling waste. Moreover. Fasho-
da, with the surrounding district. Is the
all-important link in the chain with which
Great Britain proposes to bind the Cape
to Cairo. 1t would seem obvious. there
fore. that the British must possess Fa-
shoda, even if they have TO fight for Its
possession. They have come to the part
ing of the ways in dealing with France
as regards the Upper Nile Valley, and If
France still proves obstinate, Great Bri-
tain's only choice is along the way OF
force.
This choice would be justified on the
ground of both Anglo-Egyptian SELF
interest and right in the premises. The
African policy of France has been to oc-
cupy the hinterlands and starve the com
merce Of the seacoast towns of her rivals. |
1t is a policy she pursued in he Niger |
Valley until checked by Great Britain |
upon demand of the latter's West Afri- |
can dependencies, and which has CON |
tributed little or nothing TO the clviliZa- |
ton of the natives. AS 10 the question |
of right: Before the Mahdist uprising |
Fashoda was distinctly recognized as be
ing within the domain of Egypt.