Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-30

Sl<E4, TELLING Ot he Oiliol-N
OF THE AFRICAN. TROUBLES OF
FRANCE AND ENGLAND.
Copyright, Associated Press.)
London, October 29.-The arrival Of
Major Marchand at Khartoum on his
way to Cairo, with the portion of his
report which was not finished when
Captain Baratier left Fashoda, is re-
garded as a rift in the clouds over
hanging Anglo-French relations, for in
spite of the semi-official denial issued
in Paris that orders were sent to the
Major to go to Cairo, it is fully be-
lieved that the French officer would
not be on his way to Cairo unless he
had received hint to that effect from
the French government who consider
that his leaving Fashoda will take the
sting out of the situation and at the
same time prepare France for the
eventual withdrawal of the whole eX-
petition, which now consists OF seven
officers and 120 men.
The British view of this latest move
is that the Marquis of Salisbury and
his ministers are delighted to afford
Major Marchand the facilities for reach
iLg Cairo. But they would hardly care
to send him back except in the capac-
ity of guest or scientific explorer.
That is to say France will first have
to renounce her political claim based
on his mission.
In the meanwhile, in the voluntary
return of Major Marchand, the French
minister of foreign affairs, NJ. Delcasse,
and the government of France have
got over great difficulty from Dip
lomatic point of view. M. Delcasse had
declared that the French government
could not do the impossible; that is to
say, recalled Major Marchand. There
fore, the latter's return has enabled
the French government ito save its
face" as the saying goes. 1t is recog-
nized, however. that even if the trl-
color of France is hauled down at Fa-
shoda the main subject of dispute re-
mains and may cause anxious moments
in. both countries before the Bahr-El-
Gezal question is settled, although
there has been a confident feeling for
the last few days that war will be
ayerted. The French ministerial crisis
at first increased the feeling of anxiety
which prevailed as to the prospects
Of a peaceful solution; but in the list
of probable new ministers, the British
newspapers see a body of experienced
and capable men who are able to lead
French opinion. The retention of NJ.
Delcasses at the head of the ministry
OF foreign affairs, however, is not re-
garded fayoraby, as he is the father,
so-called, of the Marchand adventure.
An instructive account of the origin
CT the whole enterprise appears in an
important Paris paper, LIE Journal,
which says the Marquis de MOres, the
Angloph0be French explorer who was
alssassinated in the Iiinterland Of AL
garia, really conceived Grandiose plans,
which he submitted to NJ. Delcasse, who
fell in with his views and despatched
Major Marchand to the upper Nile
while De MOres started for the Sanara
with the avowed hope to conquer, with
the cooperation of Marchand, the pro-
vince Of Bahr-El-Ghazal. The plan of
campaign included the organization of
all the armed peoples opposed to Great
Britain and included even the co-opera-
ton Of the Khalifa, whose forces, led by
Frenchmen, would attack the British
and the Khalifa, backed by the Frerch
explorers, would thus interpOse a buffer
between Egypt and Central Africa,
thereby thwarting British aims. De
Mores and his party were massacred at
the outset of their journey, but Mar
chand succeeded in carrying out his
part of the plan, and there is reason to
believe that the French government
now wishes ne had not done So AS the
Ejclair says to-day:
'sMajor Marchand returning? Why,
then did he go to Fashoda? In order
to play the game we played against the
English we ought to have a navy
capable of making a brave show against
the English instead of which, the fos-
sis Of our navy department have left
us G!sarmed and incapable of fighting
with honor"
The French newspapers seem to have
little faith in Russia helping her ally
In the present crisis, while Russian dis
patches to the British papers affirm
positively that the Gar is decidedly
IMPOSED to war and has counselled the
French govesument to abandon its I'M
tenable attitude. 1t is even said the
czar has characterized the French at
titude as reckless.
Tn the meanwhile military and "a
val preparations continue on both
sides of the channel. There was talk
at Davenport to-day of 1ving squad
ron being commissioned. But a reas-
s,1ring feature is the departure of Sir
William Henry White the director of
naval construction Of the British navv.
on two months visit to Egypt. No
extreme measures. therefore are ev-
pected bv the admiralty officials at the
present moment at all events.
Tho Paris correspondent IF The Sun
.-ovc }haf