The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-18
SigDificoDce Of the Egyptian,
CretoD and Dreyfus
Questions.
Greet Britain Will Deal Swiftly With the Turks,
oDd Will Also Continue the March
to Fosbodu.

Major Marchand from Fashoda by
force of arms
The Spectator says: IF we go to
FaShoda and quietly take possession
France will not order us out. If she
does and we naturally refuse to go she
won't attack us. Nothing else, how
ever, will serve her turn as, If the
matter Is settled locally, we must win.
If, then the French are at Fashoda we
do not see any reason to be greatly
alarmed. The most they will do is to
try to make the occupation of the
ground good bargain. The Bahr Ell
Ghazal, a river branching into the Nile
little way south of Fashoda, and
really a continuation of the Nile and
its aftluents, might, it Is conceivable,
be conceded to her on certain terms.
The French newspapers, which first
took the matter quietly, are now indulg-
ing in truculent articles. They declare
that If Major Marchand is really at Fa-
shoda he will stay there. The idea that
Fashoda is 'Tithin the Egyptian sphere
is pooh-poohed. Otherwise, it is asked,
what right has Great Britain to Ugu-
anda, which belonged to the former
Egyptian equatorial province?
The Echo de Paris says The Sir
dar'S forces dare not fire upon Major
Marchand. for France is behind him.
England must now consent to a Euro
pean conference unless she wants war.
The Soliel adopts the "perfidious AL
bion" line of argument and thinks the
report of Major Marchands arrival at
Fashoda is a British trick to prepare
public opinion for an immediate ad-
vance upon Fashoda before the French
arrive there.
The interesting announcement is
made here that the whole cost of the
Nile campaign since 1896 has been only
ioal limo
upon the Soudan railroads, of which 500
! miles have been constructed during
! that time. General Kitchener has de-
cided to destroy the tomb of the Mahdi
at Omdurman, which was so prominent
a mark for the British artillery during
the bombardment. This step will be
| taken in order to prevent Omdurman
| becoming a second Mecca.
| How the United States will admin
lister its new possessions and how large
| these possessions will be continues to
| be the subject for considerable specu-
lation in the European newspapers.
David Christie Murray writes: THE
republic has on her shoulders the
mantle of empire, and has taken the
| scepter of empire in her hands and has
set upon her own head the crown of
empire, and the whole world knows
that it is the richer for the fact 1t is
one of the most momentous historical
happenings of modern years, and is full
of good augury for the progress of the
adaptive and inventive spirit of the
land we know already and that she will
conform herself TO her new duties all
men who are really acquainted with her
people are assured beforehand"
London Life claims to have informa-
ton that NJ. Emile lola is about to be-
come a Catholic priest. It says the
Vatican was approached on the sub
ject a fortnight go and that the Pope
has given his assent to the ordination
Of the distinguished author six months
hence. NJ lola s conversion is said to
have been made by Father Gougon, the
pastor of a small parish church and an
intimate friend of the novelist.
All reports from France agree that
the Dreyfus case has now brought
France to the eve of q crisis, perhaps
the most formidable in the history Of
the third republic The situation is
rendered more acute by the fact that
it is threatening not merely the exist
ence of the Cabinet but the stability
of the constitution.
A significant feature of the situation
is the attitude of President Faure. He
is known to be utterly opposed to a re-
! vision of the case; but the Premier,
NJ. Brlsson, and majority of his col
! leagues have decided in favor of re-
! opening the matter and with the res
! ignation of the Minister of War, Cen
| eral Zurlinden, as a result, there is but
| little doubt that popular feeling is still
! against revision. Thus the Cabinet
Will come in conflict with the people,
while President Faure, as the champion
of the army and with the sympathy of
! majority of the nation, assumed a
| formidable role, which may lead to
| grave developments. This will be clear
~ seen If the Cabinets decision leads,
as is extremely likely, to mob demon
STATIONS. 1t is expected that with the
present state of that ill-feeling, the
army Will side with the demonstrators
against the Cabinet