The Red Cloud chief., 1898-02-25
~ENGLANDAND FRANCE NOW
French Cabinet Forcing u Crisis In Africs
A Dreyfus Case OTset.

n Dreyfus Case onset.
LONDON, Feb. 90 TREAT activity Il
manifested by the colonial office, the
West African department and among
The high military officers who are
going ont TO the Lagos Hintcrland.
The later are inclined to discredit
The news which reached Akaasa. Niger
const protcctorate, yesterday to the
effect that two French expeditions are
advancing toward Sokoto, capital of
the ~sultanatc Of that name. which Is
within the British sphere Of influence,
but add that II the news should be
confirmed IL must be followed by q
declaration Of war.
ST. James Gazette. commenting up
on tho subject, says: IF the invasion
OF Sokoto Is directed from Paris. il
admits OF but one Interpretation, and
the seriousness OF the situation Is in
creased when IL Is remembered that
these invasions of British territory
must have bee planned weeks ago
before the present ferinent in Paris
over Dreyfus 1t would appear that
the French cabinet, forsecing the rev.
Citations which would be caused by
the trial OF NJ. lola. had determined
to bring affairs in Africa TO a crisis to
secure a renewal of its popularity"
PARIS, Feb. 2l.-Thc government
has no news of the French having
crossed the Niger into the Sokoto
country, and IL is added any such au.
thorized movement would be dis.
nvowed by the government.
THE VICTIMS WANT REVENGE.
KEY WEST. Fla, Feb co.-Sailors of
the battle ship Maine, suffering from
wounds in the Key West hospital, are
smarting over the delay Of the
government in furnishing what
they term Spanish outrage.
In their minds there ia no doubt
as to the cause Of tho explosion, and
they explain the delay in taking
summary action by saying that the
President is morally certain that there
was an accident, and. wishing to de.
ceive the Spaniards with q feeling OF
security, is using the short time to
mako the necessary preparations to
enforce his ultirnatum. IL no action
Is taken, they say, not a man among
them will again pace the deck of an
American man-of-war; but IL business
Is meant. IL would take n strong force
to keep them from hurrying to tho
front, wounded though they are. to
take n hand in what they look upon
as n personal vengeance.
I'VE were warned not to 60 to Ia.
vana. n said, being told that dan.
ger awaited us there. When we got
there we were again told. and 1t was
current rumor, that the harbor bot.
tom was honeycombed with mines.
We first chose our anchorage and
rested there for several hours, but the
harbor master compelled us to weigh
and proceed to u spot marked by "a
buoy. We were revilcd on the streets
oil Havana, sneered at until our blood
boiled, and found out for our own
safety 1t wa necessary to make our
visits To tho city in force. No mar
dared to so it alone. There was no
knowing what would happen TO him.
THE explosion Itself is the best ev-
idcnc that II was u mine or torpedo.
There were two sharp aud distinct re.
ports. The first was like a peal OF
thunder close ut hand-a sound rs of
ripping parchment, n quick report
followed by a tremendous and awful
roar, and then darkness and chaos,
made more horrible by the screams
OF dying men, the fierce shouts OF
those fighting for cgress. and the
means OF those who were hemmed
In to die by fire or by drowning. The
Spanish war ship was lying close NJ
hand and Moro castle was not q pistol
shot away. Both have searchlights,
but none was turned upon us 70 help
the work OF rescue and because of the
darkness many brave men who could
have been rescued went down to
Davv Joncs's"
MAY TAKE WEEKS TO LEARN.
NEw YORK, Feb. 2a-Rear Admiral
Francis NJ. Bunce, commandment OF the
Brooklyn navy yard. and. until a few
months ago, commander-in-chie of
the North Atlantic squadron. to which
the Maine was attached, studied pic
lures OF the wreck OF the Maine with
interest
Gan you tell from the pictures
whether a mine or a magazine explo-
sion caused the wreck?"
NO" he replied. I'VE don't want
to know what there Is above the wa.
ter line. What we want to know is
how things look below that line"
do you think the cause of the ac-
cident will be known rs soon as divers
have been sent down."
IL think it will be necessary to
raise the Maine before they can ascer-
tain the true cause of the explosion.
The water in the bay OF Havana is un-
usually dark. l don't think n diver