Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-05-25
PROSPECT OF A GENERAL WAR.
1t Is Likely to BE Precipitated by Emf
land, Germany or France.

| 1t Is Likely to BE Precipitated Dy Eng
land, Germany or France.
New York Sun, Sunday.
Whether a great war, such as was
foreshadowed in recent news from
Europe, is at hand or not, the amount
of warlike preparation that is going
on in every part of the world is un-
precedented. The present indications
are that the war, if one should break
out under actual diplomatic conditions
in Europe, will begin between England
and France. The pretext for it will
not be difficult to find, whichever de-
cides upon beginning.
There are several ready to hand, in
Africa, Asia, or Newfoundland, to
choose from. The fishery question on
the shores of Newfoundland the ter
ritorial dispute on the Niger; the
sphere of influence on the Upper Nile,
and the questions of railway and trade
in the southern provinces of China,
can be invoked as cause of conflict
when the inevitable moment is reach
led. For England, the great object
naturally is to bring about, if possible,
the separation of Russia from France,
so that if war is decided on it may be
single handed encounter. 1t would
also be mainly a naval war, in which
the undoubted superiority of the Brit
ish navy indicates victory for Eng
land, the fruits of which would, in all
probability, be the whole of the French
possessions in Indo. China, the islands
in the Pacific, Madagascar, and the abb
rogation of the French claims on the
Newfoundland coast. There would
also be some limitation of the West
African settlements of France, and,
perhaps, the loss of the West Indian
possessions and French Guiana. Fol
lowing the course adopted by Europe
after the Congress of Berlin, it is pos.
sible that there might be Il general in
tervention of the European powers in
such case. Events during the last few
years have begun to produce visible
solidarity among the governments oi
Europe, which great and overwhel.
ming catastrophe to one of them might
easily ripen into an effective CONT.
mental union for common support and
protection.
The separation of Russia and France
may not be accomplished by England,
and in that case she might well hesi-
tate TO begin a war against the two
combined, and herself without an ally
in Europe for it is certain that at the
outset of such war Germany and the
other European powers would main
tain strict neutrality, reserving to
themselves the right TO intervene when
it could be done with advantage. The
theatre of operations would be not
only on the sea, but also along the
borders of India and Afghanlstan.
That this has been provided against
by Russia is proved by the haste with
which the railway from Merv 10 kushk
on the Afghan frontier near Herat has
been completed, year in advance OF
the date originally contemplated and
by the collection of sufficient railway
material at kushk to carry the line to
Herat at very short notice. The Brit
ish government, on its side, has taken
the same measures with regard to
kandahar, there being in store at
Chaman, at the end of the Bolun'
Quctla-Pisheen railway toward Kan
dahar, all that is required for the 12O
miles of rail to the last named place.
Sir William Lockhart, the British com
mander-in- chief in India, and Sir Sal
ter Pyne, the manager of the Ameer's