The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-26
THE FASHODA DISPUTE
FRANCE HAS OTHER TROUBLES TO
WORRY HER AT PRESENT.
Meanwhile England Is Preparing All
Her War Ships for Sefvice-SaI-
rs isburs,,s Last Note.

LONDON, Oct 25-The Fashoda question
is still the uppermost topic here, but in
France it has been overshadowed by the
acute political crisis developed at the open
ing of the Chamber of Deputies. The French
papers to-day are more hopeful and be-
lieve that a pacific solution to the dispute
will be found. The English papers are full
of particulars of naval news, but the only
fresh development is order received at
Portsmouth to prepare all the ships of the
fleet and the reserve for immediate mObil-
ization. Eight additional war ships there
in consequence, commenced coaling to-day
ard working parties were Immediately
placed on board the other reserve vessels at
Portsmouth Although not connected with
the war preparations, much attention has
been attracted to a request received by the
Clyde ship builders from the British Adj
miralty for tenders for four new first
class battle ships a first-class cruiser and
twelve torpedo boat destroyers. The dis
tnguishing feature is the increased arma-
ment which, it is believed will make the
battle ships, when ready for service, the
most powerful vessels of their class afoat
They will have speed of nineteen knots
The cruiser will be of 14,100 tons and will
be able to steam twentythree knots an
hour. All the vessels will mount exception
ally strong quick-fring guns.
Much interest is centered in the Marquis
of Salisburys addition to the Fashoda cor
respondence. contained in the publication of
the British blue book on that subject. The
Conservative newspapers express them
selves as being highly pleased with his re
joinder to the French yellow book on the
same subject. They declare that it dispels
the idea spread by the dispatch of the
French ambassador here, Baron De Courcel
that the British premier was willing to ne
gotiate on the whole question But the
Liberal and Radical organs still consider
that the Marquis of Salisburys attitude adj
mits of negotiations promising friendly
arrangement. The entire press, however,
scouts the idea of the possession of Fash
oda coming within the sphere of the dis
cussion
The St James Gazette this afternoon
says: 1--WE are prepared to negotiate the
question of the western frontier of the
Bahr- el-Ghazel district but we must con-
troll the Nile, both banks and watersheds,
from its source to the sea-.
The Globe thinks the Marquis of Salisbury
has made, it clear that Major Marchand
must quit Fashoda without conditions
can be no discussion of the French claims
in Africa" The Globe points out the signi-
ficant announcement in General Kitchener's
report that he sent gunboats south from
Sebat towards Meshra- REX, the principal
center of the Bahr-el-Ghazel region with
instructions to establish necessary Gutposts,
and that before he left Sebat he completed
arrangements for the maintenance of those
stations. This move" the Globe adds,
brings our position down to the eighth
parallel of north latitude and the valley OF
the Bahr-el- Ghazel, which at this moment
is under the rule of the Kedive. 1t will be
interesting to see the effect of this revel-
alton upon the French government"
The Pail Mall Gazette concludes from the
publication of the blue book that the French
government has been given 10 understand
that wholly apart from the Fashoda. ques-
ton, its title to the territory abutting on
the left bank OF the Nile is rejected as
utterly untenable and France must accept
the position or take the consequences.
The Westminster Gazette suggests as a
solution that the French be granted way
leave" and "encalve" for commercial pur-
poses i'm the Bahr-el-Ghazel district. Way
leave" is the right of way over another 5
ground. 'Encalve" is to shut III. to enclose
a territory within the territories of another
power.