The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-09-16
WEST AFRICAN AFFAIRS.
Progress of the French-The Interests OF
Other Nations.

Progress Of the French-The Interests Of
Other Nations.
The French have achieved a notable
success in their West African territory
by the capture and occupation of Sikas-
so, large and important trade centre
situated in about 11oN. latitude and So
W. longitude. This feat was accom-
plished by an expedition of 1900 men
from st. Louis and Bakel, on the Sena
Niger. whence they made a forced
march of some four hundred miles
through a billy country much cut up
by the numerous small streams flowing
into the Niger or it's tributaries The
column was under the command of Col.
Audeoud. Sikasso was protected by
two lines of stockades, having dis
lance of from fifty to sixty yards be-
tween them, with numerous fanking
defences and a circumference of about
five miles and half. The population
is estimated at $4,000, and has nearly
doubled since 1891, owing to the in
crease of trade
During the last three years, since
the death of King Tieba, who was
friendly to France, his son and sue
cessor, Bahemba, entered into close re-
lations with the ambitious and MOTOR
ious Samory, who has for number of
years been trying to create a great
federation of the petty states of the
western Soudan under himself Sa-
mory's policy has brought him into col
lision with both the English and
French on several occasions, and under
his influence Bahemba had shown de-
cidedly hostile disposition toward the
French exploring parties that visited
his country from time to time. Last
year matters were brought to an issue
by the murder of Capt. Braulot at the
instigation of Samory. The capture of
Sikasso is now to be followed up by an
expedition against Samory, whose
power and influence the French Gov
eminent has determined to break in
the interest of the tranquility and trade
of the whole country. When that has
been effected the French settlements
on the Upper Niger will be connected
with their settlements on the Ivory
Coast to the eastward of Liberia by a
chain of military posts and trade CEN
tres linked by numerous roads and
caravan routes.
Sikasso was taken by assault after
breach had been made in the stockades
by the artillery, with the loss of two
French killed and a number of wound
ed, and several native soldiers killed
and wounded. The King of Sikasso,
Bahemba, was killed, together with
large number of his men. According
to the descriptions given of the place,
Sikasso appears to be very pictures
quely situated and the buildings and
dwellings show the people to have at
tanned fair degree of civilization and
comfort.
From reports from Berlin it seems
likely that the delimitation of the Brit
ish and German frontiers in West
Africa and other questions arising out
of the settlement between England
and France will not be effected without
some trouble The German Colonial
Society, among other things, calls for
natural boundary on the west side Of
the Gold Coast Colony now known as
Togoland. This can only mean that
the main stream of the Volta shall
form the boundary between the British
and German settlements, which would
give Germany the lions share of the
neutral zone as arranged under the last
agreement between the two Govern
ments, with the great trade centre of
Salagha, where roads converge from all
parts of the interior and the coast.
Some difficulties are also likely to arise
out of the Anglo-French settlement in
trading rights by treaty and claim a
protectorate over territory that has
passed under British occupation. A
rectifcation of the western frontier OF
the German CAMERON Colony in the
Lake Tchad district is likewise called
for, as is also the revision of the Niger
navigation treaty.
AS regards the latter question, the
German demand amounts to declara-
ton of co-equal right with England to
the free navigation of the Niger and It's
tributaries; a point which England is
not likely to concede. The tone of the
resolutions passed at the recent meet
Ing of the German Colonial Society at
Danzig was not of character to con-
,iliate British sentiment or dispose it
10 favorable view of the German de-
nands, and will not render easier the
rolution of the disputed questions when
they come up for the consideration of
the two Governments
Gigantic Census Scheme.