Evening star., 1898-10-24
BOTH READY FOR WAR
England and France Face Each Other
With Swords Drawn.
De COURCEL'S STATEMENTS DENIED
English Papers Scout the Surrender
of Bahr-Et- -GhazaI.
TROOPS ORDERED TO TOULON

LONDON, October 24-The British ad-
miralty issued number of significant or
ders this morning. The dock yards. at
Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham have
each received instructions to prepare six
thirty knot torpedo boat destroyers for
commissioning, SO that they will be able to
put to sea in twenty-four hours.
Overtime hours have begun on the first
class cruisers Europa and Andromeda, SO
as to hurry them for sea service. Several
gunboats in the different dock yards nave
been ordered to postpone unnecessary re-
fitting.
Haron de COurCeIs Statement.
The afternoon newspapers here today dis
cuss the report of the French ambassador,
Baron De Courcel, on the subject of the
conversation he had with the Marquis of
Salisbury regarding the proposed French
outlet on the Nile, as being the leading fea-
ture of the yellow book on the Fashoda
question issued yesterday by the French
government.
The conservative organs scout the idea Of
the Marquis of Salisbury entertaining the
surrender of the Bahr-el-Ghazal valley to
the French, and the Pail Mall Gazette and
the Globe suggest that the ambassador mis-
understood the premier, and cali on ,he
latter to make an explanation.
L lie liberal anu Idulcdl papers di Hot
displeased at the prospect of c)mnromise
beng arrived at, and they believe that ii II
provided Major Marchand is recalled the
dispute is susceptible to an arrangement
by which France will receive some salts
faction in the Bahr- -GhaZal district.
Yellow Hook is yoIuminous.
The Fashoda yellow book is vouminous,
but it does not include Major Marchand
report. which will be published later. The
dispatches We're largely anticipated by the
English Fashoda blue book.
The diplomatic conversations recorded
show a curious endeavor on the French
side to represent that MarchandS 5 mission
was quite as important as General kitch-
eners, on the ground that the struggle
was against the khalifa and harbarism.
Judging from the yellow book dispatches
the foregoing represents the French stand
point, and NJ. Defcasse contends that as
Marchand reached Fashoda first England
has no right to demand an evacuation of
fashoda prior to negotiations.
On September 80 NJ. Delcasse declared to
Sir Edmund Monson that such a demand
would be equivalent to an ulumatum, and
while he could afford to sacrifice Frances
material interests so 'fong as her honor
was intact, for TIE sake of the Anglo
would be the reply, Of France to such
demand. III >
DE CourccIsr iRti3resentntions X
The subsequent dispatches appearing IN
the yellow book relate to conversations
between Baron de' C9trcel, French am
bassador in Lond3n, and Lord Salisbury
the latter contendipg that the capture of
khartoum entitled Egypt to possession of
all the Mahdi's doninions, and the French
ambassador arguing that Major MarehanG
had captured Fashoaa before General
kitchener took khartoun; and that France
had for a long time held several posts in
the Bahr-el-CfaZaliG t.''
Lord Salisbury rStorted that the French
forces in the regions referred to were too
weak to constitute effeetive occupation. =
A final dispatch, dated October T.. from
Baron de Courcel to NJ. Delcasse. records
a conversation with Lord Salisbury in
which the French ambassador claimed ac-
cess to the Nile through the Rahr-e!-Ga
and asked an amicable deimitation Of the
respective spheres of interest of the two
powers. '-.'@
Baron 1e CourceI having represented
that it would be Impossible for Mai. Mar
chand to retire until it was settled whore
he should go and how the evacuation was
to be effected. Lord Salisbury, after reflect
ing ve1y seriously, said he was not sufi-
ciently acquainted with the geography of
Africa to reply for the present regarding
delimitation. and that, moreover Re could
not enter Upon projects of that nature
without consulting bis colleagues
Baron de Courcel concludes the dispatch
of October II by saying: Il quilted him on
these explanations which were pr0nounce1
in conciliatory and friendly tone"
warships Mt Halifax.
HALIFAX, n. S, October 24-Thc COM
manders of all warships of the British
North American squadron have received
orders to mobilize at Halifax.
Frances Military Preparations.
PARIS, October 2i.-The municiDality Of
TouIon has been notified that the place will
be the center of important military and ma
val preparations and to arrange for the
immediate reception Of four battalions of
infantry, 1,500 marines and 600 artillery
men. Consequently, the municipality has
decided to close the schools of TouIon
which will be used to lodge the troops.
The naval authorities of Toulon have
been ordered to expedite preparations for
fitting out "A new squadron of warships
The newspapers here today warmly praise
the exposition of the French side of the
Fashoda question presented by the minister
of foreign affairs, NJ. Delcasse, in the yell
low book on the subject issued yesterday.
The Figaro says: IF the British govern
ment rejects Frances moderate and just
proposals 1t only be because the gov
ernment of Great Britain desires before,
everything else the humiliation of France
The general tone of the French press
comments is reflected by the Eclair, which
remarks: AN agreement regarding F'aSho-
da can be arrived at, provided Great Britain
does not persist in asking for the immediate
recall of Major Marchand. But as to an
outlet the Nile, we have an absolute
right thereto and will brook no refusal"
War Would Be Madness.
The Steele after urging peace, says:
France would hardly come off better in a
war with England than did Spain in the
war with the United States. France would
be better employed In developing ner col
ories than in rtiIisnEngland."
The Autorite .dee{ates}that France ought
never to have gone to Fashoda. adding: 1T
was stupid mistake-and now England
calls US to getneut. o Well, it is no use
talking; we shall bave ta get out, otherwise
ness" 10
The Pallas, Talbot ara Indefatigable will
come here at oncai together with two tor
pedo boat destroyefs now at Bermuda The
torpedo boats at the dockyard are being
overhauled. The crew 6f the f1agship Re-
nown will be sent to Lawlers Island this
week for field practice. II The Renown went
to sea this morning for heavy gun prac-
tice.
pERNISSyOy ERANTED