Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-23


departure OF her fleet from Yokohama TO
day for Chinese waters may prove to b
the striking OF the match which ma.
lead TO dreaded confagration.
Leaving out the possibility OF war; TIL
| diplomatic game Is most interesting. Tn
Marquis OF Salisbury is slow in playinl
his trumps, but unless Russia and France
| have some up their sleeves. Ii would ap
that he has a decided advantage, fol
the British Premier has forced Russia
10 show her hand. She not only concede:
the fact that she regards the whole OF
Manchuria and the Liao-Tung Peninsula
as being her exclusive grey; but. by IN
| slsting that Ta-Len-Wan northeast OF
| Port Arthur. be made n treaty port, the
| Marquis of Salisbury has countered the
Muscovite designs on Port Arthur. for
the latter is OF little strategic value with
out Ta-Lien-Wan.
France, OF course, resents the proposal
to open Manning, which would clash
with her exclusive interests In TOnquin,
while both Russia and France are deeply
concerned in Great Britain's claim TO
extend the Burmese railroad into the
Chinese province Of Yuen-Nan. France
has secured privileges in Yuen-Nan
which would be seriously lessened in
value by British railroad diverting TO
province, while a railroad from Rangoon
to Shanghai (Which would be the natural
outcome of Great Britan's demands).
would be disastrous competitor of the
great Transasatic line 0rom Samarcand
TO Port Arthur. which Russia is so labo-
riously constructing.
ANGLO-GERMAN UNDERSTANDING.
AS the Associated Press has indicated
throughout, there seems to be an under
standing between Germany and Great
Britain, but Germany, at the same time
has so skifully played her cards, alter
nately caressing st. Petersburg ana Lon
don. that the relations between both capt.
tails are better than for a long time past.
The firm. confident tone of the British
ministerial utterances emphasizes that
Great Britain does not intend to recede
from the main points Of the position she
has taken up. and the Cabinet ministers
are merely voicing the determination Of
the country, which recognizes that If
Great Britain gives way now she will
only have to fight the battle in the future,
when the completion OF the Siberian rail-
road will render ii more difficult to count
upon a bloodess triumph.
While. therefore, the present situation
is admittedly pregnant with possibilities,
IT need not be assumed that peace is en-
dangered. and that war will follow II
Great Britain maintains the ground she
has taken up. Verbal buster and naval
displays are only the usual accompani
ments of great diplomatic struggles, and
are intended 70 test the enemies nerve.
In the mean while. II may be observed
that while Great Britain il unlikely to
bulge from the broad principle which the
Chancellor Of the Exchequer, Sir Michael
enunciated. there are
glimpses Of the fact that the negotiations
at Pekin should not be accepted as neces-
sarily final.
As a sample Of the credibility attachable
TO tho various rumors I'm circulation, the
British admiralty explicitly denies the
accuracy Of the reports circulated mere
on Thursday last as TO the strengthening |
of the navy by 500 men. 200 additional |
stokers TO be engaged during the present |
quarter, and the immediate commissioning |
II the reserve first-class battleship Hanni- /
)al now at Portsmouth.
BRITAIN IN EGYPT.
AS usual. there is every explanation OF
the sudden rush of British troops TO
the right one. What really
seems TO have happened is that Colonel
while en- route 10 take over Kas-
ala from the Italians. found King Meme
TX, OF Abyssinia, in the greatest state or
wrath at the surrender of the town (Which
lis Majesty regarded as part of his do
nain) to the Egyptians. and he was mo
)olizing an army with the intention OF
sserting his authority il King Menelik
hould be acting. as suspected I'm con-
ert with the Mahdi. the danger OF the
ltuation is greatly enhanced. especially II
here IS truth In the stories. which are
aaking out Just now. OF the existence OF
Iissa tfsfacffon amOng General Herbert |
.itchener's Soudanese. and the reported
lck OF backbone shown by the Egyptians
uring the last operations.
II is rumored that Emperor Francis
oseph. of Austria. will shortly announce
he betrothal of the Archduchess Eliza
eth, daughter OF the late Crown Prince
udolf, to the King of Spain.