The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-16
FRANCE IN A FINE FRENZY.
DREYFUs CASE MAY LEAD TO VIO-
LENCE AND CHAOS.

GUS Conspiracy on the Part of the
Army the Existence of the RCpub-
lie Might BE Endangered-The
AngIO-Freneh Situation in Africa
Daily Growing More Critical.
Special London cable letter copyright, 1898.
by the Associated Press.
London, Jan. 15.-The new phase into
which the Dreyfus case has entered is
distinctive advance. The era of secret
courtmartial is over and civil and public
court viii have to investigate Emile Zola's
charges of persistent distortion of justice.
The behavior of the military authorities in
burning the inquiry casts the gravest re-
Elections upon the oft-asserted honor of the
French army, which has been showing an
obstinate determination to stick together,
right or wrong. Outside of France all Eu-
rope believes Dreyfus is the victim of viii
famous conspiracy, and the prosecution Of
zola has broadened the question for the
whole French army is now virtually placed
on trial.
The gravity of the situation is enhanced
because the whole Of France is in a state
of growing hysterlcal excitement. Temper
arily the republic is generally supported
throughout the country, but history shows
that similar hysteria has frequently led to
violence and chaos, When France is able to
analyze the situation, should the susplc-
ion spread that the honor of the army is
really affected, the consequence to the re-
public might be of the most serious des-
cription The Panama scandals have de-
filed political life and the law courts have
been discredited; therefore, If the respect
for the army must also be surrendered, the
desire to change the government might be
irrepresslble. in which case the tempta-
ton of the leaders to divert the attention
of the country to the Afgan war will be
well nigh Irresistible. Hence the deep in
terest of Frances neighbors. For the mo-
ment the intense excitement viii
probably find an outlet in
the renewal of the spectacle
presented during the livellest days of
Boulangerism. Hot alterations In the
streets leading to assaults are frequent
the police are guarding the houses of
prominent Dreyfusians, and ii is impossi-
bic to see where the arrests will end.
Slander aud denunciation are SO rampant
that the authorities are taking special pre-
cautions to prevent the illuminated from
taking the law in their own hands A
monster manifestation is preparing TN
Paris for Sunday, allegedly anti-Dreyfu-
sian. 1t Is anti-Semetic, and, unless pro-
hibited, 1t is feared serious riots may be
the sequel
Temporarily overshadowed, the move
ments of the French on the Upper Nile
are again becoming pleasantly prominent
to those who imagine that Great Britain
had undsputed claims upon those regions.
u Il fIla a
whereabouts of the French expeditions. It
is sufficient that, according to the bulk OF
evidence they have penetrated to Bahr-
el-Ghazal the most fertile province OF the
Egyptian Soudan, with the distinct man
date of their government. IL this Is true,
and If the discussions of several sessions
of the British cabinet mean anything, NJ.
Hanotaux the French minister for foreign
affairs, has brought about casus belli.
Thus far NJ Hanotaux seems to have the
advantage; but the game Is dangerous.
For in case of war France could not stop
Great Britain from taking the whole Egyp-
tian Soudan and driving out any French
expeditions which may be found there,
when in the opinion of the Marquis OF SAL
isbury. the proper time has arrived.
In the meantime Prince Henry OF Orleans
fitting out at Marseilles, and evidently with
the approval of the government, an armed
expedition to subdue the equatorial prov
they had belonged to Abyssina in pre-his-
torjc times; but in reality these provinces
are identical with those Great Britain IS
endeavoring to restore to Egypt. NeYerthe-
less there is some truth In the Story that
the activity of the British Is due 20 the
Egyptian intelligence department learning
that the French and Abyssinlan troops
have reached Fashodi, that King Menelik
Is preparing reinforcements with the IN
tentlon Of following up this success and
that one common policy, which is morally
supported by Russia, unites France and
Abyssnia.
There are persistent reports of grave
trouble threatening the tenure OF the
King of Persia The sovereignty has al
ways been shaky and is row affirmed to
be rapidly slipping from his grasp. In
deed the situation at Teheran Is described
as being so precarious that coup de etat
may be precipitated at any moment. The
murder of Graves, the English telegraph
operator and the outbreak at Makran,
are cited i'm connection with the tendency
to revolt i'm Persia.
II is said i'm well Informed circles that
the dispatch OF Indian troops TO the Per-
sian gulf is due to the news that Gen.
Sir William Lockhart, the commander OF
the British forces on the Indian frontier,
has postponed his journey homeward in
the expectation of a settlement with the
Afridis, who are seemingly desirous of
submitting points TO the early conclusion
of the most serious Of the quartette OF
'little wars' in which Great Britain is en-
gagged, and which will probably absorb
the whole of the budget surplus
Influenza has penetrated 10 the Sacred
College az Rome; but few Of the cardinals
are exempt and the conditions OF Mgrs.
Parocchi, Agliardi. Orglegia and Mer.elis
is grave. The Pope thus far has'es-
capped.
An eminent, who was lunchlng recently
with Mr. Gladstone, asked him what was
the greatest thing threatening Great Bri-
tain to-day-was H. France, Germany,
Russia or America"
"None Of them. was the reply Of the
great English statesman. "The only
danger / foresee Is that of the trades
unions and their attendant strikes"
WANT DREYFUs RETIRED.