The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-13
WEST AFRICAN AFFAIRS.


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 1l"N. latitude and 50
W. longitude. This feat was accom-
plished by an expedition of 1900 men
from st. Louis and Bakel. on the Sene-
gal, by rail to Bamako on the upper
Niger, whence they made a forced
march of some four hundred miles
through billy country much cut up
by the numerous small streams flowing
into the Niger or its tributaries. The
column was under the command of Col.
Audeoud. Sikasso was protected by
TWO lines OF stockades, having a dis
lance of from fifty to sixty yards be-
tween them. with numerous thanking
defences and circumference Of about
five miles and half. The population
Is estimated at 10000, 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 notcr-
ious SamOry, who has for number of
years been trying to create great
federation of the petty states of the
western Soudan under himself. Sa-
mory's policy has brought him into coll
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
chain of military posts and trade GEN.
tres linked by numerous roads and
caravan routes.
SikassO was taken by assault after a
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 a
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 a
natural boundary on the west side OF
he Gold Coast Colony now known as
Togoland. This can only mean that
he main stream of the Volta shall
'orm the boundary between the British
md German settlements, which would
rive Germany the lions share of the
leutral zone as arranged under the last
greement between the two Govern
nents, with the great trade centre Of
'alagha, where roads converge from all
,arts Of the interior and the coast.
tome difficulties are also likely to arise
nut of the Anglo-French settlement in
asses where the Germans had acquired
rading rights by treaty and claim a
'rotectorate over territory that has
'assed under British occupation. A
ectification of the western frontier Of
he German CAMERON Colony in the
IuhC Cldu ulSIllCL 10 llhtWlSt Culltu |
or, as Is also the revision of the Niger
avigation treaty.
AS regards the latter question, the
erman demand amounts to declara-
ion Of co-equal right with England 10
he free navigation of the Niger and its
tributaries; a point which England is
OF likely to Concede. The tone of the
solutions passed at the recent meet
lg of the German Colonial Society at
anzig was not of character to con-
liate British sentiment or dispose it
} favorable view of the German de-
ands, and will not render easier the
button of the disputed questions when
ley come up for the consideration Of