Evening star., 1898-11-05
POSSIBLE CONFLICT
Likelihood Of Trouble Between
France and England.
WHAT LONDON Is TALKING ABOUT
Crossing the Atlantic on Board an
Ex-Warship.
GEN. MERRITT'S MARRIAGE
Specia, Correspondence Of The Evening Star,

cloud seems to get blacker every day, and
unless France backs down and consents to
abandon her claim to Fashoda there IS
every prospect of early nostilties; and il
war should result from the present situa-
ton 1t will be no mere skirmish, nor will
1t be such a comparatively easy affair as
our conflict with Spain At the end of .ht
nineteenth century the world will see such
a contest of arms as will render the twen-
tieth century map Of Europe new study.
The war party is very strong in both
countries und the coolest here consider
war inevitable. France has always been
sore over England's occupation of Egypt,
and England has not the slightest inten-
ton of moving out of that country The
French army, which is now powerful and
may not long be so. desires to wipe out the
Dreyfus disgrace, and, finally the interna!
condition of France is such that her rulers
appear to regard a foreign war more de-
sirable than a revolution at home. This IS
how it was put to me by the editor of a
great London daily, who is keeping c'ose
watch upon events, and is already making
complete arrangements for coyef1g the
news interests of a possible WARRIOR his
paper. He tells me that the heads of the
British army believe that France viii have
to be driven out Of Fashoda and that even
if a conflict upon this question be avoided
var still will come. Sir Herbert Kitchener
has been recalled for consultation. and will
less learred by cable that all army ant:
ravy officers have been warned to hold
themselves in readiness to join their r.
srectivc commands; that orders have been
sea. while orders for extensive renairs or
alterations that would delay ships have
been countermanded.
Bad to Worse.
On the French side TIE same movements
are reported. and what is more onlinous OF
an evil condition of affairs is the fact that
the few responsible French newspapers,
which are regarded as rejecting Official
opinion, are doing their best to make a
bad situation worse. 1t is known thai
France has been sounding Russia t5 ~see
how far that power will back her up, and
1t is believed that she is now seeking to
delay the issue until a satisfactory reply
is received
Major Marchand has contributed to this
delay by emitting in his recently received
report any mention of his operations at
Fashoda. The report stops short Of the
point in question, but Derusal of the yel-
low book, just issued by the French gov
ernment, shows no disposition to admit
British pretentions to the Soudan.
The cars peace manifestations are not
greatly considered here. as more power Is
In the hands of Russian bureau ucraay than
rests with the emperor himself. And these
Russian officials are not 10th to oppose
Great Britain's progress in her march Of
aggrandizement. 1t may well be that Rus
sia will support France. The Novoe Nre-
mya, a semi-oficial Russian organ. says
that 1t will. From the British point of
view, II war must come, there is time
hke the present. The army and navy of
this country are ready for any eventuality,
and If the matter be long delayed the
enemy will grow stronger and the task will
be harder. 1t is also believed here that
there Is reasonable expectation of Ger
many's help, especially if Russia throws
IN her lot with France. England has set
tied all immediate outstanding questions
with Germany. The two countries have
reduced to a congenal working basis the
conditions which confronted them both in
Sou h Africa and China. where it seemed
likely a little while ago that there might
be friction. Then. too. in the event of war,
Germany would be in such a position be
tween the two fighting forces that she
would almost be compelled TO take hand
II only for the purpose of trying to put
france out of the way of doing her harm
Russian coalition should whip Great
Britain, Germany's turn would surely
come next.
Incentive to the English.
Curiously enough, the victory of the
United States over Spain seems 10 act as
an incentive to the mass of the people in
England, and our success urges them to
demand the long-delayed settlement with
France, the turbulence of whose demands
on England have always excited popular
condemnation. You may hear it said: eff
the 4anks can lick the Spaniards, we can
lick the French" And they want to try
1t. too. The war spirit grows day by day,
just as it did in America before the decIa-
ration of war. Indeed the incidents are
almost parallel. The question frequently
asked Is: Where will America lie in this
night? Will she help Engani?'
This Is summary of opinion in England
today. 1t is. of course possible that cir
VI hot will n haI 90
situation very shortly, but the present de-
lay on the part of France in answering the
plain demand of the British to get out of
Fashoda. a demand which. in the opinion
of the leaders of both great parties here,
admits of 70 discussion. tends greatly to
irritate the popular mind. and acts an
incentive to violent measures.
Honoring Lord Nelson.
Never since Trafalgar day has been pub
licly observed has there been such an out
burst of patriotism as that exhibited this
year. For years past the day has been
more or less perfunctcrily observed, but
lately the Navy League, with it's numerous
branches throughout the Kingdom, took the
matter up, and this year celebrations, in |
spired by the leaders of this organization, |
took place all over the country Nelson's
column in Trafalgar Square is well known |
TO those Americans who frequent the North |
umberland avenue hotels as a landmark to
inform them as to their whereabouts in
their wanderings about London. If they |
could see this familiar object at present
turned into a thing Of beauty" they would
doubtless regard it from other than mere !
ly utilltarian point of view Most Ameri- |
can travellers have sesa the Nelson monu |
ment in Sackvilie street, Dublin, of which |
the Irish are Very proud. They say that
their Nelson at the top Of the column does
not lean against an Insecure coil of ropes
as in London, but stands. free and firm |
This reproach Is: removed at present by !
the decorations Of the statue Landseer's
lions at the base are enlbedded In palms |
and, ferns and flowers. A chick wreath of !
bay starts at the feet of the statue, winds |
IN graceful folds around the fluted column |
to the base. The plinth is covered with red |
cloth. on which is hung wreaths and per-
sonal tributes, while froms the top 'of the |
column fly fonr hass, each eight yards long |
by four wide. These are the union jack |
the naval ensign, the blue ensign and the |
naval reserve and the red ensign OF the !