The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-16
Chauvinist Press of Paris lingo in
Urging Peaceful Settlement.
WAR TALK In GREAT BRITAIN
THE GOVERNMENT SAID TO BE PRE-
PAIRING FOR CONTINGENCIES.
Liberals Now UNFOLDING Salisbury
Comment ON the Alleged Plot of
French Army Offcers.
Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press,

copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.)
LONDON, Oct. 15--The week opened with
an ominous rafting Of sabres over Fashoda
and ended with the rumblings of revolu-
tionary volcano in Paris. The situation
arising out of the question between Great
Britain and France as to the right of oc-
cupying Fashoda is extremely grave Ev-
erything hinges on the nature of the report
of Major Marchand, the French commander
at Fashoda, which is now on it's way from
Khartum to Paris, thanks to the courtesy
of the British government in permitting
one of Mrachand's officers to use the British
lines of communication The evacuation of
Fashoda by the French must, however
take place if war between Great Britain
and France is to be averted, as the Marquis
of Salisbury has nailed his colors to the
mast and cannot recede from the position
he has taken up and in which he has re-
ceived the unanimous support of the coun-
try.
The clear, strong speeches of the LiebraI
leaders, Lord Rosebery and Mr. Asuuith,
coming at this critical moment, were very
important in that they demonstrated to the
world that the Liberal party is solidly with
the government in the stand the latter has
taken on the Sudan question. The Speaker,
the organ of the Liberal party, refers plainly
this week to the impossbility of relinquish-
ing the British claims and points out that
If it comes to war it will not be merely
for Fashoda, but for the maintenance of
Great Britain's place in the world plus her
undoubted rights. The Speaker adds: IF
we abandoned our. claims Englishmen would
not only lose the respect of others, but
would lose their own self-respect, and En-
glish craftsmanship would be dragged in
the mire.'
These emphatic declarations of the En-
glish press and public men have already had
a certain influence across the channel, and
the inspired statements Of the French press
belittle the Importance of Fashoda and
shift the ground to an underlined claim upon
the province of Bahr-el-Ghazal and a port
on the Nile. The mouthpiece of the French
Foreign Office is preparing France for aban-
donment of Fashoda by asserting that Ma
jor Marchand overshot his goal, and that
instead of going to Fashoda, he ought to
have stopped at the confluence of the Bahr-
el-Ghazal. Many British publicists, how
ever, scout the idea that France will be
permitted to install herself on the Bahr-el-
Ghazal, which is described as the paying
reef Of the Sudan. All Of the rest of the re-
conquered territory, as far as Fashoda, is
comparatively valueless, being mostly des-
ert ground, which cannot be made to pay
for many years to come But the Bahr-el-
Ghazal territory is thickly populated and
has magnificent trade prospects. During
the governorship of the late General Cor
don Bahr-el-Ghazal had immense exports
of ivory, grain, beeswax, skins. etc., while
it contained whole forests of arrow root
Besides, the cotton grown there surpasses
the Egyptian product.
The Chauvinist Paris papers are denounc-
ing Great Britain and are doing their ut
most to excite French feeling in the mat
ter. Other French papers are making bit
ter complaints of Russia's inactivity. The
Gaulois declares the time has arrived for
Russia to repay the service which France
lent her in the far East by helping France
against Great Britain, while the Patrie,
after declaring France had been betrayed
by the Brisson Cabinet, demands the dis
patch of an ambassador to King Meneik
of Abyssinia "for the purpose of seeking an
alliance with his 100000 valiant, faithful
warriors, who will cooperate with US in
the event of hostilities at Fashoda." The
Notwithstanding section of the French
press is earnestly urging a peaceful ar
rangement of the affair. These papers can
didly admit that France is no match for
Great Britain in the event of war.
There has been a great deal of talk here
about the possibility Of war with France,
and various preparations upon the part of
the British government are reported to have
been made. For instance, it is announced
that leading small-arms firm at Birming-
ham was asked this week whether it was
prepared to turn out thousand magazine
rifles weekly. The significance of this will
be appreciated when it is pointed out that
the British governments works alone are
capable of turning out four thousand maya
zine rifles weekly. 1t is also rumored that
war assurances have been effected at
Lloyd's during the last few days, but they
appear to have been more in the character
of bets than trading.