The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-11

LONDON, Sept 10.-The dramatic news re-
ceiVed from Omdurman today, showing, ap-
parently, that Fashoda, on the White Nile,
about 400 miles south OF Khartoum has en-
occupied by white force causes the great
est sensation here. IT, as there seems little
room to doubt the troops occupying that
place are French this will prove a d.sas-
trous setback to the British Victories on the
Nile, and at once dispose Of the question CT
a British waterway to the upper Nile. OF
course, 1t Is possible the force at Fashoda
may be British troops under Maj. Macdon-
aid, but this Is most unlikely, as the latest
news received from Uganda announ ed that
Macdonald had not left there at the end of
May. But it was added ne was expected to
resume his expedition in few days. How
ever, 1T Is extremely improbable that Mae
donald's force could have covered the 500
miles, over a difficult country, from Uganda
to Fashoda in this time, more especially as,
SO rar as known, he had only enc small steel
boat with which to navigate the Me.
FRENCH COUP DOUBTED.
Almost every one regarded the stories Of
a French expedition under Maj. Marchand
being near Fashoda as being nothing moro
than bluff" but now there Is little reason
to hope that it is the case. The news that
British gunboats have started for Fashoda
opens the question whether a conflict is ike
~ to occur between them and the force
cupylng Fashoda. The great danger is that
the headstrong young French officer may
open fire the gunboats.
The strategic value of Fashcda has always
been insisted upon being very great. Sci
entists and geographers have repeatedly
pointed out the possibility Of easily damn &
up the Nile there, and diverting the course
of the river so as to make lower Egypt, whose
very existence depends on the Nile, water
less desert.
Additional evidence Of the fact that Gen.
Kitchener expects serious and impoItint
events to grow out Of the new feature in the
African situation comes this afternoon with
the news that the newspaper correspondents
with the expedition are not allowed to pro-
coed to Fashoda, but have been ordered to
return Immediately to Cairo.
If the French should claim to exercise
sovereignty over Fashoda,, either Great
Britain France must back down in order
to avoid war. Successive British cabinets
der Lord Beaconsf1eld, the late VIM. e. Glad
stone, Lord Roseberry and the Marquis of
Britain will consider interference in the Nile
valley as a cause for war.
KITCHENER UNPOPULAR.
Great Britain took Gen. Sir Herbert Kitch-
ener's victory very calmly. There was not
even display of flags.
Many interesting anecdotes Of the victorious
general are published. 1t is well known that
while all respect his great ability, he is very
serving with him. He has difficulty in get
ting ades-de-camp, and he is absolutely
merciless in regard to work But he does
not spare himself in this respect, and he
brooks no contradiction or advice. His
brother. Col. Kitchener. who has charge Of
the transportation of the expedition, shows
some of his brothers qualities.
Gen. Kitchener will probably be given
grant of $125,G0 and will be made viscount
as preliminary to elevating him TO the
peerage, when he is expected to take the
title of Lord Kitchener, of Khartoum.
The cars peace rescript, the tragical re-
opening of the Drefus case, the Anglo German
agreement, the reconquest Of the Soudan
the massacre of British troops in Crete, and
the dismissal Of Ii Hung Chang from thN
Chinese foreign Office were all compressed
into the fortnight ending today, and all are
still as keenly debated as on the day which
saw their birth.
The Closer the czar's rescript is scrutinized
the more people here are confirmed in the
belief that it is the outcome Of Anglo-Ameri-
can friendship, which is patent to every one,
and the more rapid growth Of Anglo German
cordially which has been in the air for
year past.
The secretary of state for the colonies Jo-
seph Chamberlain, when interviewed on his
arrival at New York, voiced the sentiment
prevailing when he remarked that there was
something peculiar about the disarmament
proposal coming from such a source at such
a time. In short, it is regarded here as
lullaby in the pan intended to lure Great
Britain back to the policy from which Rus
sia's overt acts of unfriendliness threatened
to cause her to diverge.