The record-union., 1899-04-09
Would Go to War Rather Than Give
Up the Islands.
Views Of a Colonial Expert Expressed in a
Letter to a London journal.


ton, But Must Vigorously Snp-
port American Claims, Even
Though the Business Be Tedious
and Expensive.
copyrighted, 1899, by Associated Press.)
LONDON, April S.-The unraveling
OF the Samoan ENHANCEMENT is followed
with keen interest here, especially III
colonial circles. Germany's "obsti-
Macy" as her attitude is termed here,
from the beginning of the troubles, is
regarded as ''incomprehensible," and is
said to be only explained by a desire to
get the upper hand in the islands. This
view is expressed by colonial expert,
who. writing to the Morning Post"
says; For some reason never yet ex-
planned, Germany regards Samoa as an
important link in her foreign policy
Rather than give up Samoa the Ger
mans would go to war. No doubt Ger
many has not forgotten what a prize
Heligoland has proven, and the Ger
man Chancellor possibly anticipates a
more important deal if he can only get
possession of Samoa"
Inc newspapers point out the growing
Importance Of Samoa to New Zealand,
and the significance of the latter's offer
TO send volunteers to Samoa
The alleged interview with the United
States Embassador to Germany, An
drew D. White, published in the Munich
"Allegemaine Zeitung" (cabled to the
Associated Press on Friday afternoon,
has attracted attention, but the utter
n
orally credited. The Morning POST
editorially says: THE sentiments at
tributed to Mr.. White are plainly col
ored by the prevailing tone of dissatis-
faction with Great Britain existing in
Germany on the subject. We cannot be
misled by the complexion of the inter-
view into believing that Mr. White has
discovered influences in England which
tend against his ideals of the fraterniz-
alton of Great Britain and Germany.
which we frankly adopt"
The Morning Post" concludes: mo
United States diplomatist could have
discovered the circumstances in the
tone alleged by the Munich .Allegemaine
Zeitung, or Mr. White
The Spectator" which thinks that
''preposterous Importance" has been
Britain only needs coaling station. if
she needs that. But we must vigor-
ously support American claims, and the
business will be tedious and expensive. -
!. In view of the cabled reports that
many of the American soldiers from
Cuba have been attacked by cerebro-
spinal meningitis, representative of
the Associated Press saw the medical
authorities of the War Office, with ref
erence to the dispatch from Cairo to the
Daily Telegraph saying that all the
Anglo-Egyptian troops have been re-
moved from Omdurman, owing to the
presence of spinal meningitis, due to- the
former insanitary condition of the town.
Surgeon Major Muir, who has lust
returned from the Soudan, said: .The
position there is extremely serious. We
had less trouble from the first with the
Egyptian troops, but the British soldiers
did not suffer because they were sl1r
rounded by the utmost precautions. The
disease is due to unsanitary conditions
such as probably prevailed in the case
of the hastily organized Cuban cam
paign. Our campaign on the upper
Nile was planned with time in our ia
vor, and thus the best sanitary arrange
ments could be made for the British
soldiers, who escaped"
The report of Baron Cromer the Rrif-
fsh agent and Consul General of Egypt.
Is looked upon as being a wonderful
story of progress and the triumph of
administrative foresight and military
vigor. He advocates extending the rail-
road from Khartoum through Abu-
Haraz to Goedarif and Massala to Sua-
kifn, and thus tap the territory about
the upper Nile, which Sir Samuel Ba-
ker called ''the granary of the Soudan.' y
Goedarif is the center of this grain pro-
ducing region. Lord Cromer saws that
hitherto grain at Khartoum has at
times been sold at famine prices. while
at Goedarif it can be had in such uuan-
titles that it is unsalable The railroad
will change all this
The British agent also makes a sig
niiicant remark that "all school statfs-
lies snow that French is dying out as
the language of the middle classes. and
English has already largely taken its
place"
The "Figaro's" revelations in the
publication of the evidence presented to
the Court of Cessation in the Dreyfus
case is the sensation of Paris. and has
revived the keenest interest in the
Dreyfus affair. The Dreyfusites are
highly pleased with the publication of
the depositions, which, in fact. are ap-
parently approved by the whole mass of
sober opinion in France. The .'Figa-
fos bold step is interesting, as last
year its editor Unexpectedly champion
eo Dreyfus, with the result that the
paper lost a great number of subscrib-
Srs, and the proprietorS removed the
eoitor from his position. The Figaro
mas now taken a step which has drawn
upon II the formidable hostility of the
senerai staff of the War Office, which
oesireo secrecy. and whose reputation
- srieVousiy damaged by the publica-
tioh Oh the dispositions. in which there
are eVioences that thel War Department
engineered different trials. Influenced
witnesses and had the intention of pre-
venting the exculpation of Drevfus
thougn the motive of the War Depa rt-
ment IN so doing still remains obscure
Inc depositions show that both M
Cavalgnac, the former Minister of War
anu 1enerai Roget, who restated the
"hoae oi the general staff case failed
70 pfouuce any direct evidence against
Dieyius- Inc testimony of Examining
magistrate Bertulus was very damag-
lng' he declared plainly his opinion
that Lieutenant Dupaty de Clam and
Major Count Esterhazy are the guilty.
men.
The Duke and Duchess of yorlx next
week will pay their second yis;t - Tra-
land within two years. IT ;s avidant
that they desire to become ponu,a ;. with
Tr1 ar,1o