The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-09
IMPORTANCE Of SAMOA
Germany Is Working to Gobble
the Group.
TEDIOUS AND EXPENSIVE
England Will Be Forced to Support
American Claims-Cromer's Report
Story of the Triumph of Adj
ministrative Foresight.

Copyright 1899 by Associated Press.
London, April S.-The unraveling OF
the Samoan ENHANCEMENT is followed
with keen interest here, especially in
colonial circles. Germanys "obstiil-
acy," 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 a colonial
expert who, writing to the Morning
Post, says:
For some reason never yet explain
ed, Germany regards Samoa as an I'M
portant 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 proved and the German
chancellor possibly anticipates more
important deal if he can only get pos
session of Samoa"
The newspapers point out the grow
ing Importance of Samoa to New Zea-
land and the significance of the letter's
offer to send volunteers to Samoa.
The alleged interview with the Unit
u SldtSS 10 Germany, Al
drew D. White, published in the Mu-
nioh Allgemeine Zeitung, cabled to the
associated press on Friday afternoon,
has attracted attention, but the utter
ances attributed to Mr. White are not
generally credited. The Morning Pos.
editorially says the sentiments ascrb-
ed to Mr.. White are plainly colo,pd ty
the prevailing tone of dissatisfaction
with Great Britain existing in Germany
on the subject. I'VE cannot be missed
into believing that Mr.. White has dis
covered influences in England which
tend against his ideal of the fraterniz-
alton of Great Britain. Germany ana
the United States which We frankly
adopt"
The Morning Post concludes: mo
United States diplomatist could have
discovered the circumstances in the
tone alleged by the Munich Allgemeine
Zeitung of Mr., White
The Spectator. which thinks that
'preposterous Importance has been
given the whole affair, says:
Great Britain only needs a coaling
station, If she needs that But we must
vigorously 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, a representative Of
1he associated press saw the medical
authorities of the war department with
reference to the dispatch from Cairo
70 the Daily Telegraph saying that all
the Anglo-Egyptian troops have been
removed from Omdurman, owing to the
presence Of spinal IN efingitis, due to
the former insanitary condition of the
town. Surgeon Major Muir, who has
just returned from the soudan, said:
Inc position there is extremely SELL
1ncS .tts,,, | Il
with the Egyptian troops, but the Brit
ism soldiers did not suffer. because thew
We're surrounded by the utmost precau-
tons. The disease is due % unsani-
tary conditions, s'l,l as probably pre-
vailed in the case Of tie hastily or
canned cuban campaign. Cur COM
paign on the upper Nile was planned
with time in our favor ami thus the
best sanitary arrangements could be
made for the British so. liers, who es-
capped"
The report Of Baron Cromcr. he
British agent and consul general in
Egypt, is looked upon as being q Won
derful story Of progress and the tr-
umph of administrative ,~csight and
military vigor. He advocates extend
ing the railroad from Nhartouyn
through Abu-Haraz to Goedarif and
Massala to Suakim ana the territory
above the upper Nile which Sir Samuel
Baker called "the sranary IF the Sou
dan" Goedarif is the center of this
grain producing region Lord Cromer
says that hitherto grain at Khartoum
has at times been sold at famine
prices, while at Goedarif it can be had
in such quantities that it is unstable.
The railroad will change all this
The British agent also makes a sig
nificant remark that school statistics
show that French is dying out as the
language of the middle classes and
English has already taken its place"
The Figaro's revelations in the publi-
cation of the evidence in 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 dispositions,
which, in fact. are apparently approved
by the whole mass of sober opinion in
France. The Figaro's bold step is par
ticularly interesting, as last year it's
editor unexpectedly championed Drey-
fus, with the result that the paper lost
great number of subscribers and the
proprietors removed the editor from his
position.
The Figaro has now taken a step
which has drawn upon it the formida-
BILE hostility Of the general staff of
the war office, which desired secrecy
and whose reputation is grievously
damaged by the publication of the dep
ositions. in which there are evidences
that the war department engineered
different trials Influenced witnesses
and had the intention Of preventing
the exculpation of Dreyfus, though the
- --------------------