The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-25
why the Negus of Abyssinia VIII
Not Attack England.


Not Attack England.
New York Times: A dispatch from
Rome makes the startling assertion that
the Negus Of Abysslnla is preparing to
strike Great Britain blow in the Sou
dan. A dispatch from London informs
us that the news has caused much un-
easiness there. All this might have
been expected. It is even to be Won
dered at that the announcement is so
tardy In its arrival. It's sequel, too, is
easy to guess Before long we shall
doubtless hear from the same source
that French officers are rushing TO en-
roll themselves In Menelek's army, and
that Prince Henri d'orleans has been
made chief Of stan. But all this need
alarm nobody. The simple truth is
that certain Italian officers, who have
the entry to the houses Of the English
colony in Rome, have been talking
again.
These officers, who assisted the ILL
fated Baratleri In his campaign against
the AbyssinIans, together with certain
officials that were thrown out OF en-
ployment when the Crlspl government
fell, form an alarmlst clique, which
hates France as bitterly as 1t does the
Negus. Their one aim In life seems to
be to endeavor to play of the English
against one or the other, or against
both. At the time Of the Fashoda In
cldent they filled the heads OF the
British correspondents full Of the most
extraordinary tales: The Negus was
on the march to aid poor MaTChand;
the Negus was preparing to assert his
claim to the right bank Of the Nile.
The harmless boasts Of that poseur-
explorer, Prince Henri d'Orleans, and
his ridiculous mission to Menelek were
turned into prophecies OF the most dire
full import for Great Britain. Then
came the Anglo French convention, by
which France secured practical sway
over the Tripoli hinterland, and the
alarrnlsts retired in humiliation and
disgust. They refused to give any
more exclusive AbyssInian news to
their perflIdious English friends. Now,
apparently, all has been forgiven. Their
long silence has rather improved their
mischief-malSing propensitleS
The history Of the British operations
In East Africa has almost removed the
idea Of an attack by the Negus to the
realms Of the impossible. For more
than twenty years, together and sepa-
rately, the Abysslnians and the British
have been fighting a common foe-the
derviBhes. So anxious was Menelek to
have the dervish power exterminated,
and so positive was he that the Anglo
Egyptian army alone could do 1t, that
he paid no more attention to the sollc-
itatIon OF Prince Henri d'Orleans than
he did to the Official messages from the
French government. He knows now that
II is only question Of few years. pos
slbly few months, before the Nile rail-
way system will extend through Kassa-
Ia, thus placing his country In direct
communication with the civilization and
commerce for which he has waited and
lonEed with 90 much patience and wis
dom. The fact that the Britlsh-AbyB-
slnian treaty Of May Il, 1897, Is about,
and for the first time. to render mutual
benefits TO Egypt and to the empire OF
the Negus, should alone Danish any idea
that Menelek In preparing to strike
Great BritaIn's power in the soudan."