Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-11-15
90 HE war between Great Britain
VIII and the two Rnar rennhlics in

@HE war between Great Britain
and the two Boer republics in
u South Africa may yet be the de-
termining cause for the long oft
predicted conflict which is to involve all
the greater and lesser powers of Europe.
Already, says the Chicago Tribune, the
attitude of Europe is sufficiently menac-
ing to impel Great Britain to take early
steps not only to secure the fruits of the
victory that nation expects to win in
South Africa, but to defend its empire in
all parts of the globe in the event that
it finally rejects European interference in
its plan to make the southern huff of the
African continent all British.
In every naval port in England squad
rons are being hurriedly fitted out for
sea. A strong naval force is already as
scmbling at Gibraltar, and other battle
ships and cruisers are adding their
strength to it every day. Every prepare
tion for calling out the naval reserves
has been made, and at the signal England
would be ready for all eventualities.
The movements in European diplomatic
circles leave no room for doubt that at
least France and Russia are endeayoring
to secure the assistance of other powers
in joint representations to Great Britain
before the close of the present war. 1t
is regarded as certain that neither France
nor Russia is acting from motives of
sympathy with the Beers, for if so they
would have entered their protests before
the negotiations between Kruger and
Chamberlain reached the ultimatum
stage. Therefore it is reasonable to in
fer that if France and Russia act at or
before the close Of the present war they
will do so from purely selfish motives,
and with the expectation of compelling
Great Britain to remain passive while
they seize some other parts of the globe
for their own. Russia's ambition in the
direction Of the Indian ocean is well
known, and France has designs in China
and Africa which it never has taken the
pains to conceal.
interests Are Opposed.
Unfortunately for pacific outlook, the
ambitions of both France and Russia are
dangerous to the British Empire. Eng
land can neither permit France to secure
preponderance in the control of northern
Africa nor allow Russia to advance to
the borders of India without practically
destroying the British Empire. Conse-
quently, Great Britain is almost certain
to accept the alternative Of war, even
In its present splendid isolation" for to
no power can 1t turn, unless, perhaps, 1t
may be to Germany, for assistance. If
Great Britain is finally brought face to
face with the alternative of submission
to the dictates Of Europe or war which
shall grit the globe with belt Of flame,
it unquestionably will choose the dread
alternative Of war.
The attitude of the several European
powers and of the United States, the
probable direction of such war, and the
changes 1t would ultimately make in the
man of the old world are subjects which
are just now engrossing the attention OF
the diplomats of Europe.
The cruA of the situation will come
when. after whipping the Beers Of the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State in.
to submission, Great Britain will make
known its plans for the future govern.
ment of those two republics.
Russia Has Most to Gain.
In any future demands on Great Brit.
min Russia will necessarily take the lead
for the Cars empire has the most to
gain. Although having the most subtle
and secretive diplomats in Europe, the
ambition and inacSible purpose Of Russia
are well known. In II general statement
Russia's ambition lies in the direction
of an open sea. unfetLcrel by the ice
shncklcs of winter. Until recently Rus.
sian forts faced the ice-clad Baltic, the
Arctic ocean, and the northern Pacific
For six months Of every year Russia's
merchant steamers and Russia's war
ships We're locked in ice and it was moi
Nntil the recent acquisition from Chins
Of Port Arthur that the Cars nava
base in the Pacific was rendered effective
by open water the year around.
For years Russia hoped to extend its
empire southwark to the Mediterranean
with Constantinople as the objective
point, bat its ambition, while perhaps moi
completely shattered, was indefinitely de
laycd 0y the Congress of Berlin in 1878
when Europe erected the quasi indepen.
dent Balkan States as buffer between
the Cars dominion and the sea. ~
Since then Russia has been pushing
steadily southwark toward Persia and
Afghanistan. All the intrigue of which
Russian diplomacy is capable has been