Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-26
observation-disclosures 26, 1899.
A auEsTIoNNnLE REPORT.

We take very llttle STOCK ln the NoN-
stantinople dispatch Of the Figaro. of
Paris. 10 tho effect that am Anglo-Turkish
alliance has been entered into. by which
the Sultan has authorized Great Britain
10 send the regular Egyptian troops to
South Africa for service against the
Beers. The French papers are famous for
getting mp. or having gotten up. interest
ing reports that never pan out anything
rs 10 what the British intend 10 do or do
not intend 10 do. But. aside from that, we
would not be disposed to take much stock
I'm the dispatch 81 n came from any other
source.
The Egyptian regulars referred to were
trained by Lord Kitchener. and are sea-
soned and tried veterans of the Anglo
Egyptian Nile expedition. They number
some 1900. ard under the sirdar, in
whom they have explicit. indeed an al
most supersttious, confidence. and Sir
Hector Mcdonald. who has proved that
he thoroughly understands how 10 handle
them % the best advantage. they would
make an ideal contingent in fighting the
Beers But there are strong reasons why
Great Britain would doubtless take a
long think" before using them In the
South African war.
While the I<halifa has been smashed.
the Soudan is not yet completely pacihed,
and Greai Britain will find II necessary
FOR some time 90 come TO keep I'm hand a
force there. and en- Egypt, I'm order to pre-
vent sporadic uprisings. and make good
Kitchener's announcement that the Sou
dan is open. Again. IL SIS not a far cry
from the soudan TO Abyssinia, on the one
side. and the French African possessions
on the other. As for Abyssinia, there
have already been rumOrs that It would
take but little TO light I'm that country
the torch of resentment against the Brit
ish. and both France and Russia are
known TO be lahoring TO make friends
near the Abyssinian throne. Once the
flame started. who can say that a spark
would not ny over into the French pos
sessions2 so We see that as TO the Con-
stantinople dispatch the wish may readily
DO father 10 the thought with France.
and In view of the interest Russia has in
embarrassing Great Britain, it is easy to
understand that anything that would lead
to a renewal Of trouble IN Central Africa
would play into the hands of the Car.
what. with the Anglo-Boer war. and
trouble with the Abyssinians and the ma
tives I'm African territory under French
dominion. the occasion might be deemed
ripe for a Russian demonstration on the
Indian frontier.
But. admitting that there is no danger
from the sources noted. there IS stnl
most potent reason why Great Britain
should not seek or accept the ala of
Egyptian troops in dealing with the
Beers. There is still most potent reason
why she should not make any alliance
Of the character in question. That reason
Is found in tho impression which IS being
so scdulously cultivated ON The Continent
that the collapse OF Great Britain as
military power has been proved by her
South African experience For Great Bril-
tain TO secure outside aid-indeed. for her
TO send large achievements TO South
Africa from her COlonies--wOuld be a con-
fesslon Of weakness. which she could not
afford 20 make-which. IN truth. the
world could not afford to have her make.
For the sake of British prestige In the
British empire. and in the world, and in
order 10 insure against presumption of
weakness by her Continental neghbors-
a presumption that would be 9 continuous
menace TO the peace of Europe-Great
Britain must eschew even such help from
her dependencies as would In anywise
rob the Mother Country of the credit for
he inevitable fnality Of the struggle-the
wiping out Of the Boer power.