Crawford avalanche., 1899-11-09

merchant steamers and Russia's war
ships were locked in ice and it was not
unti the recent acquisition from China
of Port Arthur that the Cars naval
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, but its ambition, while perhaps not
completely shattered was indefinitely de-
layed by the Congress of Berlin In 1878,
when Europe erected the quasi indepen-
dent Balkan States as a 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
exerted in securing preponderating In
fiuence in the semi-barbaric courts of the
Ameer and the Shah. So successfully
has this diplomatic intrigue been carried
, on that to-day it is generally believed
that Russia has engaged by secret treaty
to occupy Afghanistan with Russian
troops in order to preserve order after
the death of the present Ameer and Sc
cure the throne to his successor.
And it is an open secret in European n
capitals that the Shah has agreed to give
Russia the port of Bunder-Abbis. ON the
Persian gulf, whenever Russia chooses to
occupy it. and has also granted conces-
sons to Russian syndicates for railways
running from Russian soil to the Persian
gulf. Russia's control of the Persian
gulf would be dangerous to the British
Indian empire.
Russia's designs in China are equally
understood. Already the Czar holds the
Manchurian peninsula and is disputing
with Great Britain at Peking the right
to dictate terms and concessions to the
Chinese Government.
France the Czar's Ally.
As far as territorial acquisition is con-
cerned, France has almost as much to
gain as Russia. Then, too, France is
still smarting under the chagrin Of the
Fashoda incident, when a year ago Mai.
Marchand was unceremoniously bundled
out of the Upper Nile country by Lord
Kitchener.
France has territorial ambitions in AZ
rca and China. and unfortunately in the
present crisis these ambitions run counter
to British interests. France would like
to add Morocco to the western frontier
of Algeria, and in u general European
war undoubtedly would endeavor to seize
1t. II united Europe should defeat Great
Britain in war, the latter would be driven
out Of Egypt, and the British control
pass to another power. and France
would again step in to demand the land
of the Pharaohs as its share of the booty.
With Egypt would go naturally the con-
troll Of the Suez canal, this depriving
Great Britain of its short road TO India.
In China France, too. would expect to
gain in a war with Great Britain. France
already has strong foothold in the Ori-
ent. &tl
Added to all this is the feverish coadi-
tion Of France at home. The army is
disaffected, conspiracies are rife and roy
alist plotting Is incessant. The republic
is torn by internal strife. Nothing would
clear the French atmosphere more thor
oughly than a war in which factional
quarrels at home would be forgotten and
employment given to great army that
long has chafed under idleness.
Will Kaiser Aid Queen?
The crux of the whole situation seems
to rest with the German Emperor II
Germany casts its lot with Europe, Great
Britain may as well call out its last avail
able man, for. the sea girt empire will
indeed be in danger. But there is ap-
parent reason to believe that Germany
will cast its lot with Great Britain.
Several months ago. before the Trans
vaal negotiations assumed a dangerous
| phase. Lord Salisbury and the German
! amba ssador to the court of st. james