Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-03-28
NEW WAR IN SIGHT.
Collision Seems Immineat Between
France and England.

The military situation in South Africa !
now occupies a secondary place in the |
attention of the British Government, and |
London correspondent asserts that the |
entire resources of the empire are being |
utilized in preparations TO meet a graver |
danger nearer home, ssss
No other Interpretation is possible of |
the extraordinary measures for defense |
undertaken by the Government. which in
creased instead of diminishing after the |
tide of war had turned in the British !
favor. Preparations for naval mobiliza-
ton, the Queens personal call for volun-
teers, the Governments appeal to the
colonies to prepare to put every available
man in the field, the Queens abandon
ment OF her proposed continental rip,
her sudden decision TO visit Ireland, the
premature issue of the budget, NnG the
floating Of the popular war loan came in
quick succession. apprehension became
more definite when il was learned that
France had tried unsuccessfully to in
duce the Sultan TO reopen the Egyptian
question,
While the fact Il at there is at present
no subject OF diplomatic controversy be
tween France, or Russia. and Great Brit
ain apparently tends to minimize the
chances of a clash, there seems to be no
reason to doubt that these countries have
been constrained to recognize the dangers
latent in the present attitude of the
French public. Not even when the Ia
shoda incident was under discussion have
the French people manifested such hos
tility toward England rs they shew ut the
present time. The action OF the French
Government in strengthening its defenses
at various colonial stations seems to indi-
cate that, while it officially maintains its
pacific ftia IONS, il recognizes that the
! stress of public sentiment might become
too strong to admit of further continued
restraint in case some slight point Of
difference should arise,
1t is impossible Just now to discover
any preteAt which should give occasion
for hostile mSneuyers on either side, but
Great Britain how, as at the time of the
Fashoda affair, is evidently holding itself
in readiness for any emergency, The mo
biiization of the fleets and the call upon
the colonies for more troops lin case
of dangers threatening from other quar-
| tiers" are significant; and ii must not be
| left 1t Of account that Russia at a
l
| along the border of Afghanistan. f"r-
haps the most reassnring feature of tha
situation is the fact apparently that Rus
| STA is not yet ready to act. Great Brit
ain seems to be we'll on the way to vie
| tory in South Africa, and with every
| British success the inducements for for
| eign Intervention are lessened. 1t is not
TO be believed that the French Govern
me t would willingly act on the aggres-
| sive without an assurance of the support
| of its nominal ally.
! Russia, apparently, is the key to the
situation. which, il not menacirg, is At
least sufficiently grave to have caused
anxiety among even the more sober mind
| ed and more thoughtful Erenchmen.
Without Russia France would be play
| ing a dangerous game to aggrayate any
further the present strained situation.
| Whether or not, Ia case France did over
step the bounds and Great Rrttain's at
tention were to be divided between two
wars, Pnssia could refrain from making
use of Us opportunities is a question.