Washington sentinel., 1900-07-28

the pockets OF the Cars emissaries TO
Menelik's couriiers ever since, and the
Emperor is now Said to be entirely under
Russian influence. The British, recog-
nizing the importance OF having Meme.
lik's good will whs the war with
Kruger was coming on, ceded 10 Abys-
sinia in the latter part OF 1903 about
5000 miles OF British Somaliland, about
which there had been some dispute
between the two nations. Abyssinla
now claims the whole OF the territory on
the north of British East Africa, amount
ing IN all to about 100000 square miles.
Aby'sinian troops are said to actually
occupy this valuable strip, without
resistance from British troops, almost
all ofwhom we're withdrawn to reenforce
Roberts and Butler.
An idea OF the damage MeneliS might
do Great Britain at this time may be had
from the fact that Menelik's r. gular
army is known to number 10000 men.
who might be augmented to the extent
Of 100000 men, drawn from the militia,
which is organized in the various prov
inces of the empire under a system
strikinglY like that employed in the
United States. These troops have
modern rifles, ma kim guns and mitrail-
leuses, bought in Europe for MeneIik by
Russian agents. The Emperor IS said
to be a second Frederick II. in his
passion Tor discipline. and is continually
in the saddle making the rounds of the
chief towns and reviewing his soldiers.
In short, influenced, as he is, by Russian
ideas and bound to Russia by common
ties Of freligion-for the Abyssinlans have
been Christians since the third century
and belong to the Greek Church.
Menelik is the most formidable enc my
that might be stirred up against England
ia Africa, and could undo in fortnight
the patient labor of years, which won
for Kitchener the title OF Lord Of Khar.
toum.
The gravity OF the present situation in
the Orient is best brought out by the
thought OF the probable consequences
10 England il the powers, allied now in
common cause against China. should
fall out among themselves II in addition
TO the armies now drawn up against her
in South Africa, in Ashanti, and in
BOrueO, she should be forced to face
Russia, or France, or Germany, or all,
in conflict over the div isIon Of the
spoils IN the Celestial Empire the
speedy downfall OF the pToudest nation
the world has ever seen would be, not
RnninGFrnFa htrf ~art.inNa Wat
enol nous interests m CHINA will lead
the masses OF her people to be even
more headstrong and violent in th ir
policy in South Africa. "A ith bali the
people camoring for revenge for the
murder OF English missionaries, and the
rest Tor the billions Of dollars damages
already done TO British commerce, Sails
bury will soon be forced to take a lead
in the attack or resign So soon as Eng
land appears to be doing more than her
share OF the fighting, and occupies more
than her share OF the ports, the Powers
will :all halt. II Salisbury, who fore
saw the danger months ago, is allowed
to remain at the helm, all may be we
even then; but the wise and conservative
metnOdS OF tnat great SlaLeSman nave
already made him the mark OF the
"khaki" party, who are demanding his
resignation even before the worst phase
of the crisis is come. The war party
appears to be hurrying the nation into
a conflict in which there is no hope of
success; and as Lord Salisbury said in
an address delivered before a famous
London social club six weeks ago, the
chances for a worldwide war have never
been so bright as now. By Iust what
methods England means to meet the
enemies certain to spring up on every
side in such an event. is not so apparent.
AS has been said, the English people
have been led to believe that the Anglo
Saxon alliance. of which 50 much has
been said, is an assured fact. In which
case, for America, as for England, the
paramount issue" would be whether
or not John Bull can induce Brother
Jonathan to pull his chestuuts out OF the
irel