The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-05-05

The fever of war is abroad in France.
The public prints show it and the temper
of the people on the boulevards is not a
whit less martial. The most remarkable
illustration of this, however, Is found in
the last issue of LIE Monde Illustre, Pa
risian magazine which might be compared to
Harper Weekly in this country. The
Paris publication contains story headed
eThe End of England. 1t is plausi-
BILE and circumstantial account of a great
war, begun by an overt act of England,
and resulting in the downfall of the en-
pire. At its end Ireland is freed and be-
comes republic, the British are hemmed
in in England, her possessions are divided
among the powers, and in this way, the
author asserts, universal peace is assured.
To further simulate reality, photographs
and Photographic illustrations accompany
the article, which is from the pen of Henri
de Noussane Living soldiers and states
men are the personages Of the story.
There are Roberts and Kitchener, Rose
berry, Sir Charles Beresford, as well as
Gen. Marchand of France. The preface
of this political cataclysm is laid at Kouck
(Koushk, on the Afghanistan frontier.
Its date is July 16-for the story is circum :
stantial even to dates as well as to places,
atmosphere and the names of living men.
Thus, on July l6 band of Afghan ban
dits-200 in number-fall upon the rail
road at Kouck, slay the attendants and set
fire to the rolling stock and station. The
news arrives in Russia two days later. At
the same moment the ministry is informed
that the ameer, Abdur- -Rahman, has been
slain by his nephew, who has been ele-
vated to the throne 1t is known that the
dead ameer was about to sign treaty
granting Russia permission to extend the
Trans Caspian railroad from Merv through
Herat to Kandahar, and as the assassin
usurper has appointed a British agent his
premier the influences are obvious. In
stantly upon the arrival of the information
the czar retires to his palace of Gatchina.
Gen. Dragomirow and the minister of war
are summoned. In Paris fever of ex-
citement seizes citizens and officials alike.
The exposition has been disaster; the
British are blamed. All the world looks
toward Russia. For six days the czar is
silent. Dispatches show that troops are
being hurried by both England and Russia
to the Afghan frontier. Nj. de Monte
hello, the French ambassador at St. Pc
tersburg, is in conference with the czar at
Gatchina. On the morning Of July "a
the czar moves He transmits an order to
Gen. Sobeleff to move at once upon Herat.
At the same instant Great Britain orders
her ambassador to leave Russia; on the
following day the Russian ambassador
leaves London War has begun. 1t is a
foregone conclusion that Herat falls, and
of this the author says ''The fall of
Herat is date always 20 be remembered
in history. At this point began a war
which was to change the entire face of the
world
Admiral Fournier commands the French
feet. His sealed orders, opened at sea,
tell him that he is to meet the Russian
feet at Bizerta, and that the English
squadron must be led to expect that he
is still at Toulou But on arriving at Alex
andria there is surprise. The British
flag no longer floats over the city. In
stead, the banner Of Egypt waves in the
breeze. But all is explained. lord Gro
mer has been assassinated, the khedive has
seized the three British battalions, and
Mourad Bey, the minister of war, has
seized the Suez canal In addition, the
cable code of the British is in the Egypt
ians' possession, and for five days it an
swers London demands that all is well
In the meanwhile the Mediterranean
squadron of the British, under Admiral
Fisher, is on its way to destroy the French
feet, supposed to be at Toulon. More
over, the sultan of Turkey, alarmed by
the turn Of affairs, has permitted the Rus
slams in the Black sea to pass through the
DardaneIles to join the French. Menelik,
emperor of Abyssinia, accepting the op-
portunity, advances along the upper Nile,
seizing the British posts and occupying
Fashoda. The French and the Russians,
joining fleets and forces, fortify the Suez
canal. On the 18th an attack by Admiral