Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-29
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS

help to Admiral Rojestvensky. Inc
latter he concludes. must rely upon his
resources. which are not by any means
equal to the task of defeating Adnira
Togo. The value Of the opposing pat
tie fleets, including armored cruisers
he estimates numerically at 6l2 TO 334
in favor of Japan his calculation being
based on comparison between their
lighting qualities in respect OF speed,
armament and defensive armor. Even
if Admiral Togo should find 1t neces-
sary to detach four armored cruisers TO
intercept the VladivOstok squadron,
which he considers improbable, the
value of his fleet might still, he calcu-
lates, be stated as AL, thus leaving
considerable balance i'm his favor. The
superiority of the japanese in protected
cruisers and in torpedo craft of all
kinds he regards as too great for any
comparison to be instituted.
Before long the Anglo Egyptian Su-
dan will have a railroad connecting the
Nile with the Red Sea, and giving that
vast inland region the short cut to the
ocean that is imperatively demanded
by it's growing commercial interests.
About thirty miles of track have been
laid eastward from the confluence of
the Nile and Atbara rivers; and at the
port OF Suakin a large force is crap.
ping with the chief difficulties to be
found on the route, the cutting of the
roadbed across the coast mountains.
The enterprise is thus in full swing.at
both ends of the line. Over twenty
years ago it was thought that this rail-
road would be pushed through to the
Nile as Il military necessity. What was
wanted was rail route from the Red
sea to Berber. little north of the At
bara's mouth, so that troops and sup
plies might quickly be carried within
easy reach of Omdurman, where the
Mahdist power might be attacked in it's
greatest center. A large amount OF
railroad material was landed at Suakin
and in a short time military trains
We're running few miles inland to
OtaO. But the task was too diff
ficult with Mahdist forces swarm
ing on every side. For months
there had been hard fighting i'm
the region around Suakin. The Anglo
Egyptian forces never got a firm foot
hold in this region. through which the
caravan route between Suakin and
Berber passes. till Kitchener went I'D
the Nile and captured the Mahdist cap
ital. The railroad project was aban-
doned and never revived until recently.
The appointment of Rear Admiral
FOurnier as a member of the interna-
tional commission of inquiry into Ad-
miral Rojestvensky's performance on
the Dogger bank is regarded as a rec
ognltiOn by the French government of
the fact that the representative of
France will occupy delicate position. |
requiring diplomatic as we'll as technf- |
cal Skill Rear Admiral Fourniers tact
was conspicuousy shown in 1884 when |
france had to obtain from China the |
remuneration of her pretensions over |
T"ngking. COmmandant Fournier. as |
he was then, was pitted against Ii |
Hung Chang. and vet he returned with |
Il treaty in his pocket which completely |
his government. Later he |
was placed in command of the French
naval division in the far East. a .posf-
ton which he only left to take the di- /
rection of the Higher Naval school. He
mas passed from ane maritime prefec-
ture TO another. interrupting his ad-
work ashore by periods of
sea service. Recently he has been on
Il tour OF inspection of the French
North African naval bases. Rear Ad-
miral Fourier is the author of a vain.
able work, Cyclones and Typhoons."
and the inventor of an instrument for.
the regulation of ships compasses.