New-York tribune., 1905-08-21
GERMANS ON THE NILE.
II aser Establishes Line of Steam
boats on Egypt's Great Riuer.

Emperor William is from an arti-Germa3 point
OF view. most perniciously active ard the means
which ne is adopting for making his importance
i' III an sorts OF unexpected places constitutes an
extraordinary tribute TO his ingenuity and state
craIt After having upset the entire Franco Eng
hsh agreement the subject Of Morocco nv his
NSit TO Taagier and his insistence on an inter
national congress the subject OF Morocco and
al'er having set all the world a-guessing by his
hidnght interview with the Gar at sea off Borgo
9h interview destined to show that he is a weighty
factor In the peace negotiations in progress at
'i 'siroutf-he has to the intense disgust OF
'he English, arranged for the Hamburg rnerican
company to run big feet of river steamboats, on
ne MIC IN opposition TO the Cook and Anglo
EeSP'i1h boat services Until the English and
EsSPtan governments have in conjunction with
me LOOKS absolutely controlled the Nile boat ser
''rs' ana have enjoyed monopoly thereof
me Aasers action in establishing through the
iarnourg-Amercan Line. service to compete with
'nose already in existence on the Nile constitutes
not merely blow in economic sense, since the
herman line will compete by means OF low rates
our VIII also affect British prestige since the Ger
man hags on the Nile will be perpetual reminder
- 'he natives that Egypt is not British colony.
uu' an ottoman province, the autonomy OF which
Is guaranteed by the great powers in which all the
litter claim equal rights and privileges.
~ Is doubtful whether there is anything that
Emperor William has done in recent years which
HIS given the English government and the English
-"SAO dItHOyHilce ana WHICH mas JOuCHeu
then more on the than this activity of his on
the River Nile. II is likely 10 lead 10 all sorts OF
complications, for IL the boats expected. are
manned by Germans instead OF by natives. there IS
nothing to prevent men OF the Imperial Naval Re
serve being used Tor the purpose and as there is
no limit 10 the number OF German boats the crews
In question may end by forming something very
much akin to a species of German army of occupa-
ton rvalling in size and Importance that Of Great
Britain in Egypt
PONTINE MARSHES TO BE DRAINED
Prince Borghese. the Marquis Ferrarinati the
Duke Of sermoneta and the other great Roman
nooies owning the Pontine Marshes have after
many years OF negotiation. at length concluded a
contract with a German syndicate headed by
Baron Won Donath for the draining Of the marshes
in question and their conversion into arabic land
What this means to Italy and I, Rome Will be
understood when 1t is explained that these marshes
~hlch extend over distance OF thirty miles from
near the sea to the Alban hills. a OF
tense unhealthiness to Central Italy and consti-
tute the breeding ground OF that ague and malarial
fever which is one OF the curses Of that portion OF
the kingdom The law accepting and sanctioning
the barons project for the draining OF the marshes
was enacted a number of years ago. But until now
the great territorial magnates mentioned above
have stood In the way of the execution OF the
project owing to the fact that they preferred TO
use the marshes as game preserves. Now. however,
they have all been brought into line. and there is
Iurther oostace TO the enterprise The marshes are
to be drained. without single cent OF expense 10
the state or TO the land owners All that the syndi-
cate asks for is certain percentages OF the land
claimed.
1t is interesting to recall that this scheme has
been in fashion, under consideration ever since
the days of Julius Cesar. who had several plans
for dealing with the problem under discussion when
laid low by the dagger OF Brutus. Roman EN-
perors. all the Popes and Kings of Italy have each
had in turn before them the question OF draining
the marshes, now about to become an accomplished
fact