The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-19

or leas important footholds which. she
retains on the northwestern coast OF
Africa. Neither would a hostile Power
venture to occupy or eve to lombard
one Of her 81 aports in the Iberian PEN
Ursula now that the combined fleets OF
Great Britain and France would have to
be dealt with. The Atlantic and Med
iterranean seaports Of France, the island
Of Corsica and the Algerian and Tunisian
coasts were already safeguarded against
attack by the entente with England.
What England gains from her arrange
ments with France and Spain isnot only
the immunity Of Gibraltar, Malta and
Cyprus from aggression but also che
assurance that a part OF the warships
hitherto stationed in the Mediterranean
may hereafter be used to strengthen the
feet maintained in the British Channel
and North Sea. Why? Because France
habitually keeps a large feet in the west
ern basin OF the Mediterranean, with
headquarters at Toulon, for the purpose
Of protecting communications with, Cor
sica, Algeria and Tunis. Moreover, Spain
has decided to set about forthwith a
reconstruction Of her navy. At least a
hundred millions OF dollars, now easily
procurable from her British and French
allies, will be devoted to that end.
Ifnow we look at the position in which
Italy and Austria have been placed by
the Anglo ranco-Spanish treaties, We
cannot but see that they may be tempted
to cur their own maritime interests
by Withdrawing from their alliance with
Germany, Italy in particular has very
much to lose by sharing the isolation Of
her German ally. To say nothing Of her
numerous seaports, i'll defended by for
tifioRtions on. the coast of the peninsula,
including the historic harbors OF Brin-
disi, Naples, Genoa, Leghorn and Ven
| ice, she possesses the large islands Of
Sardinia and Sicily. Even Austria has
more at stake than is generally recog-
nized. Besides the great commercial
entrep6t, Trieste, and the Hungarian
port, Fiume, she owns innumerable har-
bora and islands on the Dalmatian coast,
which at present give her asoendency
in the Adriatic. In view Of the combina-
| ton now effected between Great Britain,
France and Spain for the control of the
| Mediterranean, il must be plain to the
| Vienna Government that its German
ally could not save il from being cut
off altogether from the sea.
How can Germany recover the iniu-
ence in world politics which these latest
! lnEa IN Nha oh min nf naf nj nfi va tFnnfinH
forged around her threaten gravely to
impair? She cannot make a counter
acting move by inducing Russia to join
the Triple Alliance, for Russia has long
| been tightly bound TO France and is
about to enter into agreements with
Great Britain on the one hand and with
Japan on the other. Already obliged to
r%elinquish the hope Of enlarging her
leasehold OF Kiaochou, Germany now
sees herself deprived of any chance Of
effecting a Judgment in the Mediter-
ranean. Will she fall back on the des-
perate expedient Of attacking France
now that the last named Power can rely
upon the aid of Britain's feet and treas
ury, while it is certain that a huge Rus
sian army would invade Germany On the
east? That the Franco-Japanese treaty
contains any secret clauses has been
denied, but it is evidently possible that
in return for a large loan guaranteed
by France and England a japanese army
might be brought to Toulon.
These are anxious days for Emperor
| WILLIAM. No wonder that his eyes turn
wistfully toward Nhe western shore of
| the Atlantic.