Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1900 — NEW WAR IN SIGHT. [ARTICLE]

NEW WAR IN SIGHT.

Collision Seems Imminent Between France and Ragland. The military situation in South Africa now occupies a secondary place in the attention of the British Government, and < London eorresjiondent asserts that the entire resouinees of the empire are being utilized in preparations to meet a graver danger nearer home. No other interpretation is possible of the extraordinary measures for defense undertaken by the Government, which increased Instead of diminishing after the tide of war bad turned in the British favor. Preparations for naval mobilization, the Queen’s personal call for volunteers, the Goveriunent’s appeal to the colonics to prepare to put every available man in the field, the Queen’s abandonment of her proposed continental trip, her sudden decision to visit Ireland, the premature issue of the budget, and the floating of the popular war loan came in quick succession. Apprehensions became more definite when it tfrns' learned that France had tried unsuccessfully to induce the SJultan to reopen the Egyptian question.

While the faet that there is at present no subject of diplomatic controversy between France, or Russia, and Great Britain apparently tends to minimize the chances of a clash, there seems to be no reason to doubt that these countries have been constrained to recognize the dangers latent in the present attitude of the French public, Not even when the Jfashoda incident was under discussion, have the French people manifested such hostility toward England as they show at the present time. The action of the French Government in .strengthening Its defenses at various colonial stations Seems to indicate that, while it officially maintains its pacific relations,- it recognizes that the stress of public sentiment might become too strong to admit of further continued restraint in case some slight point of difference should arise. It is impossible just now To discover any pretext which should give occasion for hostile maneuvers on either side, but Great Britain now. as at the time of the Fashoda affair, is evidently*holding itself in readiness for any emergency. The mobilization of the fleets and the call upon the colonies for more troops “in case of dangers threatening fyom other quarters” are significant; and it must not be left out of account that' Russia at a critical time still keeps a force hovering along the border of Afghanistan. Perhaps the most reassuring feature of the situation is the fact* apparently that Russia is not yet ready to act. Great Britain seems to be well on the way to victory in South Africa, and with every British success the inducements for foreign intervention arc lessened. It is not to l»e believed that the French Government would willingly act on the aggressive without an assurance of the support of its nominal ally. Russia, apparently, is the key to the situation, which, if not menacing, is at least sufficiently grave to have caused anxiety among ev.-u the more sober minded and more thoughtful Frenchmen. Without Russia, France would be playing a dangerous game to aggravate any further the present strained situation. Whether or not, in case France did overstep the bounds and Great Britain’s attention were to be divided between two wars, Russia could refrain from making use of its opportunities is a question.