The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1896. ENGLAND AND THE SOUDAN.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 224, 25 March 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1896. ENGLAND AND THE SOUDAN.

The bold front which is now being shown by English statesmen is admirable. They have declared that not only do they understand tbe management of the affairs of the nation, but at tbe same time aro determined to do so their own way, quite independent of blustering foreign interference. With reference to the Dongola expedition, Mr Balfour said recently in the House of Commons, that " they were going to stay" in the Soudan. We will now endeavour to show some of the reasons which, have made such a vigorous line of policy necessary on the part of England. • The main object is to defeat the designs of Russia. That power has been supplying help in different forms to King Menelek of Abyssinia, with a view to crush Italy, so that as a return Menelek would cede a port in the Red Sea to Russia, an ambition in which she ia supported by France. Once free from the Italian protectorate, Menelek could easily be forced to give a port to Russia on the Abyssinian coast from whence British interests in the Red ! sea could be most interfered with. To \ prevent that the Triple Alliance, with , the approval of Great Britain, deputed Italy to capture Kassala and thus defeat the intrigues of Russia in that part of the world. How the Italians took Kassala is thus told by the Napier Telegraph ; — In 1895, the Dervishes, stirred up by Russia, and bearing arms suspected of [ having been supplied by France, wero [ harassing tbe Italians at Fort Agordat, their most exposed Erythriau outpost. Menelek, though nominally a vassal of Italy, but at tbis time secretly plotting with Russia, favored the Dervishes, In July, 1894, the latter made a most de*

termined attack upon Fort Agordat. The Italians, skilfully led by General Baratieri, not only repulsed the Dervishes, but following up smartly the retreating foe they pursued the Dervishes to Kassala, their stronghold, and the capital of Eastern Soudan. After brilliant fighting the town was taken, the Dervishes being driven right across tbe river Atbara, a tributary of the Nile. Russia immediately squeezed Turkey, and the Sultan formally protested against the occupation of Kassala. As this occupation was favored by England, Germany, and Austria, the Italian Government took no notice of the Porte's action, and Kassala bas been occupied by an Italian garrison ever since. It now appears in danger. It is a certainty that Belgium is acting in accord with the Triple Alliance, because King Leopold has arranged for an attack with his troops in the Congo Free St_te to coincide with the English attack delivered from Egypt. All of this is very provoking to Russia and France and very little would give cause to an outburst of war. But what will do much to keep the peace will be tbe firmness of England and the vast resources at her command in the event of a war.