Hawke's Bay Herald FRIDAY, AUGUS 9, 1885. AFFAIRS IN MADAGASCAR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10069, 9 August 1895, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald FRIDAY, AUGUS 9, 1885. AFFAIRS IN MADAGASCAR.

A cable message in this isene states that the French expect to reach Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, before the wet season seta in. If not, they will have to retreat. They seem to have been little troubled with the Malagasy soldiery, bat owing to the want of roads their progress has been slow, aud they are passing through a malarial bolt which even in summer has proved deadly to the troops, and which in winter would carry them off like files. Those who knew the country predicted this, but (hey also anticipated that the Malagasy troops would offer a more stubborn resistance, und harass the French by guerilla warfare. Some time ago we published extracts from a paper published la the capital which described io enthusiastic, almost extravagant, terms a huge meeting held- there, at which tens of thousands of men at tha call of their Queen vowed to resist the French to the last gisp. Judging from engravings In the English illustrated papers, ioanded on photographs taken at the time, the sceno mas* have been a most lm. preaeive one. But the people do sot seem to have acted up to their protestations. Mr Knight, the correspondp eot of The Times at Antananarivo, predicted this, giving his reasons. "The European officers," he wrote at the very commencement of the campaign, "have resigned in a body, following the example of Mr Parretb, a fortnight previously. Colonel Shervlnton has found it impossible to make the Government realise the dangers it baa to face, or to agree to the preparations be considered necessary, In order to avert them. The relations between the (Jueen and Prime Minister are of tbe very norat, and the latter Ib power : eas. A strong French party, headed by near relatives of the Prime Minister, have cbo ear of the QaeeD, and are doing everything in their power to overtaru the Government). Unfortunately two or three unscrupulous Englishmen with nothing to lose, and beaded by an ex-sergeant from the Royal Artillery, are egging on tbe French party. They go about with letters purporting to be copies or extracts of correspondence that Colonel Shervinton has had with the French whilst in England last year, and In which be proposed to bjfcray Madagascar to France. These people are trying to per- . saade the Government that there 1b no | chance of the French succeeding in reach- I I log the capital, and advocating a policy of | Inaction. They pub spearameu on an equality with riflemen armed with Lebel rifles, and when they are sober spend their time in designing bastianed fronts from Vanban'a third system!" Tbis probably explains a cable message re-, celved a few days ago, which stutod that the Malagasy wero " secretly •' suing for peace. That no doubt covers au Intrigue of the French party. Mr Knight says that one of the divisions of the Malagasy army waß under a son of the .Prime Minister, kaowu to have French leanings, and he accepted bribes from the mon to free them from military service, and thousands had returned to their homes. Others deeerted without the preliminary of a bribe. It was tbis disorganisation and treachery which disgusted Colonel Sbervintou and his staff, and caused them to resign. "Ib was current gossip at the capital last March," adds Mr Knight, "thnb the Prime Minister bad not darod to notify to tbe Queen in the usual way the step token by tbe European officers. She, however, knows of It from private sources. Tbe high Malagasy ofliaejs urn dolightpr!, ud they will now hftva every opportunity of robbing their men without fear of consequences, whiob could not hive happened had tuero been Europeans at the head of affairs. The Prime Minister h/pes that thore may be a change in Colonel Shervloton's attitude,

iud that ha will remain. This, however, ! m impossible. The opportunity for •ffeotnally ohecklDg tte French hais gone by, and a nnmber of Eatopean cilicera have already left. The others are only waiting to settle occonnts with ths Government. The people aro veiy sorry to see them go, but are powerless to prevent It.. No newa la allowed Into the palace except what may snlt the French party." Practically the only opposition to the French advance has been the difficulty of transit and the unhealthy climate of the forest bolt they have to pass tbronfib, and If the former difficulty can be surmounted Ihoie seems no lensou why the prediction of the French officials should not be fulfilled.