The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1898. THE FASHODA INCIDENT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume VI, Issue 709, 14 October 1898, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1898. THE FASHODA INCIDENT.

The dispute over the ownership of Faslioda lias, it will probably be found, passed its most acute stage, with a result satisfactory to Britain. There is still, however, being adopted by both France and Britain a sparring attitude that may nettle one or other of the nations into something more than menaces. France is endeavoring to get behind the British declaration in 1895 that the occupation of Faslioda by the French would be regarded as an unfriendly act, by a note which says that French claims preceded both that statement and the dispute which produced it. The British reply is one not of words but of action. The Channel squadron, provisioned for six months, has been ordered to ciuise in the Mediterranean, returning to England at Christmas. This probably indicates the determination of Britain to strike the first blow and make it a deadly one in the eveut of France deciding to refer the Faslioda quarrel to the arbitrament of war. The demonstration will in all probability cause the latter nation to forego her claims to Fashoda. Though the Ministry would probably welcome a war as being likely to remove the public attention from their own delinquencies, the nation is not prepared for a struggle, and there is now no ally that could be depended on to take sides against Britain. It is only a short time since Russia plainly intimated to her then ally that the partnership was off, and that henceforth Russian assistance could not be reckoned on in the furtherance of French designs. Besides Russia is sufficiently engaged at present in playing her hand in China and in keeping a watchful eye on the progress of Kaiser Wilhelm’s pilgrimage through the Holy Land, where she is apprehensive of German interference with the adherents of the Greek Church. Germany, apparently, has an understanding witli Britain in regard to Egypt and South Africa, which deprives France of a former associate in her hatred of perfidious Albion. France, consequently, will not dare risk a singlehanded encounter with her island neighbour, whose naval demonstration in the Mediterranean will very likely lead to a speedy withdrawal of what must be regarded as outrageous demands. [To-day’s cables iudicate that France is seeking a pretext to back down.]