THE COLONIST Published Daily—Mornings. Nelson, Tuesday, May 28, 1895. FRANCE AND. MADAGASCAR.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8259, 28 May 1895, Page 2

THE COLONIST Published Daily — Mornings. Nelson, Tuesday, May 28, 1895. FRANCE AND. MADAGASCAR.

It does not appear that, with all the precautions taken, the army of the Great European Republic is so easily accomplishing its mission of subjugating the people of Madagascar as might have been expected, for the deadly fever, which infests the coast and the forests of the island, is proving a terrible foe, judging by late information through the cable, which stated that "fever is raging among the French troops in Madagascar." Naturally the question arises as to the cause which is actuating France in its desire to become possessed of Madagascar. The object in view has been declared to be the establishment of a promising colony, although there has been an admission that France is unable to colonise. Some years ago the French made an attempt to subjugate the inhabitants of the Island, but the struggle ended in an acknowledgment of the supremacy of the Hovas, although a small slice of territory on the Bay of Diego Suarez was ceded to the French for a military station, and some other minor rights were acknowledged. On the strength of this, France professed that she had obtained a protectorate over Madagascar, and her claim was acknowledged by Great Britain. There was subsequently a complaint by the Hovas that the French were assuming an overbearing attitude, and that was objected to, but a growing desire to seize the Island hae been manifest. About a year ago Prince Henry of Orleans visited Madagascar, and he issued a manifesto declaring that the annexation of Madagascar was imperative, and in which he urged that the capital of " the barbarians" should be seized, and a gorgeous colony founded. He pointed out, moreover, the way in which the country should be attacked. The desire to establish a "gorgeous colony " has evidently taken a firm hold of the French people, and on the departure of troops from Marseilles for Madagascar the town was profusely decorated. The whole town turned out to cheer the soldiers ; bouquets were presented the officers by ladies, and generally the demonstration was of a nature that would have befitted a noble national undertaking rather than an attempt to overwhelm "barbarians." It is rather strange to read, too, that whilst the French were greatly incensed at the fact that Volunteers from the Oape, presumably Englishmen, had shown a desire to aid the Hovas, and were prepared to fight as mercenaries, the invaders of Madagascar not only secured the aid of Arabs who swore allegiance to the invaders, but they raised no objection, so far as we have heard, when it was announced that Dr. Douriaschine and 800 .Russian Volunteers had proceeded to aid the French to overcome these "barbarians." All those having experience of the Island had given warning of an extreme danger which the troops would have to face. Not merely was it needful for the French soldiers to face the rifles and Maxim guns of the Hovas, for a more insidious foe was ready to encompass them in the deadly fever of the country. On General Duchesne assuming command of the Madagascar expedition he issued a proclamation that was almost ridiculed by the ' London Times,' as partaking more of the tone of a doctor than a general. He urged the scrupulous observance of the rules of cleanliness and health, and indicated that he! [Should regard the troop with fewest i on the sick list as the best com-l

manded. Evidently the French general was not ignorant as to his most dangerous foe. On the other hand the Hovas have depended mainly upon pestilence as their protector, and should this dreadful ally be overcome the French will apparently score victory. So far, however, France has been unfortunate. She chartered British ships, one of which at least met with mishap, to convey munitions of war, and this action called forth an expression of discontent in the French Chamber. The dignity of the RepUb* lie was touched, but the explanation that the British ships had been engaged in order to save time seemed to pacify those headstrong spoliators of barbarians, who weie eager to secure a gorgeous colony. In England objection Was taken to permitting British owned ships engaging in such a mission, and the matter was called attention to in the House, but oh behalf of the Government it was declared that, under the circumstances, there was nothing to disturb the neutral position taken up the United Kingdom. The action of France has caused a flutter in the ranks of the London Missionary Society, the members of which speak of the great results attained in the Madagascar missions as the most remarkable of the Society's achievments, but the friends of missions were urged to pray, and not to agitate. It was stated that the upper classes, at any rate, hated and dreaded the idea of a French protectorate. A powerful appeal was made in the columns of ' The Times * by Mr Kenelin Yaughan, who Wrote : " The motive inciting France to make war on the Malagasy nation is not only the folly of revenge, but an ingovernable thirst for new colonial possessions. A war actuated by such motives," he adds, "surely is illicit." He concluded : " But the Hovas, while looking to God, look also to England for help in this their terrible hour of trial. England has ever maintained the principle of liberty and sided with the oppressed and the downtrodden, whether they were Poles or Syrians, Armenians or Bulgarians, Jews or Gentiles. It is for politicians to devise ways and nieaus to prevent so terrible a war." To suppose that England, which has seized so many countries, could object to France following in the same line, was to imagine the impossible ; but the fact that fever is raging amongst the fifteen thousand French troops in the Island indicates that the Hovas have a grim but powerful ally.