The news of the outbreak in Northern Nigeria, in which
three British officers lost their lives, is unfortunately con- firmed by a telegram from Sir Frederick Lugard, dated February 23rd. Major Burdon, the Resident in Sokoto, reports that the garrison is safe, and that the local chiefs are co-operating loyally in suppressing the rising. Information is still very scanty, but the cause seems to have been a move- ment of fanaticism from the north, which involved also certain disturbances in French territory. A force has been de- spatched from Lagoa by the Governor of Southern Nigeria, which will relieve the forces at Lokoja and Zungern for active service. So far there seems no danger of the movement spreading, but the incident shows by what a slender chain we hold our vast Nigerian territory. The small and isolated out- posts of Englishmen are absolutely dependent upon the loyalty of the surrounding natives, and any relieving expedi- tion from the south must take weeks to arrive. No great territory, we suppose, was ever administered so far from a base, for the Niger is a doubtful channel of transport, and as yet there are no through railways. Happily it is a risk which our people are only too ready to face, and in the main their daring is amply justified by results.
