The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-15
The Egyptian Soldier.
Course of Training which Makes Him
"a Natural Coward.
IN. Y. Evening POST


How the Egyptian soldier acquired his
phenomenal non-fghting qualities is well
told by Mr.. Mackenzie Wallace In his recent
volume on Egypt and the Egyptian ques-
ton. To begin at the beginning, the fellah
is brought up on the kar5ash (stick)- in the
same way shat some infants are brought up
on the bottle, with the difference that the
ieilah always remains an infant, and the
stick is always in near proximity 10 his bare
back or the soles of his fee. Whatever the
Government wants of him, whether taxes or
military serviee-and it never manifests IT.
self to him in any other light-the first indi-
cation of lite needs is disclosed to his appre-
heislon by the kurbash.
The method of recruiting for the army is
simple. The village sheik gives the names
of certain number of men to the local po-
lice, who 60 to the novels of the luckless fell
laheen and drive them into the street, put
iron collars or yokes around their necks, fas-
ten the several collars together by a chain,
and drive them, IS cattle are driven in other
countries, to the prison, to be examined by
the medical officers. "a stranger saws
Mr.. Wallace, when stopping in a quiet viii
lage, which he naturally supposes to be the
abode of perpetual undisturbed ira nquillity,
may be suddenly awakened at night 10y vi
olent alteration outside, which begins 10y
gruff, bass male voices, and eliminates in
shrlll historical falsetto tones, resembling
the unmusical, plaintive howlings of the pro-
fessional walters at a native funeral. The
first time he is so disturbed he probably as
sumes that it is a case of burglary or man
slaughter, and rushes out with the lauda-
Die purpose OF supporting vigorously the
party OF law and order; but he finds, to his
disappointment, that IL is nothing more seri-
GUS than the capturing of recruit for the
army; and though it may be quite true, as
the women TREMENDOUSLY declare, that the vii
lage sheikh, in making the choice of his VIC
tim, has been Influenced by considerations
OF 6dkSheesh, the arguments adduced pro
and con involve such contradictory state
ments of fact, and such complicated consid-
erations of law and morals, that he will
probably, as stranger, not feel justified in
interfering with the action of the legally
constituted authorities. The great majority
OF the recruits endeavor to prove by wordy
arguments, solemn asseverations, expressive
gestures, and revolving contertions that they
are totally unfit for military service; and
when arguments fail, importunate entreat-
les, heart rending appeals, or indignant pro-
tests are employed. In vain the police, with
the aid of their sticks and switches, endeav-
or to keep order and impose silence; the
more obstinant persistently break from the
ranks and have to be kept in their places by
force. Those who have no glazing corporal
defect, and who have not succeeded in pri-
vately conciliating the medical officer or the
military officers, are marched of, - etc.
Once in the army the recruit is given up
for dead by all his friends. His term of
service is fixed by the will of the Govern
mtnt, and if he survives the harsh treat
ment of his officers and the casualties of
war until old age, he is turned out almost
pensicaess, to be a burden upon relatives
who have forgotten him, and who have
scarcely enough for their own support It is
no wonder, with such prospects before them
that those liable TO CONSUMPTION mutilate
themselves by cutting off the right forefinger
and putting out the light eye. The practice
was so common in the time OF Mehemet Ali
that that enlightened prince formed battal-
ions OF one-eyed men and sent them into
battle with Turkish bashi-bazouks and ar
tillery behind them with orders to shoot
down every man who attempted to run away.
This plan for infuslng courage into the SOL
diery his been tried so often that it has
ceased to have any effect The felah would
as lief be shot by the enemy in his rear as
by the one in 'front.' By nature the most
submissive of all male creatures, the fellah
never shows signs of disobedience until
brought into the neighborhood of the enc
N.Y. He then braves any danger from his
superiors in order to get out of bullet range.
Whole regiments have been known to mutt
ny, murder their officers and disband when
within days march of the opposing force.
The naturally peaceful disposition of the
Egyptian soldier has been cultivated by the
system which Mr.. Wallace describes until he
has reached the very pinnacle of timidity.
There are no extremes of cowsrdice for him
to conquer. He has surmounted them ALL