The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-27

kOPAUL'S SULTAN WENT TO WAR
Ii Was the Way other suItans Have
Gone to War since. and WfII Go.

Gone to War since, and VIII Go.
From James jeffrey Roches Book Her
Majesty the King"
When the mighty Sultan of Kopaul heard
of the straits into which his son-in-law
was driven, he lost no time In beginning
to get ready to prepare TO fly, metaphor
ically speaking, to his assistance. Age had
somewhat chilled the ardor of his blood.
and in this sudden crisis he sorely missed
the counsels of his lamented spouse. Pap
rikah, from whom the wise Kayenna had
inherited her rare frmness of character. In
the course of many years of conjugal con-
troversy he had learned to respect her
vigorous intellect and fiuency of express
sion; but, after her melancholy loss, he
seemed to lack in some degree the promp-
titude of action in emergency which had
been SO conspicuous a feature of his gov
eminent during her lifetime For this lack
he made up by a fecundity and loudness
of speech which impressed all who had not
the happiness of has intimate acquaintance.
With him, as he was wont to say. II was
"a word and a blow" His critics sneered
that the terms were synonymous. but they
did not understand the latent resources of
the old warrior.
When the time for action came. he dis
played his ability in way that surprised
them and all the world In order not to be
embarrassed by the presence OF profess
ional soldiers, who are ever an annoyance
to an administration, he permitted a thou
sand of his veterans to proceed at once
with Ben Zion to the scene of action, and
sal himself tn the serious uorl
of planning a great and glorious campaign,
summonng for the purpose his minister of
war, in whom he had the highest conf
dence.
Between them the formulated martial
policy which had the unique distinction of
being alike agreeable to themselves, to the
army contractors, and even to the enemy.
Some old-fogy soldiers, 1t is true, objected
TO it on the last ground, but, as most Of
them died under its operation, their voices
were not long heard.
A board of strategy, composed of emil
nent individuals who, having no expert
ence, could have no prejudiees i'm military
affairs, resolved on line of action unpre-
cedented In warfare. Three corps were
modified and dispatched, after due de-
liberation, 10 the scene of hostilities. The
first consisted of raw ievies, hastily orga-
nized, but ably offcered by friends and
distinguished themselves either by politi-
cal services or by meritorious consangulni-
ty. The latter were, so to speak, born
soldiers
This first corps was sent to the front by
a special caravan. Their arms and am
munition were forwarded, some time later
by a separate route. A third caravan fol-
lowing yet another line of march, trans
ported the food, tents, forage and medical
supplies.
BY this ingenious arrangement the board
of strategy had reason to trust that all
three caravans might reach their destina-
ton In safety and good condition for eff
fective work. divide and conquer" was
the motto If the soldiers should be cap
tured Il was reasoned their capture
would be of no value to the enemy with
out the arms, provisions, and so forth,
as would also the capture of the latter
without the former
Certain conservative persons, having
stake in the country, suggested that Il
would be more prudent TO keep the am
munition and commissariat trains at home
until after the arrival of the troops at the
front, so that nothing more valuable than
lives might be lost in case of disaster;
but there are captous people who will
criticise the wsest works of man, even
historical works of the most transcendent
mer1I, WHICH u ilOutNA dutuOi may HOt
name. The board of strategy, having a
more than official interest In army con-
tracts. disregarded such criticisms, saying,
properly enough, that II were better to
lose material which could be replaced, at
government expense, than to hazard the
prospects Of future contracts. Wherein
they showed a commendable forethought
and put to shame their censors, who did
not hold any contracts, present or pros
pective.
The sultan had great confidence also in
the reserves composed of various military
and civil organizations distinguished for
the splendor OF their uniforms and the
righteousness of their patriotism in time
of peace AS 1t happened, their reserve
was so pronounced and shrinking in its
character that 1t kepf them from thrusting
themselves TO the front in time of war.
Patriotic orders, which had vowed to die
for their country when the dread order
came, but, on the contrary, with forth
tude unequaled In history, chose the most
lingering death that a patriot might suf-
fer. and voted unanimously to die Of cid
age for the land which they loved so well
and so wisely. For as they truly said;
The ignorant soldier goes and dies for his
country. and thereby ends his usefulness
to the country; but we who stay at home
live to devote ourselves to the country's
service In any capacity, however lucra-
tive Bismillan they were wise in their
generation.
So it was that the mighty sultan Of Ko-
paul went to war vlcariously. as all good
sovereigns do, and when II was over,
asked for no greater reward than sea-
port and coaling station In the Sahara,
where there was no sea, and where a coal
ing station was as superfiuous as 1t would
be in Gehenna. Ensued to his country
much glory and a pension list, which vas
the wonder and envy of the world; for. al
though the glory was evanescent, the PEN
sion list endured for generations, and the
seaport and coallng station served TO 'ex-
lend the sphere Of Kopaulian influence"
and thus distribute the burden Of taxes,
even as a prudent merchant on the brink
of bankruptcy enlarges the number and
amount Of his Obligations on the princi-
Die that in numbers there is safety.
NNfth EaIga Teeth