The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1902-10-25
BRITISH IN REGULAR TRAP.
A British Officer in Romaliland
Writes a Discouraging
Letter Home.
HOPES FRESH TROOPS ARE COMING.
They Have No Supplies, Nearly No
Ammunition, Little Water, Cam
els Nearly All Dead, and the
Blacks are "Flunking"-TrOOps
Ordered from Central India.

London, Oct. ga letter from an
officer belonging to the Southland
expedition, received here, shows that
the British force is even in a more
precarious position than has been
indicated in the official dispatches.
The writer says: "No one will appre-
ciate this business until it is too late.
We are in regular trap and how we
are going to get out we do not know.
We have had stitiish fights, and have
lost many men. The worst is that our
blacks are nunking, and our camels
have nearly all been killed or cap
tured. We have next to no water,
and we are miles from any wells. We
have no supplies, and nearly no am
munition. They have captured two
of our Maxms. / do not suppose
they care at home what happens to
us. 1t is a brutal shame to send us
blind into an ambush like this. /
hear fresh troops are coming up, and
only hope they will come from India"
The writer refers incidentally to
some brisk fights which he apparently
presumes were already known Of
here, and adds: "Thirty-three Of us
escaped. BY jove, that was a pretty
affair, We whites stood out, but
oh, well, we have too many blacks"
Troops Ordered from Central India.
Simla, India, Oct. 22.-The Second,
Bombay grenadiers, stationed at
Mhow Central India, have been Or
dered to Somaliland. Other troops
will probably follow.
The whole territory Of Somaliland
may be said tobe held in disputed pos
session. Originally annexed by Egypt
In 1875, the greater part of the North
ern Horn-as the territory Is called
from its geographical position on the
coast line-came under British pro-
lection in 1884. Menelik OF Abyssinia,
France, and Italy all lay claim TO var
ious spheres Of influence" and long
and intricate negotiations dclimiting
boundaries have led to several treaties
with these powers.
Mohammedans by religion, the
Somalis are n strangely-mixed tribe,
having great deal Of Arab with not
little of negro in their blood.
Though akin TO the Philippians they
have little In common with their
neighbors, and religious wars have
been inccssant. Since tho downfall
of mnhdsm and the capture Of the
khalfa the Samali territory has con-
stantly been raided by armed bands
OF the khalifa's dervish followers,
who, driven out OF the Soudan, have
wandered south and east TO elude pur-
suit, and have so far infected the
nomadic tribes as 10 caure vast terri
tories to be given over TO utter an
archy.
The mullah's followers believe In him
implicitly ms prophet lie Is said Ia
work upon their prophet. He Ii said
TO work upon their credulity In many
shrewd ways. A story Is told that
once while with party Of his fol-
lowers on the African coast British
cruisers, which were near by, began
throwing their search lights. These.
the mullah told his followers, were
mysterious signs from Heaven. II was
easy to persuade African natives OF
the truth Of such proposition.
Mullnh IL u term used In Afghnnis-
tan to describe the ordinary village
priest. lie has not, M n rule, been to
the university at BoRhara or Cairo,
but he has studied with some priest
who, nfter teaching him nll he knows,
sends him on to another who is more
learned In the law Finally the candi-
date passes an examination and Is ad.
mitted to the ministry. II he be de-
sirous TO surpnss the common herd
md become n saint he joins some Or
der Of fakirs and spends long years In
meditation and prayers, as the pres
ent mad mulloh has done.
The expedition under Col. swayne,
which recently met defeat at tho
hands Of Mad Mullnh, comprised some
10000 troops-friendlies and Indians
under the command Of Col. Swayne.
the wct.known explorer Of Somali-