Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-10-26
BOUND TO GIVE BRITISH MUCH TROUBLE
Two Hundred Miles Of Desert Between Coast
and Scene of Operations.
HAS FIFTEEN THOUSAND FIGHTING MEN
Emperor of Aoyssinia Asked to Join in tie
War Against Him.
AID WOULD Be ACCEPTABLE lust NOW
Probability the Invitation May BE
Accepted, as MuIlah Has Free
auentIy RaIded the Terri
tory of AbyssiniR.


Copyright. 1902, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON. Oct. 25.-(New York World Ca
begram-special Telegram )-The Mad
Mullah, against whom another punitive ex-
peditlon Of British troops is about to be
started in Somaliland, in northeast Africa,
has long been an object Of suspicion by
the War once. He and his followers have
opposed the development OF the interior
OF Soma liland and have constantly stirred
up strife by raiding and looting tribes
which were under British protection. Early
last spring he raided tribes within eighteen
miles Of Burao. and this, despite the pres
ence Of a British garrison, which was pow
etless to effect anything against the Null
lah's rapidly moving force.
This naturally increased the admiration
of his followers for him, and Colonel
swayne's punitive expedition, made up Of
natives under British officers. was started
out to scatter his forces. This expedition
was defeated a few days ago. and for a
time 1t was feared that It would be anni-
hilated. But it has reached safety, and
all the British wounded are reported to be
doing we'll General Manning arrived at
Alden this week and at once began to rush
trained Indian troops to somaliland. II lie
believed the Mad Mullah has q force of
from 10, 900 10 5000 men, many Of whom
are well armed and mounted.
Ask Abyssinia 60 Help.
The British cannot promptly put any
thing like as large force as that in the
field there, but expect to send there a
brigade 5000 or 1000 men) Of troops from
India. 1t is understood that the govern
ment will ask the negus (emperor) OF
Abyssinia to send a force against the
fanatics from the west. as he did once
before with great effect. II the negul
consents he will send an army out under
Ras MRkonnen, the commander in chief o
the Abyssinian army. Ras Makonnen came
TO London for the coronation as the repre-
sentative OF the negus, and seemed TO b
30 well pleased with England and Kinl
fdwardis -hospitelity that It is thought hs
willingly would head force TO help crush
the fanatics.
The "MuIlah" has been preaching thu
Jehad, or ''Eioly War" and has thus gained
considerable following of Moslems
erazed with religious fervor. BY hi
preaching he has gained such an iniuenc
over the tribesmen that he has been pro
claimed mahdi by the Mussulmans and i'm
mediately started a Mohammedan upris
ing.
Numerous mad" mullahs have bee,
heard from in the last decade. the mos
prominent one hitherto being the warrio
in Afghanistan. A mullah is Moham
medan priest or prophet and a particular
fanatical one easily acquires the title O
''mad" mullah.
Something of . Man.
The mad" mullah operating in Somali
land is known to his followers as Ha.
Muhammad Abdullah and belongs to tn
Habr sueliman ogaden tribe. He Marie
Into the Dolbahanta Ali Gheri, among whor
he now lives at Kob Fardode, a village in
habited by mullahs, a days march east
Kerritt and about 10 miles from Berbers
Somali. He is a man in the prime {
life. dark colored. tall and thin and has
small goats beard. He has made severs
pilgrimages to Mecca and while there al
tacheo himself to the sect Of Muhamma
Salill. whose deputy he claims to be
Southland. The sect was established
6omAliland about twelve years ago an
teaches more regularity in the hour
prayer. stricter attention 10 the forms
religion and the interdiction Of kat, lie,
the Arabs and Somalis are much addlcte
TO chewing because OF its intoxicating prof.
critics. This mullah is Of humble origi
but gifted with considerable intelligen,
and cunning. He claims TO have been con
manded to preach the Jehad through d
vine inspiration. During the time he Wi
melting his followers to rebellion again
the British authority they demanded
him some evidence OF his miraculol
power Having the night before seen
warship flashing its searchlights, he sun
moned his followers TO the beach the 70
lowing night and. fortunately for him, Il
Warship flashed its searohlight over Il
shore, Illuminating the country for
great distance. The mullah at once DIT
claimed It as testimony sent direct fro
Mohammed from Mecca. This so Impress
the tribesmen that they will follow 4
mnllsh blindly anywhere.
COiOred Rice a. a Charm.
He has distributed among his foliowe
pink-eoiored rice. which he has assur
them so long as they tight in the "Ho
War" will render their persons and hors
invulnerable against the bullets OF Z
inhdels. He is a past master in intrig
and by promises and gifts and by arran
ing marriages between his followers a
other tribes has gained a considerable Z,
lowing
The Mad Mullah" is a mesmerist Of
mcau poWNI anu one OF MS reNlNl
At his principal village in Somaliiand 7
one Of the leading chiefs in e trance.
asked the man what he saw
Il see the hills around crowned VI
true believers and the hosts OF heav
with them" replied the unconscious chi
Down below are Sahibs, some dead on
ground, others being ALLOWED and slain
the followers Of Mohammed. In the d
tance Topkhana are coming. but they I
and all the inndels are dead and dying
Believing the British were afraid
him, the Mad Mullah" and self-sty
mahdi began plundering and raiding
British. Italian and Abyssinian protects
Ases about somaliland. The Italian Z
Abyssian foreign ofiees complained q
the Mad Mullah" who was living
British territory. attacked merchants
villages In their zones and then retrea
back 10 British Somaliland.
The dinnculties which will confront
large force organised by General Mann