Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-10
ASSISTING ::SAvAGES
White Renegades Against
Civilized Powers.
IN MODERN 9 WARFARE
AN AUSTRIAN WHO FIGHTS FOR
THE MAD MULLAH.
Strange Story Of Osman Digna-A
French Traitors
Dream.

In nearly every war made upon savage
tribes today by civilized powers the savages
are assisted by white men who have be-
come traitors to civilization. Such rene
gades are scattered in all the remote cor
ners Of the earth. and the stress of battle
always brings them to the forefront.
The British troops campaigning In Soma
hland are learning to their cost that the
Mad Mullah Is assisted by white man
thoroughly familiar with the art of modern
warfare His name is Karl niger. He was
an officer in the Austrian army until year
or two ago.
An English officer-Captain Thorp Of the
Yorkshire Light Infantry-who knew him in
Rudapesth. speaks of Inger as an exception
ally brilliant soldier, with a natural gift for
tactics and for commanding men. He used
to speak bitterly against the English in So
cial circles in Budapesth and was fond of
expressing sympathy for native races in
their struggles with civilization. He would
rail by the hour against the treatment of
the Indians in the United States, of the
Kaff1rs in South Africa and of the Hindoos
in India.
He disappeared from Budapesth shortly
before the outbreak in Somaliland and his
acquaintances were not surprised to hear
that he was fighting as a lieutenant of the
Mad Mullah. Native spies reported that he
adopted the Mahomedan religion in Cairo
and was taken to the Mullah's camp
through italian Somaliland by some Arab
pilgrims whom he met in Cairo on their re-
turn from Mecca. 1t Is asserted that he had
much to do with stirring up the recent war
and persuading the Mad Mullah to defy the
British.
Curiously enough. his old acquaintance
Capt. Thorp, has been seconded from his
regiment and attached to the Somaliland
field force special service officer. Thus
they may meet face to face in battle. In
that case one or the other is likely to "go
under'-for Capt. Thorp. in common with
the other officers of the British force, has
vowed to risk the uttermost peril to slay
this traitor to civilization, who Is held re-
sponsible for the terrible cutting-up of Col
Swayne's expedition some months ago.
In British military circles 1t Is said that
Lord Lansdowne. the British foreign min
lister, confidentially asked the Austrian gov
eminent whether it was true that Inger
had Joined the Mullah. The Austrian gov
eminent replied that there was reason to
believe he had, and added hope that If he
was caught he would he shown no mercy
That was rather superfiuous. The British
officers are not likely to allow him much
time to say his prayers. But they will first
have to catch their hare. and by all ac-
counts that seems to be a hard job.
1nger appears to be gifted with the quail
tiles that impress the savage mind. He is
skillful in planning ambushes and strata
gems. and is the bravest of the brave in the
heat Of battle. Over and over again he has
been seen In the forefront Of the Mullah's
forces, and many times his weight in lead
has been fired at him, but he seems to bear
a charmed life. r-
He is exceedingly valuable to the Mullah
because, knowing the, effects of rife and
Maxim fire. he prevents. the Somalis from
madly facing it and being moved down like
corn, as the Dervishes were at Omdurman.
He takes care that they shall fight the
British troops in the jungle under condi-
tons which makes the superior arms Of the
latter ineffective. British officers say that
the trouble in Somaliland would have been
over long ago but for Karl 1nger. If he
were caught by native troops uncontrolled
by an officer he would probably die by slow
torture. A Zanzibar spy who has pene-
trated to the Mullah's camp asserts that
Inger has made up his mind to shoot him
self rather than be captured.
The De Wet Of the Soudan.
Another renegade from civilization-and
one of the most notorious-is Osman D.gna.
the De Wet of the Soudan. He was the
right-hand man Of the Mahdi and after
ward of the Khalifa. Ever since 1882 he
has been thorn in the side OF the British
For many years he was supposed to be an
Arab chieftafn, but Slatin Pasha found out
that he is white man, born of Scott sh
parents in Cairo.
1t is said that he was in the employment
of the government of Egypt in his youth
but was cashiered for theft and blackmail
on the complaints Of some European mer-
chants in Cairo. Burning for revenge, he
went south and Joined the Mahdi immedt-
ately the latter raised the standard of re-
volt against Egypt in 1852 He soon be-
came know as the best general of the Der
wishes, inflicting defeat after defeat on the
British and Egyptian troops. massacr.ng
whole armies. capturing cities and deyas-
a hun nf mil oF
There was never a more relentless warrior
He took no prisoners. spared no neutrals
Wherever his swift cavalry and camel corps
went they left trail of desolation behind
them
Ceaseless efforts were made to capture
or kill Osman Digna, but all without sue
cess. former captive in the camp of the
Khalifa says that an Abyssinian whom he
had injured stabbed Osman violently over
the heart. The knife broke in two. but
Osman was uninjured Naturally the igno-
rant Dervishes thought he was invulnerable
The simple explanation is that he wore a
coat of very fine chain armor under his
burnouse
A British officer recently told how he
fought in hand Ito hand combat with Osman
when the Dervishes broke the British
square at Tel-el-Kebir.
II got thrust with my sword right home
on his chest" said the officer, land it
should have gone through him, but his
COMPOUNDED chain armor turned the point
of the weapon. A rush of the Dervishes
then swept US apart l remember him as
very tall and powerful man, with a most
ferocious expression. He fought ike q
mailman. HIS skin is tanned brown by the
sun, but he looks like whitepman and I
noticed that his eyes are light blue"
A Plotter for War.
When the power of the Khalifa was utter
ly broken at Omdurmanin 1893 Osman Dig
ma escaped the great slaughter of the
Deryish rout riding OF the field xv,th ,
small body Of picked hersemen before the
battle was over. Lord Kitchener was bit
terly disappointed and sent expedition after
expedition in pursuit Of him. Most of his
comrades. including the Khalifa, were cap
He Is now dwelling with the Mabas. q
Mohammedan negro race who are the rul-
ing tribe in the kingdom Of Wadai
Natives assert that soon after Osman
found refuge there he conspired with Abu
Said. a son Of the former King Of Wadai,
to assassinate the reigdng king. The con-
spiracy was successful Abq Said now rules
over Wadai. with Osman as his prime min
lister. They are supported by hordes of the
finest and most fanatical fighting men in