The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-19
British Forces Are Lost in Somali.
land and May Be Surrounded
by Fanatics.
No News Has Come From General
Manning or Colonel Cobbe
for Three Weeks.
War Office Knows Nothing Of Their
Observation-Disclosures
Leave Alden.

London, June IA British army is
lost In Somaliland. For three weeks
nothing has been heard from General
Manning or Colonel Cobbe, both of whom
are In command Of large forces, and the
gravest apprehension is felt for their safe
ty. 1t is not even known whether they
have succeeded in joining forces, and in
telligence of their movements is long
overdue.
From Alden come disquieting reports
that the British have been surrounded
and are in danger of determination by
the followers Of the Mad Mullah, If that
disaster has not already overtaken them
1t Is known that a force of 1,400 Ably
sinnians has gone to the British relief,
but whether or not they arrived In time,
or whether their assistance could avail
against the fanatics, is a serious ques-
ton.
The Mad Mullah's forces are we'll armed
and past experience has shown that they
are no mean antagonists. A few weeks
ago they wiped out British square, but
that disaster was trivial compared to the
one that is now feared.
War Office Knows Little.
In the house of commons yesterday,
Secretary Broderick was interrogated on
the subject of the Somaliand operations.
but could give little information. He said
that General Manning had presumably
Joined forces with Colonel Cobbe, but adj
mitted that the war office really knew
nothing about it. General Manning, he
said, had not asked for achievements,
but the government had ordered $500
camels from India to Alden, whence they
We're to be shipped for his use.
Unofficial dispatches from Alden state
that three companies Of British infantry
and four companies Of Indian infantry
will start for Somaliland to-day. Mounted
infantry are en- route from India, and the
force for renewing the campaign will
shortly amount to 800 British, 1000 In
dams and 1000 natives. Meanwhile 94O0,-
900 of the 6 5000 600 voted for the original
expedition has been spent without any
apparent result of Importance.
The MuIIah's Tactics. ts..
Striking when he is least expected, elud-
ing his pursuers with a sWiftness that
laughs at capture, never risking a. battle
unless the advantage is all on his side
these are the tactics Of the Mad Muilah,
the De Wet of the desert. In four years
he has raised a following which numbers
tens Of thousands. He has administered
crushing defeats to British detachnents
sent out against him, while His foes have
never won more than partial victory.
The Mad Mullah's name is Halt Mu-
manned Abdullah. A haji Is one who has
made the haj or pilgrimage to Mecca, a
journey which the Mullah has taken three
times Muhammed Is the name of the
prophet and Abdullah means Servant of
God" He was educated to be mullah
or priest. At one time he was friendly to
the British, but his hatred of Christians
was aroused to a fanatical extent by find
irfg some French missionaries in Somali-
land trying to bring up children In the
Catholic faith. He commenced preaching
in Alden, where he attracted a great deal
of attention among the faithful. A little
later his actions were reported to the
British government, and he was ordered
to leave.
He retired to Somaland, to the inland
desert known as the Haud Once safe in
this arid waste, he proclaimed jehad, or
holy war, against the Christians, and
started a series of raids on the neighbor-
ing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, British and
Italian Somaliland =.
The Mullah is a typical eastern dema-
gogue, fierce and fanatfcal. Discomfort
against Christian interference with their
religion and the aggression of European
nations are the texts upon which this des-
ert Demosthenes arouseS his fierce hordes
to action ....
The MuIIah's Personality.
He is in the prime of life, tall and spare,
and his face, with it's African molding
shows strength, ferocity and virility. He
wears a small goatee. In spite of his low
birth he has found it possible to rise on
account of his power as an orator. Sin
character, he has played upon the super
stition Of his followers until they look upon
him as the earthly representative Of the
prophet.
He has worked what seemed to his fol-
lowers to be miracles. One night British
warship off the Somali coast was playing
her searchlight upon the land. AS the
Mulah's adherents beheld the CLEAN Of the
new star they appealed to their leader to
explain the phenomenon.
The Mullah had seen searchlights in
Alden. -
1T Is the eye of Allah searching for me.
the new Mahomet' he said
At this moment the weird rays flooded
the camp of the raiders. The blacks fell
on their faces, crying to the Mullah:
Thou are truly the Elect, the Chosen,
the Master. We place ourselves entirely
at the disposition Of thy WILL"