The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-28
MAD AOLLhB AS
HE FIGHTS
Pen Picture of the De Wet of
the Desert
HE WORKS MIRACLES
His Success and Its Solid
Foundation
HE WORKS MIRACLES

side-thee are the tactics of the Mad
Alul,ah. the De- Wet OF the desert IN
-FOUR wears he has raised a following
Y hich numbers tens OF thousands, says
The New York Press. He had admins
tered crushing defeats to British detaeh-
ments sent out against him, while his
Toes have never won more than partial
victory. Prime Minister Baifour is
quoted as saying that the operations
against the Mullah have COST the govern
uent far more in money than the Fene-
zuelan affair
The Mad Mullah's name is Hail Mu-
manned Abdullah. a haU is one who
has made the hal or pilgrimage to Nee
ca. a Journey which the Mullah has taken
three times Muhammed is the name OF
the prophet and Abdullah means ser
want OF Coz He was educated to be
q rnullah or priest. At one time ne was
friendly to the British, but his hatred
OF Christians was aroused to fanaucal
extent by finding some French mission
tries in Somaliland trying to bring up
children in the Catholic faith He COM
nenced preaching in Alden, where he at
tracted a great deal Of attention among
the faithful. A little later his actions
were reported to theBritish Government,
and he was ordered to leave
He retired to Somaliland to the inland
desert known as the Hand. 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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS British and It
allan Samaliland-
The Mulah is a typical Eastern dema-
gogue fierce and fanaticai. His field is
the Kansas of Africa. Discomfort against
Christian interference with their religion
end the aggression of European nations
are the texts upon which this desert
Demosthenes arouses his fierce hordes to
action
lie Is in the prime OF life. tall and spare
and his face with its 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.
Sincere in the belief that he is semi divine
So character. he has played upon the su-
perstition Of his followers until they look
upon him as the earthly representative of
tho Prophet.
He has worked what seemed TO his fol-
lowers TO be miracles. one night a British
warship off the Somali coast was playing
her searchlsht upon the land. As the
Munah's adherents behold the glelm of
the new star they appealed TO their leader
10 explain the phenomena.
The MuIlah hid seen searchlights
in Alden
1T is the eye of Allah searching for
me e.. the new Mohammet" ne SAID.
At this moment the weird rays flooded
the camp Of the raiders The blacks fell
on their faces. crying for the Mullah:
Thou art truly the Elect, the Chosen,
the Master We place ourselves entirely
at the disposition Of thy will
At first the British paid little attention
g. the Mulah. as it was thought his in
1iuence would wane and disappear. In
this they were mistaken. He began his
crusade in 1899. As the year wore on the
fanatical leader advanced on Berbera with
1900 men. The British foreign office dis
CusSed the proposition of opposing him
ont nothing was done. In the following
year the AbysSinans attaked and de-
1eated him sngle-handed. but the reverse
threw the MulIah once more into British
territory. he raised the eBrbera district
repeatedly. and in 1901 Colonel Swayne
proceeded against him with a hastily
equipped force. Swayne was not able to
inlict a decisive blow. and the Mullah
escaped south OF the Haud.
He returned in December 1901. and once
more harassed the Somali tribes friendly
10 tbs British. Colonel Swayue reorgan-
tied his force. and in October OF last year
fought a severe engagement near Gal
4ayU In this battle the British were sur
pIised and lost heavily They were obIig-
"a 10 fan back 10 Bohatle The foreign
Office became alarmed and decided 10 run
the campaign no longer on the cheap
plan. Troops We're brought from India
and the best native regiments from the
Soudan were ordered into Somaliland
General Manning was put in command
OF the entire force. and active operations
We're begun against the Nullah.
Tbs desert warrior withdrew before the
strong force. lie 1ured his foes into the
haad and waited until they had braken
into small detachments. Then he struck
SWIFTLY and the recent disaster Of Colonel
Plunketts column was the result. The
Somau leyies were unable 10 stand
against the attack Of the alullah's follow
ers. and the Indian troops were forced
To bear the brunt Of the combat.
The British have come TO the conclu-
sion that offensive warfare on the Mullah
viii nor pay. His mobility denes all
thought OF pursuit for he can travel 100
miles day IN case OF need His follow
ers are elated over his unouestioned suc-
cesses. and they are now well armed.
Rifles 81 modern maze have been Snug
sled 70 the tribes along the coast ard
Muhsmmed now has from 900 70 IA ana
men equipped with guns Of the latest pat
TERN and. in addition 10 these. he can
muster ao,eoo spearmen
The Somahs. although less powerful
phyicaly than the Dervishes who made
the Mahdi such terror. are excellent
warriors. Inspired by fanatical faith g.,
Their leader. they are absolutely v-fthopt
FEAR al death. They are accustomed 70
riie tire. and on previous occasions they
have never wayered before the NIaxims
Ihey shott rather high. and this fault
alone has saved the British several times
from humiliation. They use their spears
both for throwing and stsbbing purposes
ara sometimes they employ stones and
wooden war clubs To give no quarter
and their fees arc always aware that
they need never evpect money. The
wounded are R.assacred and the dead. as
rule. mutilsted
The country IS all in the MuIah's
favor. Water is scanty. and the land is
sterile In the extreme. To deserts Of