Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-18
TROUBLE in NORTHERN NIGERIA
British Face Rebellion that May
Prove of Greater scope Than
Imagined.

CAPE TOWN March 17-(special Cable
gram to The Bee. )-Ad~fces from north
ern Nigeria indicate the outbreak OF re-
bellion there which probably will prove Of
greater Importance than the so-called con-
tinual war now being carried on by the
German government i'm Africa. The stretch
OF country to be protected. the native tribes
to be dealt with, the unhealthfulness of
the country, make the proposition an ex-
tremely difflcult one to deal with Ac-
cording to all accounts the whole affair
results from the appearance of a new
Mahdi No sooner did the news reach
Mr.. Hillary, the acting resident Of Sokoto,
that a Mahdl had arisen than the mounted
infantry with the Maxims were dispatched
to the scene of the trouble. Sir Frederick
Lugard states that his advices are to the
effect that not only the British, but the
French, were involved ia the defeat.
Sir Frederick Lugard is said to believe
that he has a force sufficient to put down
this latest Nigerian war but this is con-
sidered doubtful by leaders and by those
familiar with the Niger river country.
Much depends upon the attitude of the
Emirs Of Sokoto and Kano and whether
they are able to hold the natives in that
section in line. II is true that Sir Fred
erick already has several thousand troops
concentrated at Kano, but he may need
every man that can be hurried to the
frontier. Once the situation gets away
from him the entire western coast of
Africa will be ablaze.
Though the original cutting up Of the
British force in northern Nigeria was bad
enough, scarcely "A day passes that muir
ders of whites are not reported. Traders
are pulling up stakes and hurrying to the
fortified cities and towns
However, if this were the only thing
the situation might not be so alarming;
but it has been one long battle for civil
ization in this part of Nigeria, where the
garrison of native troops. oficered by
Englishmen, We're massacred by the tribes
men Of Sokoto. The trouble with the. ma
tives has been continuous, and there have
been repeated military expeditions for the
suppression of risings and the abolition of
savagery and barberous native customs
and practices. Many white men have met
their death in the pursuit of these objects.
Some Of them have been killed in fights
with natives; others have been massacred
during sudden risings OF tribesmen at dis
tant outposts, while still more have fallen
victims to the terribly trying climate.
Early in 1900 an expedition had TO be
sent against the Munshi tribe, truculent
set OF cannibaIs on the Denue river, which
had attacked an Isolated British fort. They
were for the time subdued, but only few
weeks ago they broke out again, thus adj
ding to the present complications. In 1901
an expedition was sent to Kontagora and
Bida for the purpose OF suppressing trouble
caused by native pagan practices and in
September OF the same year the Emir of
Adamawa turned ostreperous and had to
be persuaded into obedience by a small
force OF troops.
The province Of Bornu was brought under
British control in 1902 ~by means Of mill
tary expedition and in the following year
Colonel Morland proceeded against the
Enir OF Kano and took the town OF Kano,
together with Sokoto anu Katsena. The
| sultan of Sokoto fed, but was pursued by
Captain Sword and finally killed after con-
siderable severe fighting. In 1904 another
expedition was rendered necessary against
the Okhoto tribe which had murdered Cap
tain O'Reardon and Mr.. Amyatt Burney,
and except for the reported rising OF the
Munshis there has been peace and order
in this section of the country ever since