The sun., 1907-08-13
France May Have No Easy Job In
Morocco,

According 10 the latest kilograms the
French force occupying Casablancs,
about 5000 strong, was engaged outside
that town for three DAYS August s-lO)
in fighting with body of Moorish horse
men computed at 10000. a number con-
stantly replenished in spite of the ter
rife havoc wrought by European cannon,
machine guns and rifles
Such indomitable bravery has always
been exhibited during the more than
twelve centuries which have elapsed
since Islam became militant by its vota-
ries when they believed themselves en-
gagged in a war for the defence or spread
of their religion. II is one Of the most
deeply rooted beliefs of Moslems that he
who falls in battle for his faith goes
straight 10 paradise, whatever sins he
may have committed on earth. What
can men who do not covet death, though
they may not fear it, DO against oppo-
nents who passionately crave it as the
sure passport TO eternal felicity of SEN
sual but for that very reason intelligibls
and seductive kind? 1t is this belief that
mainly accounts for the irresistible onset
which under the successors of the Prophet
carried the Moslem religion from the
western frontier of China TO the Atlantic,
the Loire, the Vistula and the Danube.
Nor did the last wave Of Moslem conquest
subside until it vainly dashed itself in
1853 against the walls Of Vienna.
The dread of revival of Moslem
fanaticism haunts the French in Algeria,
the English in Egypt and in India and
the Russians in central Asia. We have
seen very lately in the eastern Sudan
what religious frenzy could accomplish.
The raw levies, inspired with fury by the
Nahdi and his successor ABDULLAHI,
destroyed one Anglo-Egyptian army after
another and cost the dynasty of MEHE-
NET ALI the whole Of the vast dominion
which il had painfully acquired along the
upper Nile TO the south Of the Second
Cataract. 1t is true that the territory
was recovered in the end by Genera!
KITCHENER, but only after many years
had been spent in training a competent
force and at a time when the original
ardor of the Mahdists had been quenched
by frightful oppression, 1t >was re-
peatedly observed while the uprising
was successful that even the immense
superiority Of European weapons was
impotent TO cope with multitudes excited
by desperate desire TO die.
The collapse of Islam in large part
of the lands which it subdued was due
largely to an innate tendency to dsin-
tegration, the outcome, no doubt, OF the
tribal discord among the natives Of
Arabia, which gave the Prophet himself
much trouble, which broke out under his
fourth successor and has never ceased
20 render permanent cooperation out Of
the question. Not many years passed
after the Generals of the Caliphs had
occupied north Africa from Alexandria
20 Ceuta before the coast region was
split up into several independent king
doms, some of which soon followed the
example of the Moslem conquerors of
Spain, abiured the Caliphate OF Cordova
and set up sovereigns Of their own in
vested with spiritual as well as tenn
poral supremacy. An instance Of such
asonism is afforded by the dynasty which
is supposed 70 have descended from the
daughter Of MoHAMMED and which is
now represented by ABDUL AzIz, the
present nominal ruler of Morocco.
Among his subjects the tribal hatred and
the seemingly incurable impotence OF
authority which are Characteristic Of
Arb" sRi their Moorish kinsmen has