Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
ITALY'S AFFAIRS IN S0MALILAND.

that with the exception of a recent
book by Gen. Wyngate Of the British
army. now governor general OF the Su-
source of Information for Operations in
Somaliland. 1901-190 by the general
stan. war Office. London. 1907, no mem
ton is made of the political results OBJ
tanned by the Egyptian expedition to
Egypt.
It is a part Of the history Of these in
cidents and a just tribute to the progress
i've sentiments OF Isman
Slave Khedive that the seizure
of the coast towns OF Bravo
op0's and Kismayu destroyed two
of the greatest slave-trading depots on
the coast The writer personally led the
battalion In the attack upon Kismayu and
captured and liberated 400 slaves in that
affair."
Already the ground was being broken on
the east coast Of Africa in 1876 for the
establishment of the British East Africa
Association. Nor is this mere suggestion.
Here is what Sir Harry Johnston says In
rate" page 223: Indeed. about this time
the government Of the Egyptian Sudan
during the last years of Ismail Pachas
reign over Egypt became strangely am
bilious 1t had annexed the greater part
Of Somaliland: it had annexed but failed
to maintain the annexation OF Abyssinia,
and its fleet. under Scotchman. Nc
KiiIop Pacha. had steamed down the east
coast OF Africa and had attempted to
seize the mainland ports. Monbas in
cluded, OF the Sultan of Zanzibar.
Sir John Kirk was then the British rep
resentative at the court Of Zanzibar.
'Sayyid' or sultan. He was hoping to see
the growth Of large, prosperous and
well-geverned Arab state over East Africa
between S0maliland on the north and the
Portuguese possessions on the south, and
inland as far as the great uakes. This
state he hoped would eventually come
under sufficiency Of British protection
or control to prevent the intermeddling Of
other European powers and to secure an
unhampered field for British commerce.
Mutesa CMtesa) had heard from English
missionaries Of Sir John Kirk and had
commenced correspondence with him.
Sir John Kirk had interviewed to send
away the fleet Of McKillop Pacha and had
prevented the Egyptian government from
laying hold of the Sultan Of Zanzibars
possessions south of Somaliland. He now
made a certain Intervention on behalf of
Uganda. and his representations through
the British foreign Office restrained Gen.
Gordon from establishing the Egyptian
power south Of the Victoria Nile
At
The author Of the above is supposed to
be writing the history Of African events.
and yet he avoids all men,
Important ton Of the treaty Of July
o.~. 10, 1874, by which Uganda
A0' was solemnly annexed to
Egypt. and avoids also all mention Of the
convention cited in which Ras Hafun and
tho Somali coast are recognized as under
the protectorate OF Egypt, official subjects.
both Of them, but which Sir Harry, with
manifest intention, would conceal from
his readers.
BY the treaties OF July 10, 1900. and
May Is. 1902. between Great Britain, It
ally and Abyssinia the frontiers Of each in
the Somaliland were defined. The Abys-
| sinian part comprises the Harrar High
| lands and the Ogadan country, the south
ern part of the Haud, the country along
the Webb Shebeli, the Fafan and its trib-
utaries across to the Juba. the plains
| north Of the Webb Shebeli.
The Italian Somaliland is thus defined:
A maritime plain east to Cape Guarda-
fui and south to the Juba river; an ele-
waited interior plateau; an alluvial plain
along the lower Webb Shebeli the pla-
Juba.
The "Ohicial History Of the Operations
in Somaliland 10000" says of the Brit
ish connection with Somaliland: I'm pur-
suance Of the Khedive Ismails ambitious
policy for the extension of his domin-
ions. Massowah was purchased in 1868
from the porte for e16.OOO by Egypt. which
then crept southwark. In 1870 1t acquired
the coast between Bulhar and Berbera
and established garrisons at these ports
as well as at zeilah. purchasing the sui
tan's suzerain rights over the latter
town for an annual payment Of R15,O0O.
In 1874 Raouf Pacha. at the head OF
1900 men, took possession Of Harrar.'
~
The author of the official history con-
fesses.that the Egyptians effected consid-
cradle improvement at
Egypt's the ports, established
r.., piers, lighthouses, quar-
enterprises tiers, blockhouses and
zaribas, and the Improvement of the wa
ter supply and many benefits to the coun-
try.
The events in the Sudan and the fall
Of Khartum served as a pretext for the
evacuation of Somaliland by the Egyp-
tians. Great Britain followed them by
the occupation of the Egyptian ports OF
Zeilah and Berbera, and subsequently
seized Kismaya and still later Uganda.
Italy assumed q protectorate along the
coast from degrees Is minutes to Bander
Ziada May Is, 1894. and in 1897 extended
her authority as far south as the left
bank Of the Juba to Logh.
Gen. Baldissera Is one of the most Sc
rious partisans of the colonial policy in
Italy. He declared recently that the idea
of pacific progressive penetration Of the
Somaliland was seductive. but that 1t did
not meet the aspirations Of a great part
of the people. The Italian colonial party
were in favor of rapid and effective pol
icy-that Is to say. an expedition which
would by force subdue the tribes on the
coast and on the Juba.
Gen. Baldissera. as a soldier, no doubt
chafes under the disaster to the Italian
army under Gen. Baratieri. victim to the
selfish ambitions Of the Minister Crispi
But Minister Pittoni is not disposed to
follow in the steps Of his predecessor
Besides. he recalls the British expeditions
which from January, 1901. to April. 1904.
were successfully baf1led. II not defeated.
by the mullah. whom the British for that,
or some unknown reason, termed the
mad mullah." Mohammed-bin Abdullah
Hassan has proved that he is not mad.
but that he possesses the fire and genius
of a leader. Mohammed is Of the tribe Of
Haber SULLIVAN, or Bagari. In 1900 HI
was in the prime of life and was tall and
thin. He had been several times to Mecca
and belonged to the Mohammed Saleh
sect. which proposed to unite in one the
rival sects OF Somaliland.
After three years Of constant battle
with the British and Abyssinians the null