The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-04


The British have decided 20 pull down
their flag. move their soldiers bag and
baggage ont Of Somaliland. and except
for two or three small garrisons on the
Gulf Of Alden coast leave the country
90 their old enemy. the Mad Mullah.
This decision comes a. a surprise. for nj
the recent heatcd discussion in Parlia-
ment regarding the despatching 81 a
punitive expedition against the Mullah
the Government made no declaration Of
such an intention. The plan. however.
was then under consideration, and the
explanation IL made that a premature
statement would have interfered with
its contamination.
The action OF the Government has
met with considerable criticism. The
London Daily Graphic says:
-on the face Of !, the story IL intensely dis
agreeable and only hope that when Lord
CRESE has opportunity he viii BE- able 10 place
q better comple Sion upon t. British blood has
been poured out In an EFFORT % maintain the land
not perhaps because any very substantial pront
attached n it, occupation. but because - a
general rule the British people do not like 20 haul
down their nAS when once 10 has been hoisted and
because IN this particular case q oapitulAtion To
the Mad MullAh would be bad for the peaoe and
for our own prestige IN northeastern Africa
On the other hand IL IL evident that
the British are heartily tired of trying
to control the land. IL has cost them
milliOns in money and the lives Of many
men. yet their foes have come OF the
better in the ten years struggle. for
the British have been unable To break
the power Of the Mad Mullah over the
interior tribes The country has never
settled down. the strife has been chronic.
in the Last two years especially Somali-
land has been in n state Of continual
unrest, various Mullahs have taken the
field, tribes friendly 10 the British have
been attacked and punitive expedition
after expedition has followed The
contention in the face Of these defeats
Is not that the country j. worth the
sacrifice. but that something should be
done 20 protect the tribes that under
earlier influences became friendly TO
the British and have 80 far uniformly
remained 50.
Efforts were made n secure the future
peace Of the country by subsidizing the
Mad Mullah. II il said that he was
offered $1,000 a year 60 keep quiet. hut
the willy old gentleman. who is sane
enough on some propositions. appears I
To have declined all British overtures.
He seems. in fact. to think that he has |
the game in his own hand The coun- !
try. M least il left to his tender mer,ies /
at present. There is an intention. those I
speaking for the Government say. Of /
furnishing rifles IN the friendly tribes /
and thus putting them in "A position 20 I
defend themselves against his serious I
raids
There j.. however. as has been pointed I
Dut, danger that these frlendles will .
follow the British example Of prefer
mig discretion 20 valor and determine
n share in the Mullah'- triumph instead
4 resisting 10 90 their probable hurt
Tho Italian Foreign Office has BEEN noti-
led by tho acting Governor 81 SomAli-
and that The unfriendlytribes have been
greatly encouraged by the Mullahs Sue
'ezses and that in consequence raids
dong the border have increased and a
'ail Is made for troops To suppress UP
Using. II il evident that British inter
,sts are not alone at stake. The Mullah
has old gr,Idges against both the Italians
and the AbySsinians. and the British sur
-ender ~ him and the resulting in
'rease ~ power and influence are likely
y make him more than ever a menace
o them.