The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-09
TURKS ARE FIGHTING
FOR THEIR CREE0 J,
Conflict as Viewed by be
tenders Is ReneWarof
the Holy War.
az FRANKLIN MckEAN.

OF the warts explained by the fact
that over seventy thousand warriors
have answered the Islam call To a
Holy war and that this fanatical force
10 now ranged behind the sand hills OF
the desert ready to lay down their lives
willingly and cheerfully for the sake of
promised martyrdom.
This number Is conservative csti-
mate made by the priests of Islam
and will shortly be REINFORCED by
countless bands Of Turks, Arabs, Tou-
aregs, ETC., from the African MOslem
world. who are hurrying post-haste
across the desert sands to join their
fellow fighters against the invasion OF
the Christians. This host of religious
fanatics includes males from eight
years of age to eighty. and among
its ranks are many hundreds of wo-
nsn seeking Immortality through
Italian bullets.
Europeans cannot understand the
feSvid fanaticism that impels these
men of the East to battle for their re-
ligion without thought Of pay, or hard
ships, and that courts death as a vel.
come and honored achievement. The
Djihad. or Holy War, is the Moslems
most formidable tactic to crush the
enemy. In the first centuries OF the
Christian Orient experienced it's ter
rible sway on more than one occasion,
and the crusaders learned to dread
1t more than hunger and thirst and
the direst privations of desert life.
The Holy War Is merciless cam
paign. not for worldly possessions. not
for territory, not even for the Faith
erland. but for the Islam religion. for
the faith OF the Prophet. 1t is fight
to the last drop of blood, a fight whose
limit Is the tomb, a fight waged with
that savage fierceness and vehemencc
which know no bounds, no control, no
restraining influence. It's passion and
its enthusiasm are the wildfire Of
blind fanaticism.
The impassioned, mercless assault
upon the enemy is. however. not the
only duty of the Moslem during the
Djihad. The "Fladissehs or tradition
al sayings of the Prophet enjoin the
fulfillment of a number of other obi
cations, not less sacred. One of these
obligations is implicit obedience to the
leader of the campaign, whoever he
may be. All personal dislikes must
cease, and complete harmony between
the Emir or Sheikh and the fighter
must prevail. Another duty is pa
thence and faithfulness, and the deter
mination to remain at the post to be
defended to the very last beat of the
nulse-if need be night after night
without food, without sleep.
One engaged in the Holy War must
not think of his family left at home. A
special "Hadisseh" provides that these
are cared for and attended to in the
most conscientious manner by the
aged priests unable to join the war
riors.
, A saying Of the Prophet, Ali larb
hadaatoun," war can only be success
full II the movements of the army are
kept secret from the enemy. shows
that during Djihad the Moslem does
not neglect the ordinary stratagems
and tactics of warfare. Those who
read Byzantine history will find that
the great leaders of Moslem armies
could always cope, with admirable
skill and efficiency, with the wiles and
cunning Of the early Roman warriors
Everyone engaged in Holy War IL
called "Shehid" or martyr. To become
q Shehid, however, the warrior must
be fully conscious of the Djihad tax
ing place for the benefit of the faitt
Of Islam. A soldier fallen In a sim
pie battle is not q martyr, however
much he might have suffered for hi.
country. A Shehid refuses to accep
payment, and scorns every attemp
of making his lot easy. To him alone
complete forgiveness Of sin is grant
ed In the world Of hours. The She
bids who lose their lives on the Sc;
worldly debts, obligations and promis
90.
A Moslem warrior can obtain tn
crown OF glory in the other world ant
also duringan honorable retreat,
the latter Is accomplished accordin!
to the regulations of the holy warfare
The most important of these regula
lions IL: Retreat in order to gathe
forces for a renewed and more formid
There exists "Hadisseh" which en-
joins upon every tribe adhering to tn
tenets Of Islam the necessity to a
ways have a special, well-trained bod
of fighters ready at moments nc
tice to follow the war-cry OF DjihaG
This accounts for the fact of the lta
ians in Tripoli having to meet sue
formidable masses of warriors a
most Immediately after invasion.
almost looked as if these masses wer
Just waiting for the enemy to com
in.
A Shehid who Is prompted to wa
not by personal interests, but solel
for the purpose Of defending ALA
and the faith Of Islam, is promise
that the eternal fire of hell will neve
reach his feet. He who shows III
bending patience. integrity and equal
unity Of mind during Holy War wi
have respite from the fortunes of tn
tomb.
o.. To stimulate the Shehid in his sa
red duties of sacrificing his life IL
his religion there exists 'Hadissef
with a somewhat paradoxical mea
ina. 1t Is to the following ffec'
thine enemy. q Faithful, during II