The Washington herald., 1912-01-28
MOSLEMS FIGHTING
RELIGIOUS CAUSE
Italy Nay Have Undertaken Greater
Task Than Appears on Its
Face in Tripoh.
By DIR. A. ID. JACOBSON.

Has Italy made the same mistake IL
made twelve years ago in AbyssinIa.
where the plain Of Andova still is sprin-
kled with the bleaching bones Of her an
initiated army? She has! She should
have never embarked in a venture that
as an "ultimn ratio" may bring upon
her and the entire Christian world the
holy war of Islam." that terrible final
trump OF Turkey. which would set the
world afire. Can II be possil that her
advisers have failed TO reckon 18th this
last resort OF the Calipha. when Yer COM
missioners pledged TO the German bank
ers the acquisition OF more territory In
order TO offer better security for the
loan which was refused that already
overburdened tax-ridden nation?
1taly's cardinal mistake in beginning
her campaign TO free Tripoll from the
Turkish yoke" has been that she did not
take into account the fact that the fanati-
cism Of Islam turns sworn foes into
friends and allies. for Is II not written
in the Koran: Leave your house and
home, your wives and your cattle and
rally under the flag OF the prophet to
annihllate the enemies of ISLAM"
The Arabs of Tripoli hate the Turks,
their oppressors. who have taxed and
abused them for centuries. They would
be free like the Bedouins OF the Sahara,
but not to change from a MosIem Scylla
to Christian Charybdis not to be sub
Jects-infdels in the sight OF Allah. The
Padisha, that dual personality who theo-
retically rules the Ottoman empire under
the title Of Mohammed V, is something
else besides emperor over 100000 dis
gruntled Turkish subjects.
CaIIpha of All Islam.
He is the successor of the prophet the
commander of the faithful, Calipha Of ali
Islam, and as such he Is the leader-tem-
poral and spiritual-of 225.oOO, 900 people
who compose the Moslem world. Let him
but unfurl that tattered banner, which
is enshrined and guarded In the old Serial
Pavilion, one Of a group Of palaces on
that long. low point-the Golden Horn
which juts into the Sea OF Marmora
the emerald flag the Arabic characters
Of which have been dimned by almost
thirteen centuries. and he will light a
conilagration that would shaken the very
foundations of the world.
We have heard of norning but italian
victories and Turkish defeats. The cable
news were brim full OF them. Deliber-
ate suppression OF the facts or self-de-
ception. Letters received at Rome from
Italian officers and men serving with the
invading army in TrlpoIi tell different
tale. They describe in detail the ex-
tremely unpleasant. not to say danger
Gus, position of the Italian troops at the
front Battles which had been claimed
as Italian victories in the official dis
patches are described as reverses.
One Italian officer. writing to his
father. says that the Italian army has
lost a large number of men in those
engagements, which are terribly harass-
ing to the italian troops. Another let
ter from a private in the Italian army
says that In one battle regiments OF
grenadlers and barsagDeri were nearly
wiped out Of existence. Still another let
ter says that the Italians on one occasion
ran out of ammunition. while the Turks
and Arabs were well supplied and sue
ceeded in killing and wounding one hun
dred OF the Italian soldiers. many Of
whom were mere boys, who in their
delirium cried for their mothers.
Defeat Instead of Victory.
All Bey. a leading member Of the Tur-
kish Navy League, who is now in Lon
DON openly derided the Italian claim to
a great naval victory in the Red Sea-"
He says that the only Turkish boats in
that vicinity dIsp1ace no more than~from
fiftv to I0o tons. Most of them are small,
old. wooden vessels. and are kept there
for the sole purpose Of keeping the
Arabs from gun running" The same
official also repudistes the reports that
the porte had any intention OF suing for
peace. In his estimation the Italians
cannot subdue nor retain the whole OF
Tripoli, and even that strip OF II 'front.'
ing on the Mediterranean. only under the
uninterrupted shelter Of their battle
ships.
This one may well believe. In making
war on the Sultan of Turkey, Italy has
automatically" challenged the chief of
oil Mohammedans; It has shaken her
mailed hst not at one nation, but at the
most militant. the most fanatical OF all
relIeione, ne It fully understood. and
1 say II with all the emphasis at. my
command, that there IS not Moslem
between the west coast Of Africa and !