The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-06-18


the Italians as steady deteriorating
since the beginning of the war. At
tirst the Turks had neither money
nor provisions piece Of bread or
a handful of stale dates was about
all they could find to eat, and pack
ct Of 20 cigarettes that normally
cost two pence had to be bought
for two shillings.
Gradually contributions from all
over the Mohammedan world-Tur-
key in Europe and Asia, Egypt. Tun-
is, Algeria and so forth-began to
come in and caravans of all sorts be
gan to cross the frontier. Even vol
unteers from Tunis Algeria. and
the desert beyond Chadames came
TO join us, shouting Allah yansur Is
Sultan'-God save the Supltan. The
French authorities cannot arrest this
stream without running the risk Of
a rebellion of their own subjects SO
profound is the enthusiasm aroused
10y this last attack Of the Cross on
the Crescent. Asa very responsible
French official in Tunis said to me:
Even apart from political considera-
tons, it is utterly impossible for US
to guard such an extensive frontier.
If the Italians wish to stop the in
flow of men, money and food they
must land an army and guard the
frontier themselves
Prime Mutton in The Desert.
Besides help from outside, this
years rains, after four years of
drought, have been of immense benefit
to the fighting Arabs. saw the
desert rapidly Transforming itself in
to beautiful meadow under my eyes
and for some months past the flocks
of sheep and goats that abound on
Tripolitania have been fattening on
luscious grass, with the result that
ate better mutton in the hinterland
Of Tripoli than l had ever tasted in
the best restaurants of London. And
that is not all The Italians have
b given time to the Arabs of the vari-
GUS GASES to till and SOW their fields.
and when the crops are harvested in
. June they will afford a supply of food
+ that will make the forces of the Cres-
cent Independent of provisions from
y outside
l. "On the other hand, the Italians,
Penned up in the town and its i'm
mediate environs, have, since all
/ communication with the interior IS
n cut off, been all this time obliged
II to rely entirely on supplies imported
81 from Europe. From the point of view
OF health also, to one sick Arab you
e will probably find ten Italians for
D. while the former are in the open
e. desert. the pure air of'Which counter
o acts in a large measure the causes
1t that make for disease the latter are
Ir doomed to breathe the polluted at
e mosphere of an insanitary and con-
" gested Oriental town. All these CON
ditions will be accentuated as the
s months creep in, and the summer,
y, with its terrible heat and the suffo-
p eating srocco, succeeds to the com
ir narative GOODNESS of the spring.
m Had the Italians advanced during
lie the winter, when the climatic condi
Id tons were in their favor, and when
IL owing to the calls of agriculture most
G. of the Arab volunteers were obliged
to stay at home, they might have beer
IL masters of the situation But the fact
&c that they have not quilted their forti
IS fed trenches has not only made ad
St vance now impossible, but has Undue
m ed the Arabs to believe that the Ital
ne ians are lacking in courage.
n, Lastly, a word as to finance. The
ie. war costs Italy several million francs
NJ o day. 1t costs Turkey about e30,00I
he a month-and most of that money il
Ell, raised by private contributions,
st Arab Bravery.
fly 'In the circumstances the struggle
d. so far as the Arabs are concerned
nd can continue indefinitely. Even if tn
Porte is compelled by troubles neare
be home to conclude peace, they declar
is that this will make no difference I
20 them. We will never submit to thl
nc invader was said to me few day
lat ago by a venerable old sheikh Of 6
rio and he concluded his passionat
nal speech with n solemn appeal
nd Allah, up there, pointing to the bit
nd heavens above. Personally, l hay
md seen enough of Arab valour-a g.
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