El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-10
When French Took Algeria
Proclaimed Il Years
Ago Last Saturday-SOme
Historical Facts.
by Rev. ThOs. b. Gregory

THE annexation Of Algeria to
France, proclaimed II years ago
Saturday, February 8. 1s42-was,
with the exception Of the British rule in
the extreme south at Cape Town, the
beginning Of the white Mans Bur
den" in Africa
A burden Algeria has unquestiOnabIy
been to her French cOnQuerOrs- Hun
dreds Of millions Of dollars were spent
and hundreds Of thousands Of lives
were lost before the "paclfication' was
brought about
It was in 1880 that the trouble be-
tween France and Algeria had its
start and behind it was the almighty
dollar" The French government owed
two Jewish merchants Of Algiers a
considerable sum Of money, and the
Dey Of Algiers, having a personal in
terest in the matter, had made re-
peated applications for payment, but
without success. Annoyed at this and
at what he considered insulting Ian
guage on the part Of the French con-
SUI, he slapped that officials face in
public OF course, French honor had to
be indicated. and the result was
war. After two or three battles and a
fierce bombardment from the French
fleet Algiers surrendered, and the dey
took himself off to Naples.
Once in Algiers, the French, Of course,
remained Their honor had been am
ply INDICATED. but they remained
And then came Abd-el-kader, one
OF the purest patriots and braVest
fighters that appear upon the stage OF
history Noted far and wide for his
modestys genueness, learning and pie
". this extraordinary man left the re-
trement in which he had voluntarily
kept himself, and sWore that he would
do what lay within his power to drive
the invaders from the soil Of his ma
tive land
Inspiring his fellow Arabs with his
own courage, he took the field and
fought the French for u years, from
1880 to 1912. Proof alike against threat
and bribery, unafraid Of French legiOns
and interrupted by French money
Abd-el-Kader hurled his naked, i'll
armed Arabs time-and again against the
serried lines Of the invaders, and beat
them Oftener than he was beaten, dis
playing a courage that was sublime
and a generalship that was worthy OF
the greatest OF military geniuses.
Worn out at last in the unequal
struggle. Abd-el-kader surrendered.
and the French mastery Of Algeria was
practically complete With Abd-el-Ka-
der crushed. the proclamation Of an
nexation Of 1912 was made good
Notwithstanding our admiration for
Ebd-el Kader and for the brave and
unselfish fight ne put up, it was well
that the French prevailed For genera
lions the Algerians had been a pack
OF robbers and pirates Every nation
about the Mediterranena had felt the
sciuitars Of their sea wolves" and eT-
cry dungeon in Algiers was full Of
Europeans held for ransom As a rule
they had but little respect for the rights
of individuals OF nations. and were
menace rather than a help to the pro
gress and prosperity OF the world
Algiers, noted in old Roman times
for its surprising fertility and beauty,
had become under their fataliStiC and
rule but little better than a
desert, while there can be no shadow
Of doubt about the fact that. since the
Of q rfrrr
has in every way improved The rights
which had been taken from the Arabs
were largely restored with the estab-
lishment Of civil government in 1871,
and there IL much to justify US in the
belief that Algeria. with its $50, 900
square miles Of territory. beautiful eli
mate and immense natural resources,
has before II q bright future.