Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

Cholera has ended the pilgrimage of
countless Moslems before they reached
the holy city. The heat alongshore AT
this point is terrific and a common
sight is of the pilgrim ships turning
slowly around offshore in order to
catch a possible breath of air in the
deadly layers of superheated atmos-
phere.
Englishmen have dreamed of British
control of Medina and Mecca as the
sequel to the Moha medan subjects of
Great Britain in India and as the Sc
quel of the Mohammedan College es-
tablished by Lord Cromer at khartum
They have argued. somewhat cautious
ly in public print. that since the Mo-
hammedans of India and Egypt show
themselves content with British rule,
the whole MoSlem world might be con-
tent to have the religious capital of
Mohammedan ism under British control,
since ample assurance would be given
that this would not mean interference
with the Mohammedan religion.
| have heard British imperialists adj
vocate Christian contributions to a
mosque in London. on the ground that
this would help secure the confidence
of Mohammedan not under the Brit
ish flag. and would reconcile them to
coming under it at Mecca.
in India and Egypt are loyal to British
rule is one of the undetermined ques-
tons of the present war. Should it be
fully demonstrated. the EngliShmen
who have dreamed of ruling the Mos
lem world and cxpelling the Turk not
only from Europe. but from Ara bia,
might feel that their dream was TAX
ing form.
The control of the Turk over Me-
dina and Mecca is one of the mighty is
of he
thorty of England over these regions
appeals to the British mind on the
pra ctical side There is trade, valuable
trade. with the holy cities of Medina
and Mecca. British control is already
established at Alden, which dominates
the entrance to the Red sea from the
Indian ocean.
Possession of the port of Alden, how
ever. with the garrison maintained
there. is sufficient both for commercial
purposes and for military control. Alden
is d transsiipment point for consld-
era BILE traffic across to both British
and French !'omali- Its possession as
sures British supremacy a the gate
way of the Red sea.
Port Said ra ther than Alden, is usu-
ally taken as the point for determining
the Red sea commerce, including the
Suez canal traffic. The immense coal
ing station there is awaited of by most
of the vessels.
That the outcome of the war Will
alter the international status of the
Suez canal is unlikely. but it unques-
tionably will alter the relation of the
several countries to the canal. In the
maintenance of the presumed neutral
ity of the canal England left herself
full liberty of action, and this liberty
to do as she pleased was promptly
awaited of at the expense of her en-
emies.
through TIE canal is not large. since
the United States is the leading neu-
trail nation. and even in normal times
her flag rarely seen at Suez. Italy
has some vessels of her merchant ma
rne which use the canal. The Dutch
commercial fleet is numerous, and there
are a number of vessels under the Nor
weeian and Spanish flags. but Germany
and Austria furnish far larger num-
Der of vessels with a greater aggre-
gate tonnage than all the other coun-
tries combined. except England and
France.
Official statistics show that in 1913
1850 vessels of British nationality, with
a tonna ge oI l2.1I3.0o0 tons and carrying
10000 passengers, passed through
Suez. This was a decrease of 3S7 yes
sells and nearly a million tonnage, with
a loss of 1000 passengers as compared
with the previous year.
Germany, on the other hand, had sew
enty-eight vessels. with total ton
mage of $4,000 tons and $4,000 pas
SengerS This was small compared
with England, but it was an increase
of eighty-two vessels and of $4,000
tonnage and also of few hundred
passengers over 1872.
The decrease in the British traffic and
the increase in the German traffic show