Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-07
Holy War Declared.

London, Nov. 7.-Advices from Ger
man sources by wireless say that the
Sheik- Ul-Islam, ecclesiastical head of
the 22O,0OO,OOO Mohammedans in the
world, has proclaimed holy war of
Islam against the enemies of Turkey.
The significance of this action be-
comes evident when it is recalled that
more than 100,0O00O0 Mohemmedans,
or nearly half of the toltal number
in the world, are now under English
rule. These men, according to proc
lamation said to have been issued by
the Sheik- -Ul-Islam, must either
fight the enemies of Turkey or be dis
loyal to the head of their faith.
The effects of this proclamation
have already been anticipated in
Egypt, where martial law has beer
declared. No serious demonstration
of the Mohammedan population is
feared in India. 1t is stated that the
great majority of the followers Of
Islam there are loyal to Great Brit
ain. This statement is borne out by
the proclamation issued by the Nizam
of Hyderabad, who is perhaps the
most important Moslem potentate in
India, calling upon all Moslems in
that country to remain loyal to Great
Britain.
The Importance which the British
government attaches to the matter is
shown by the fact that the official
press bureau publishes the Nizam's
proclamation in full Nevertheless it
cannot be denied that there is much
uneasiness in many quarters over the
possibilities of the situation. There is
no doubt of the fact that Germany is
resorting to every artifice to stir up
sedition in the British colosies.
Already there are reports that the
Mohammedans of Afghanistan are
marching upon the Indian frontier. A
message from Constantinople via Ber-
lin says that the Ameer of Afghanis-
tan has sent out 10000 men with
1876 guns. While the number of men
is an obvious exaggeration, it is re-
called that England has already
fought two costly wars with the AZ
ghans and that she has never sub
dued them. They remain to this day
independent.
In this connection it is announced in
Berlin that the railroad from Herat
to Kush has been destroyed and that
a number of Indian border tribes have
joined the Afghans. British officials
on the border are said to have been
arrested and several of them are re-
ported killed.
Fighting between the Turks and tn.
Russians is now going on within the
shadow of Mount Ararat. 1t is sig
nificant that the reports of this fight
ing, which also come from German
sources, show that the Russians have
invaded the Turkish province of Erze-
rum. The Turks had expected that
the Russians would be caught short of
troops on the Caucasian frontier, but
evidently, according to the Turkish
statement, the Turks are fighting on
the defensive on their own soil and
have encountered large bodies of Cos
sacks.
The Czar, having met with much
success in changing the name of st.
Petersburg to Petrograd, has already,
in anticipation of Turkish defeat,
changed the name of Constantinopla
to its ancient appellation of Gar
grad BY official orders all the Rus
sian newspapers are calling it by that
name.
Report from Albania say that Sc
rious conflicts are taking place be-
tween Mohemmedans and Christians
and there are grave fears of Chris
tian massacre. This is one of the first
results of the arousing of religious
and ,ace hatred that Germany has
brought about in the East and to
which the Sheik of Islam has lent him
self by proclaiming a holy war.