Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-20
SENUSS| IN TR|P0[|
SEEK INDEPENDENCE
Arabic Order of Mohamme-
dams in Northern Africa Is
Reported in Uprising.
Correspondence of tn. Associated Press.


CONSTANT1NOPLE. August aside
from tho more important theaters OF
warfare, interest has been aroused
here in a reported uprising OF the Sc
nussi, the Arabic order Of the Moham-
medans in northern Africa, with the
hope of establishing an Independent
state in the Italian province OF Tripoh.
1t is a little more than fifty years ago
that the man who was better known as
the Sheik- Senussi went in to the hinter-
land of Tripoli to promote a schismatic
Mohammedism of which he himself was
the author The religious circles At
Mecca and Medina, to whom the re-
former in question had stated his Views
on the Moslem religion, had not taken
kindly to them. Senussi was an Arab
to the core, and as such resented the
ascendancy Of the Turks in the tempo
raj affairs of a faith Of which an Arab,
Mohammed, was the prophet
In the hinterIand of Tripoi Senussi
encountered conditions that were Ia
vorable to the spread of a religious re-
form movement. The Arabs. Berbers
and Negroes of the arid stretches in
what was then still Turkish satrapy
gathered about Senussi and listened to
whatever new truths he had to an
nounce. In very little time Senussi
had become Sheik-Senussi and Mcneil
ul-Keir his capital. Over the main en-
trance of the Senussi temple in that
city Sheik Senussi caused the follow
ing words to be painted:
Turks and Christians; will destroy
them both in single day.
Legend Still Is Visible.
That legend is said to be still visible.
and it is certain that its spirit IL still
a force among the Senussi-the term
identifying fully 80 per cent Of all Mo-
hammedans in Tripoli, Tunis, Algeria,
eastern Morocco and the Sudan. Con-
trary to popular belief. the word Sc
nussi is not tribal name. but the des-
ignation of sort of secret order. With
the death of the first Sheik Senussi his
reform lost much of it's militancy. The
founder of the cult, if such it may be
termed, never aspired to temporal
power. but his successor, the present
She1k-Senussi, proved to be more of a
politician-some even say statesman
than religious leader, with the re-
suit that Senussism became a political
rather than a spiritual force.
1t seems, however, according to in
formation obtained here, that the or
der of the Senussi is far from having
abandoned altogether the precepts and
examples of its founder. No North
African Mussulman will directly admit
that he is a Senussi, but that he be-
longs to the order may be learned from
his attitude while at prayer in the
mosque. While the regular follower
of Mohammed, during the parts of his
prayer delivered in a standing position,
permits his arms to hang motionless
at his sides, the Senussi crosses his
arms over his breast and grips with his
right hand the left wrist in such a
manner that the thumb and index
finger rest on the pulse.
The present sheik Of the Senussi was
not pleased with the Ottoman govern
ment, when, with the treaty of
Lausanne, Tripoli was ceded to Italy.
Through the former deputy of Tripoli
to the Ottoman parliament. the sheik
announced that he had severed his
connections with the supreme caliphate