East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-01-28
MOSLEM TROOPS ARE
LANDED BY BRITISH
TO HOLD POSSESSION
SOLDIERS FROM INDIA ARE SENT
To EGYPT TO DEFEND 1T
FROM FOE.
Clever Move on England's Part Dl-
mlnlshcs Peril OF Holy War
Egyptians Never Have Loved Turk
ish Rule-Indlan soldiers Make
Good Impression ON Natives.
BY p. NJ. sARL.
Omitted Press staff Correspondent

Omitted Press staff Correspondent
LONDON. Jan. 2..-(By Mail TO New
York )--One OF the cleyerest moves
made by the British war office dur
ing the present war, was the landing
OF only Moslem soldiers from India,
for the defense OF Egypt Among the
100. 900 odd Indians drafted to differ
ent parts OF the war area there are,
perhaps, a hundred different religi-
ons. and little less tact on the part
of the authorities might have meant
much trouble for the British
The Brahmine. Hindus. Parsees.
worshippers OF Vishnu, Kali, Saya and
other creeds. however, were sent to
France. East Africa. China and in fact
anywhere but Egypt Only Moham-
medan regiments put foot on Egypt
ian soil. and the effect on the popu-
lation was immediate. The Australi-
ans. New Zealanders and English
Territorials which replaced the regu-
. lar garrisons, were according TO the
Egyptian mind OF all "Giaours," and
as such not to be distinguished from
the regular army. but when the brown
men arrived from India there was
considerable speculation as TO what
kind OF pagans the new arrivals were.
When body Of Bengal lancers
made for the principal mosque Of AL
exandria there was some alarm and
indignation. but the dusky troopers
had no difficulty in proving 10 the
| priests that they too were OF the
Faithful and there was much Won
derment when IL was learned that
all the soldiers from India were true
! believers" This made the Egyptians
''furiously TO think" for the Indians
were quite satisfied that in fighting
for the British Kaiser-i-Hind against
the Padishah and "Harji Mohammed
William" Of Berlin. they were in no
way acting to the detriment OF their
religion The Egyptians have never
loved Turkish rule and when good
Moslems were ready to fight the Turks
for the British. the Importance OF the
Shiekh-ul-IsIam's holy was procla'
4 mdDOn DeEan 10 ulnllnlfH.
The Indians made a tremendous i'm
preston on the native soTdiery. par.
ticuIarly the Maharaja OF Bikanir'i
Camel Corps which was reckoned a.
good as the camelry maintained by
the British, only better mounted. Th'
Bedouins from the desert were par
ticularly struck by the beautiful ami
mails brought by this corys. and thei
respect for "El Lords" kitchener
country was considerably increase'
that the millionaire Maharaja himsel
had taken the field in person. Tn
horses Of the cavalry also impresse,
the Bedouins, who fancy themselve
as judges OF horseflesh.
There appears to be little danger o
serious invasion Of Egypt particu
larly via Palestine a road which ha
never been successfully negotiated b
an army OF any size. The coast rout
taken by Napoleon on the retiremen
OF his invading forces, is commando
from the sea. and would prove
veritable death trap. while the Britis
and French warships In the Suez ca
paI could easily annihilate an attack
ing force from that direction. Their
are only two dessert routes into Egyp
one is south from the sea coast {
Ismalia, and the other villa Akaba an
across the Sinai Peninsular, but well
are few and far between. and I'll
problem Of transportation OF supple
for an invading army by these tw
routes is practically insuperable.
Apart from the arrival Of the In
dians, the never-ending procession {
troopships and warships through tn
Suez Canal, and the number Of tn
/ troops sent to replace the old gart
sons. have practically convinced tn
population that this Is no time TO ris
against the British. Depite the acti'
! tiles Of young Egyptian" and "Youn
| Turk" revolutionaries, the great ma'
] Of the people are contenteds undt
British rule. and see no reason fc
changing 1t for the rule Of Constant
= nople. and the unknown Kaiser
y Berlin.