Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-01-14

i DeheN6 am Ine only u0du WHO HAS
ever browbeaten Kitchener to his
face. 1t is this circumstance that I
propose now to relate.
In the summer of the year 1911, Eu
rope was astounded by the news that
Italy, which had long coveted Tripoli,
was massing an army with the object
of seizing that Turkish province with
hardly pretense of justification. AS
she held command of the sea, and
there were only ten Thousand Turkish
troops in Tripoh, the success of the
proposed act OF spoliation appeared a
foregone conclusion unless Turkey
could move force through Egypt for
the purpose of defending her last Afri-
can possession.
Now Egypt, although occupied by
Great Britain, was nominally Turk.
fish province. She paid a tribute to
Turkey of $3.5OO,000 annually The
khedive was yassal of the sultan;
Turkey has always claimed the right
to use Egypt as base for warlike op-
eraticns. The very army which over
threw the khalifa at Khartum moved
under the Turkish flag.
With large force in Syria and an
other on tue east littoral of the Red
sea, It seemed only matter of time
before Turkey could throw enough
men into Tripoli to drive the Italians
into the sea.
Therefore the moment | heard Of
i 4taly's coup l began to wonder what
part Great Britain was playing in the
I. Three weeks previously Sir Edward
Grey. the British foreign minister, FOL
i whom was engaged In the unofficia
task of investigating certain influences
which were making for war in Europe
had written me very friendly letter
suggesting that the recently construct
ed dam at Assnan, on the Nile, wal
one of the worlds marvels, and that
sight Of 1t would well be worth m!
while as soon as my affairs permittet
me to leave Vienna, where was thel
staying.
, had taken the hint and gone I,
Cairo, where, being acquainted witt
many members of the English govern
mental STAFF, spent very pleasan
fortnight, not, however. too much en-
crossed In social pleasures to proven
me from keeping my ear to the ground
to listen for sounds and rumors.
Lord Kitchener had just been al
pointed to the supreme command l
Egypt Nominally the khedive's az
wiser, he was to be actually the rule
of the province. British prestig
which had sunk to a low ebb durin
the period of his predecessor, was e:
pected to reach the heights which
occupied when Lord Cromer's nod wa
law all through the valley of the Nile
We had known that Lord Kitche
er'e appointment coming unexpected
as 1t did, was of high significance. +
had been summoned hastily to Dow
ing street; something was in the al
and we had all felt 1t; his movement
as always. were yelled in myster
and none knew whether he had {
ready sailed or was still lingering
England. Meanwhile there was noboC
in charge at Cairo with power and a
thority TO issue commands in En-
lands name.
They knew 1t, that polyglot crew
Germans. Greeks. Armenians, Cop
Levantines; and Cairo buzzed like
bees nest with intrigues. So that
ever the khedive was tempted to de
+, his British masters and display his d
torious pro-Turkish sympathies. nc
was the time
So when | descended to the dini
room of Shepherds on a certa
morning and read in newspaper th
Italy had addressed an ultimatum
Turkey, knew that had not be
recommended to investigate the /
suan dam for nothing
had hardly finished breakfast VIII
Atterbury. who was in charge. car
into the dining room. There was
suppressed excitement in his mann
despite his attempt to appear at cas-
-can you come out on the Veran
At once. x?" be asked.
/ vent cut With him. The yeran
was deserted. for Egypt does It's sh,
ping and pays its visits in the ca
morning. before the heat grows
tense. and exercises in the late aft
noon AtterbuEg sat down with
beneath the shade Of palm and pull
some papers from bis pocket
*. So 81. s9rning On me s.
cenIy. II didn't know you were here
aauarnraan1 AuaineaS. This Ia an