Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-23
MUST DECIDE FATE
OF M0HAMMEDANS
What to Do With Loyal Ones
Will Have to Be Deter
mined by Allies.
RESISTING GERMAN EFFORTS
Bill to Naturalize Algerians Dis
cussed in French Cham
Der Of Deputies.
RESISTING GERMAN EFFORTS

PARIS. Juiy 22.--One Of the great
powers after the war is the question
OF what should be done with the mil
lions OF Mohammedans who have re-
manned loyal during the war to France
England and Russia, in spite OF the
desperate efforts OF German agents 10
provoke an uprising among them.
The French Chamber OF Deputies re-
Gently devoted several sittings TO the
discussion Of new bill providing for
the naturalization OF tho natives OF
Algeria. who have rendered Invaluable
the bloodiest battles Of the war. In
a Paris paper. NJ. Edmond Doutte
Frances foremost expert on Isiamism
Says:
The question Of what fate has in
store for the many millions of Mussul-
mans throughout the world and wha,
should be done TO help them 10 evolve
and fulfll their aspirations mos,
interesting one.
Turkey has rushed heedlcssly into a
most dangerous adventure. and hav-
Ing for years posed as the ruler OF
all Islam, she now threatens 10 bring
about it's total destruction.
The holy war proclaimed by the
Sultan is no longer tho terrible war
OF the true believers against the
infdels prescribed hv tho Koran. II
has deEcnerated int" holy war made
in Germany in which Mussulmans and
Christians fight othcr Mussulmans and
other Christians. It has. therefore. not
strengthened. but shattered. the unity
OF Islam.
The mad energy with which the
German propaganda has been carried
on from Fez TO lava. from Kazan TO
Darfur. surpasses all imaEinat ton.
Hundreds OF thousands OF pamphlets
in Arabic. Turkish. Persian and ten
or more other Oriental languages. in
Guiding Chinese. have inundated the
Mohanmcdan countries, cndcavorinE TO
enlist the old religious hatred OF the
Orientals IN the service OF modern
German hatred.
still. after two years Of warfare,
what do we see In the Mohammed dan
world Delhi Is Loyalty serving Eng
land. Tcheran has given her fate into
Russia's hand. Bacdsd is signing for
the English 10 arrive: in Constantine
chaos and misery prevail; starving Da-
mascus. almost drowned in blood is
hoping and praying for delivery; Cairo
is calm under British rule. Tunis,
peaceful and progressing rapidly to-
wards greater civilization, looks upon
the intrigues OF tho Senussi with alb
solute Indifference. Algeria Is marvel
ously prosperous. and fez is awakening
to tho golden dawn of new life.
BOND TO DE MADE
CLOSER THAN EVER
brotherhood in arms between
Frenchmcn and Africans has done more
10 promote the cause Of the natives
than half a century OF abstract dis
cussions, and when peace comes tho
people OF France VIII make their bond
with their Mussulman colonials closer
than ever.
political unity Of Islam perhaps
never excited: stili. Abdul Hamid
dreamed OF 1t. But an Islamitic en-
pire is now mere empty formula OF
tho past-in the future each Mussul-
man country will have to work out
her own destiny
Us Islam then TO become merely a
word? No, the SIohammedan religion
has put Its imprint too deeply unon
| the believers. Arabic is the sacred
common language OF all Mohammedans
and they all are guided in their lives
! by the laws laid down by the prophet
Resides. they all are relatcd--thcre is
an obscure race affinity which unites
the Arabian nomad. the Egyptian fcl.
lah. the Bedouin of the Sahara and the
/ Moors of the towns OF Northern Africa
Islam. even when it disappears from
the political arena. still will have 2
! large place III humanity. 1t will be a
social class of the first order, for /,
will long keep its old ideal Of authori.
tative justice. its literary genius and
its ardent faith. for. as yet, there are
no materialists in Mussulman countries
Islam will not die but. with it's per.
sistent originality. will work togethc,
with Occidental society. Here lies The
| problem Of to-morrow-nay, Of to-day
and this is one of the greatest prob.
| lens which the entente powers have
to solve"