The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-12-04

country Nationahsm and re-
lgiOus zeal are practically one and
the same thing what Russia has
done 40 Persia in the past Is a pres
ent factor in pouring oil upon the
'ires OF religious unrest.
The Kaiser's Holy War.
Even at his date the jeh0d, or
holy war" proclaimed hy Turkey an
tho buhesS of the kaiser is having
IN unsettling effect out here. Ger
man prOpagandists have been all
thru this region, not only distribut-
ing mone", but also frebrands OF
bTE0TTy- The jehad is being made
a reality. despite the fact that the
Shereet OF Mecca has been proclaim
cd caliph in opposition 10 the sultan
of Turkey
Il may seem a late day for the
proclamation OF the holy war here
abouts, bat the stragetic value OF
this region seems 20 be increasingly
realized Il is not merely the gate
way 10 Persia and Turkestan and
Afghanistan and India. but II Is also
the pivotal point for sediuous ef-
feet upon The Caucasus campaign. AS
81 old, we have here center OF
religious and political influence.
Amid these diversified peoples. IT
ia difIicult 20 detect German propa-
gandists. Up the Volga River, a
short distance from here. are col
onies OF German settlers, planted by
Catherine the Great. and still Ger
man in speech and sympathies. Near
by, In Siberia, are tens or thousands
Of German prisoners. most OF whom
have learned 10 speak Russian, and
many Of whom have escaped into
Turkestan and Mongolia. II is well
known 10 everybody that in Russia
prisoners are propagandists. The
network OF German intrigue still en-
meshes this part Of the world, and
IT'S strongest cord is religion.
Russia As q Moslem Power.
OF late wears Russia has given
real encouragement 10 the Moslems
among hcr people For a long time
the Moslcm population Of the terri
tory she captured from Turkey
generation ago steadily migrated 10
the Ottoman Empire. | have seen
the larze- Ee11lepan4lt2 ~ ttfeeH =+ttff-
IN the trans-Jordsn region and IN
Asia Minor and Syria. These peo-
rlo gave UP home for the sake OF
faith
Now. however Meslems suffer ne
disability on account o. creed IN
this country. The revolution has
made douhly sure their religious lib
ertv The late ear was so fond of
MoSlems that IL "a said he had only
Moslem servants about him in the
palace. Certainly one OF the sights
Of PetroRrad is the great blue-tiled
mosque, near the Nev0. one of the
imposing mosques OF the world, al
The dedication Of which tho car wan
present n has come to be recOg
nized among students OF the ques
ton OF Islam that Russia les 90 De
reck0ned as one OF the Moslcm
powers. and this not merely on &C.
count Of the Mohammedaa- tribes
men on the borders Of the country
Lying hard by Russia, over the
route that runs from this city OF
Balu. IS British India. Not for q
moment has the kaiser forgotten
India He was pointing hi Bagdad
railway in that direction when the
war superseded diplomacy's efforts
20 stop him a large part OF the
population Of northern india rs Mo
hammedan II has remained loval
hut The present revival Of the holy
war" idea IN this particular corner OF
The earth does not add 10 Tho seren.
uy Of The feelings OF anybody con
cerned. There are stiN vast posi-.
bHues % mischief existing in the
situation That Is why this Moslem
unrest. Of which ! write Is an AFFAIR
tor governments, as well as for stu
dents OF religion
Where America Enters.
For centuries there has been bit
ter faction and strife between the
two major groups OF Moslems. the
Sunnitcs and the Shiahs The for.
ucr consider themselves the 'ortho-
dox" branch. and 20 their creed the
Turks all subscribe They have
been accustomed % despise and
&C.