Evening star., 1928-05-13
Islam Has Its Ruthless Mussolini

admit into his bosom, he said. wss :
vays following him like q hyena, vat
ing for the opportunity TO fan upon shd
strike him in the back. One day IN
Thn Saoud Unexpectedly turned around
and fell on Omar and his henchmen.
The skirmish was short and decisive
Ibn Saoud's men had orders TO xii
every one except Omar. When the order
was executed the Wahahi Sultan turned
TO Omar with a friendly smile. He en-
loved playing with his victim before
6iSposing Of him. AS prelude ne
I chopped of one OF Omar's legs; then
pretended to sever his neck, and merely
I scratched his shoulder. Finally he did
sunder Omar's head and. To make sure
( that the artful one should not posses
a soul when applying fer place in tn
company OF the blessed ones, carved out
/ his heart.
/ Four years ago, Ibn saoud performed
/ the great exploit Of his life. He sur
prised the holy cities OF Islam. Mecca
and Medina, occupied them, expelled
Britain, and crowned himself King OF
Hedias
! When the news reached the other
+ Islamic countries there was much con-
/ sternation lest the holy places should
now fall into the possession Of the
Wahabis. whom the other Mohamnae-
dams consider. on their part, little better
/ than the infidelS However, the Islamie
world was soon treasured. Ion Sao0o
restored order where chaos had pre-
vailed
| Before the new kings advent TO power
the "hadjis." or pilgrims 10 the holy
cities. were frequently robbed by desert
outlaws Ion SaoAd put stop 70 TINS,
! Before his time merchants and ths
owners OF earAyanSarieS mercileSSiy sN-
! plotted the pilgrims. lhn Saoud had
| fixed prices Of lodgings and food eSiah-
/ liShed. He provided free sleeping places
for the poor, thereby making himself
immensely popular,
In the other part OF his country. the
desert Nejd, Ihn SaoGdS influence Is
even greater, lie Is makinS his nnnaad>
settle IN the eases, l'nlS - ts,s .sV,,
significant event in the history CT
Arabia, The king has erected Nad
mosques by the score, and Is appealing
To the puritanic fcrVcr Of hts subjects "a
induce them Ia stick close % thsiI
places Of worship Gradually hs tr'oS
To reclaim the eases, 50 that his toll
lowers may engage IN agriculture M
stead Of predatory cSplnsss and th'
has no commercial future IN the post
war world
Tim Saoud ranks after MaStaeha
kemal as the strongest personality tnat
! Islam has produced since the DAYS az
the great eonauerafS tle knows his
strength and eultivateS his popularity
50 that his chances og being elevated
to the ealiphate are improving every
day
Rayal Splenaer Is one ef ths devices
ey which the Ktag af Aedlas and sui
tan Of the Neia inapresSeS his eevreh~
glonistS he has fleet Of sumptueuS
automobiles, especially designed ANA
built for him in England. II lS not
nom any lack Of generosity on his part
that he puts his wives in police WaguaS,
He Il careful net 20 violate the law BY
having his ecnsorss expeSed 60 the EAss
OF men,
The royal palace OF Rha~-ths cap
ital has been removed fsniA MAJ
would not impress weSgeiaeT 81 =
place ne for kings - live IN, nAs
gtorined mud shack Of immense nae.
portions, equipped with what The naive
imagination conceived A. royal parnp
Nevertheless, foreign diplArnAt adj
mire the stateSMAnllke qualities at ths
| king, who, Il seems, has nrnaly estao-
ltshed executive authority in the midst
os an nAFNly and nNfAadie pNpAllAsaan
which had for thousands nf years re-
tAsed 10 submit - kings and saltAnA