The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-31


qualified observers do not hesitate
here to give harsh warning to the
government that the actual loss of
this great semi continent is quite
possible.
There are three chief causes for
unrest, each more serious than the
other. First is the economic crisis
which has stricken the huge land,
bringing the scourges of unemploy-
ment, of unsold and rotting grain
and fruit, of unstable wine, of semi
famine to hordeS Of native tribes
men.
Enemy Influence Factor
Second is enemy influence" the
secret propaganda of antagonists of
France, so that an Arab rabble,
surging through the bazaars of i'm
portant towns, vents its anti
Semitism by acts of barbaric
slaughter, to the shout of Hell Hit
ler!"
Also, so that native troops have
risen against French officers and
slain fellow-soldiers who remained
loyal to the Tricolor.
Third, possibly most important, is
the spread of par Islamism, with
its threat of JehaG--" Holy War
to drive out the "Roumis," the
Christians.
Already a "Mahdi," a New Pro
phet has risen. He is DR.. Ben
Djelloul, Paris trained physician,
focus of the African "separatist
movement" directing from his hum
BILE home in the Arab quarter of
the town of Constantine the anti
French action of untold thousands
of obscure tribeSmen from the
Grand Atlas mountains to the des-
erts of deep Sahara.
1t was the false rumor that "a
Jew has killed Ben Djelloul" which
precipiated the fierce rioting in
Constantine last August, after the
Moslem population had felt itself
grossly insulted by drunken jew
ish army tailor.
Behind Ben Djelloul the leaders
Of Mohammedan fundamentalism-
the "Neo-W ahabites urging
fierce doctrines of pure Islamism
and a return to the austere, desert
born fervor of their faith.
The first recent manifestation Of
mass hatred of the -Moslem
population of Frances North Afri-
can poSSeSSionS-there are 100000
native and naturalized French in
the region, including many African
JewS-occurred in Constantine last
summer.
When the three days of street
fighting had ended, 25 Jews had
been slain, including three infants
snatched from their mothers arms.
Deaths among the Arabs we're also
numerous and the property loss in
Quilted shops and looted homes was
great.
Unemployment Riot Recalled
At Siddi-el-Abbes presently there
was a serious riot of unemployed. A
strike at Bone followed. The other
day the town of Setif burst into up
roar, when a native soldier was
obliged to shoot another soldier who
was running amuck.
The most diSquieting element of
this affair was that native troops
fired upon their own comrades and
defied French authority and SUI
premacy.
Two other recent episodes re-
Gently gave further proof that Arab
anti Semitism in some cases is
merely a veil for anti-Frenchism.
In the town of Mascara, Arabs in
terfered in the arrest of one of
their compatriots and menaced the
French military authorities.
In Tlemcen a Moslem crowd
a film of Hitler Again, in
1000 natives greeted Ben
Badir, a lieutenant of DR.. Ben
Djelloul, with a perfectly executed |
Fascist salute!
In an Algerian port, French
wine boat was looted by lockers.
Elsewhere, labor troubles continue
to cause rioting and unrest. And
deep in the inaccessible "bled"-the !
hinterland-the green flag Of the
is drawing its swarmS Of
devotees.
Worst Times in 100 Years
mo war was ever started eX-
for religious motives" de-
clares one French commentator.
Our own CruSadeS were economic |
and dynastic as we'll as religious"
The same is true of Algerian I'M
rest. he says. 1t is the economic |
crisis which is turning under-fed |
and hopeless people to the banner
Of their faith.
The crisis in North Africa, unlike |
that in France, has great similarity
to that through which the United |
State was recently passing. North |
Africa is a country of vast produc-
ton of wheat, fruit, olives and wine. |
In the hundreds years of French |
colonization there have never been |
such bad times as now. That is-be-
cause of recent expansion, which il
boom days, gave the French empire |
in Africa an outlet for its surplus
products and high prices.
The markets are now closed. |
There is no demand for Algerian
wheat. France herself has re-
stricted the import of Algerian
wines for the benefit Of Frances
own vineyards.
France Partly to Blame
France herself is to blame for
the intellectual unrest of the COL
onies also. Young Arabs, taught
il French schools and colleges, or
who have lived in France, return
home with a working knowledge Of