The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1916. A GRAVE MENACE REMOVED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2869, 6 September 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1916. A GRAVE MENACE REMOVED

A brief cablc message to-day tells of tho establishment of a proEntente Government in Persia, and tho.successful' suppression of Ger-man-activities in South-west Persia by the British authorities. Probably tnc message will deceive little attention from the public, being overshadowed by the greater and more stirring happenings in the main theatres of war, yet tho matter is ono of very 'great 'importance. It marks the fanal and utter failure of Germany's greatest hope to paralyse tho efforts of Britain in the war. Persia is the centre at which German intrigue has been working to cripplo Britain in the Middle East. It has' been a danger spot about which little has lioen written or said, but its importance nevertheless has not been underrated by those ii> touch with events in that quarter. Persia for some, years has been largoly under Russian and British control —Russia in' the north . and Britain in the south—but in recent times German agents have been very active in promoting discontent and antagonism to Russo-British influences. Early in the war larjje bands of disaffected Persians, acting in conjunction with German officers, and well supplied. with German rifles, machine guns, and ammunition, practically dominated the country. Russian and British interests wero seriously endangered, and in fact the situation became so critical that Russia had to send a large forcer of troops, and there was much hard fighting before the Germans and those acting with them were driven out of tho north. It was<these German-Persian forces act.ing later with the Turks who hampered the Russian advance on Bagdad, which was believed by many to be likely to relieve the pressure on General' Townsiiend at Kut-cl-Amara. The capture of Kerroanshah by the Russians marked the end of German influence in the north-west of Persia, but it is only now that the British have completed their share of the task and crushed the malign influence of German agents in the south-west.

The raising of trouble in Persia, however, was only a part, and a very minor part, of' the grcat_ German plan for crippling Britain. The main purpose behind the Kaiser's plotting was to rouse the wholo Middle East and force Britain to dissipate her strength by maintaining large forces of troops in India and along the borders of Afghanistan. Having secured the aid of Turkey he proceeded through his dupe the Sultan to endeavour to rouse the Mahommcdan population of Europe, Africa, and Asia to embark on a Holy War. We know how that effort failed, but it must not bo assumed that no mischief was

done. While promoting disaffection in Persia with a good deal of success, small bodies of Germans and Turks had used the facilities thua placed at their disposal for penetrating into Afghanistan to .preach a Holy War, and there had also been attempts to foment rebellion in India. Professor Robert MachRAYj writing in the Fortnightly Review, says the information which has recently become available shows these plots and plans to have beon of a far-reaching arid formidable na q bure, and, to quote th© words of Mr. Asquith, the situation contained elements of grave menace. According to Professor Maohray, Prinoe Reuss, then German Minister at Teheran, was tho head and front of the enemy's activities. Ho first dispatched into Afghanistan, under the leadership of a Moslem priest, a caravan loaded with arms and anti-Entente literature in' the nativo languages. Further expeditions of a similar naturo followed, including a' party of twenty agitators, whoso, role was'to effect an alliance between Turkey and Persia and Afghanistan, supported by Gcrmany. The idea was that, if tho Ameer of Afghanistan could be embroiled in the war Russia would bo compelled to withdraw from Europe large forces for Central Asia-, while the British would also have their hands'full on tho frontier.

Fortunately these cavcfully-plan-nod and heavily subsidised efforts failed completely, for the Ameer," despite the pressure brought to bear on him, resolutely refused to participate in or encourage any action hostile to Britain or Russia. There were several minor attacks on the frontier, but these were not encouraged by the Ameer, and were _ repulsed with heavy loss to the tribesmen. And the failure with Afghanistan was duplicated in India. Moijoy was spent freely, and every possible effort made by • Germany through' agents and by the circulation of huge quantities of inflammatory leaflets and pamphlets to rouse the people of India Against tho British raj, but fcho carofullypianncd schemes arid plots wont awry. I a many cases the loyal natives who had been approached with bribes and offers of arms at once notified the ■ Indian Government. Some of the leaflets urged tho native troops to kill their British officers. and rid themselves for ever from the hated yoke of England. Persia was the centre fromi which these' intrigues wfire worked, and though outside of that country I they failed completely, itwas nono the less desirable that this dangerous propaganda should bo suppressed. There was only one way to do this, and that was to drive, the Gcr-1 mans and their agents out of Persia and to assert the dominance' of Russo-British influence there.: This gradually has been accomplished, tho final step in this direction being recorded to-day. Not only has a grave menace been removed, but our enemies have suffered the humiliation of material losses weighted with tho depressing moral • burden of another failure in what looked to them a most promising field of action.