THE REAL MOSLEM PERIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2151, 28 March 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE REAL MOSLEM PERIL.

WHEN THE DARK SKINNED RACES CHALLENGE THE WHITES.

There is serious ground, says tlio Literary Digest, for tlio belief that Africa is nob always' to bo subject to Europe. Tlio black is really a threat, and a serious throat, to tlio white man who lias so long dominated and enslaved, him. At this present moment thoro is a very powerlul Mohammedan movement on foot m North Africa which is animated by a. religious as well -as a national -impulse. The progress of affairs m Morocco docs not present an isolated or sporadic feature in African history, says Capt. 11. A. Wilson, writing in the “Nineteenth Century (London). Ho gives in detail tlio plot of tlio Mohammedan sect of tee Sonussia, which is sot upon the possession of Africa by Islam, and the extermination of the white man from the Pillars of' Hercules to the Cape of Good Hope. On this point ho writes as follows : “T have reliable information that yearly numbers of the Sennssia aro sent to Europe, chiefly to England and France, to bo thoroughly educated on European lines. These men come chiefly from- the north and west of Africa. Those two facts alono show definitely that we aro dealing with no ordinary Arab or negro fanatical outbreak, but with a vast organised movement directed by a high intelligence whose ramifications extend everywhere, and which in tho coming years will prove it-sclf a distinct and important, if nob tlio dominating, factor in the affairs of the Dark Continent. “In Barbury, tlio Sahara, and, m fact, all Northern Africa, Scmissism penetrates (lie whole of Soudan, Somaliland, Arabia, Abyssinia, Mesopotamia, Asia-Minor, Turkey, Uganda, Zanzibar, and tho east and west coasts of Africa. Tlio following towns, and districts tire hotbeds: El Agliowat, Oran, Algiers, Twat, Insala, Timinictoo, Senegal, Murzuk, Kancm, northwest of Lake Cliad, Bornou, Tripoli, Tunis, Jarabub, and Benghazi. From all these places emissaries in hundreds sally forth to preach the Jehad to the faithful. “I have but little information concerning this formidable organisition, and what little I have is poorly enough set forth. Most probably I shall be set- down as ail alarmist, but it is my absolute and certain conviction that tho Sonussia is a far moro mighty force than we in Europe have anv coneention of, that it is prospering and gaining prestige daily—almost hourly—-ami that tho day is drawing steadily nearer when we shall stand face to face with a wave of Mohammedan fanaticism, universal throughout the continent, thoroughly organised and amply prepared, com-_ paved to which all previous wars with black races will bo tlio merest child’s play.” Ho sneaks more'"de.Gnitely and positively* upon this point thus: “I am convinced that, when the time does come, every black skill in Africa, with the possible exception of the Christian Abyssinians, will be in arms against the white races. When that day comes, and conic it will, certain as fate, the whites in Africa will be at death grips with one of the most formidable movements of all time —a wave of Moslem fanaticism rolling in countless numbers across the African continent. Composed of sonic of the very finest fighting material—if not the very finest —in the whole world, much of it trained to arms by Europeans, well armed, ably organised and led, gathering momentum at every step, there will spring into being one of the most irresistible forces tho world will vet have seen. In a day there will have arisen a situation compared to which tlio Indian Mutiny and tlio iSoudan campaigns combined would be the smallest of incidents. “As I have already said, this will probably be considered an absurdly exaggerated view. Let mo once a<r a in reiterate my firm conviction that the next twenty years will seo Europe struggling in the throes oi an African war against forces so great that at the end it is unlikely to a degree tint a single white mail remains in Africa. Nor am I alone in this belief; I have already quoted Dr. Carl Peters to this effect, and I could quote in support the opinion of many others—of men who have dedicated their lives to Africa, who havo given her of their best, and who form part of tho small minority of Europeans who know the native mind.

“So great is the unrest and discontent among all native races of Africa that it needs hut a spark to set tlio continent ablazo_ from end to end. To mo tlio Sennssia appears to bo tho source from which that spark will come to fire tho powder-mino which is awaiting it.”