SCMALILAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 364, 15 April 1910, Page 8

SCMALILAND.

THE Mn.l.Airs RAIDS. The JiritMi sphere ui interest in Somaliland anil on the coast of tlio Gulf of Alien, whk'h has existed since 1884, is- known as the Somaliland Protectorate. It is administered by a Commissioner, and the native population Is estimated at 31)0.0(10, (he whites onlv numbering tio. It has about 400 miles of coast, and extends inland 300 miles at its' deepest point. Within this territory lie the poru /.aiht, Bii!l.;u' u:nl Berbera, but their trade is affected the railway which runs I'roin Jibutil in i'rencn Somaliland to 1-lavar. The boundaries were fixed by agreements with Italy in 189-1. and with Abyssinia in 18!)7. Britain recently decided to withdraw a large portion of the troops tli.it have been stationed there for some years, the reason given being that the friendly natives were now sufficiently arm erf, mid able to defend themselves from the .Mullah's attacks. The withdrawal, it wis! stated, did not imply that the country is abandoned bv the liritish. Commenting on this decision the Times, stated: • "A disquieting impression is growing in consequence of the hasty jtolic of the withdrawal of the advanced 'posts in Somaliland. Such action will be disastrous to the friendly tribes wfio re-l'ed upon the promise of British protection. All tribesmen iproteeted are suffering from the reprisals which the Mullah threatened long ago. This is a serious blow to British prestige in Somaliland and possibly in Abyssinia." The SomaFi Mullah has been a. thorn in the side of the Administration ever since the foreign Office took over the protectorate. The Mullah raided British territory in 18!)!), and declared himself Mahdi. Every success brought him recruits. In 1!I00 Abyssinia tried to break his power, but failed. Then an Anglo-Abyssinian expedition started out and dealt him a very 'heavy blow, but he os aped capture. The operations had touted more than a year when the British were defeated by the Mullah-at Ergo owing to the cowardice of the native levies. It was then decided that another expedition must be sent against him, and Italy co-operated in the operations. Fighting went on durin? all 1903, and the Mullah received defeats from the British, the Italians and the Abyssinian s, though he was on aev-

eral occasions. The Mthlah was given a settled sphere in December, 1!)04, on promising to keep the pe.ue. He has since, however, freqneitlv raided friendly tribes arid looted tlu'ir*eamels, and lias during the past few months been more troublesome than over.