THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1911. THE SENUSSI FANATICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10442, 6 October 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1911. THE SENUSSI FANATICS.

Events in regard to the Tripolitan war have not yet developed into any-

thing of a very sensational character. A great,deal of interest attaches, however, to the announcement that the Turks are arming the Arabs ifo" a conflict. This may result in •protracted hostilities' before Italy (ran claim to have subjugated the fanatical Mahommednns. ' Hie sect, or tribe, formed many years ago by the Sheik el Senussi, recognises only the Koran as its authority. The Senussi movement exercises great influence, in the- .North of Africa. If we may accept the authority of Dr Kumra, th-j managing director of the Soudanese Mission, the movement iia<B developed into a religious propaganda', having for its aim the conversion of the- Northern negro peoples, and their union under the Crescent. The Hbrmula of admission, which Sir

Francis Wingate gives in "Mahdism and the Egyptian Soudan," is curious enough, to justify quotation. " 'God pardon me,' to be said one hundred times. "There is no God but God, and Mohammed is His Prophet; every .glance and every breath is known to him,' to be said three hundred times. 'O, God, pour Thy blessing on our Prophet Mohammed, he who could neither read nor write, and bless us his followers and friends,' to be said one hundred times." And in "Modern Egypt" (1909) Lord Cromer tells us that the Sheik lias become the head of one of tlie most important (Mohammedan sects which now exist. "It has been | estimated that 'his followers number no fewer than 3,000,000, who are scattered widely over the whole of Northern Africa. They are especially numerous in Wadai," and fairly numerous in Egypt. But the great authority on the Senussd movement is Mr Silva White-, who has devoted so ,much time 'and attention, to the subject of North-Eastern Africa, and has na.l special opportunities of studying it* problems on the spot. In his "Expansion of Egypt," he tells lis that in the heart of the Libyan Desert, .which is bounded on the north by 'Tripoli and Barka, lies a, group of oases-.named Kufra. "At one of these inaccessible oases (Joffa) the Senussi Mahdi has established himself From this centre, which is. connected bv etapes, or oases, situated . at one-day's journey apart, extending between Wadai and Barka, the Slueik el Senussi exercises dominant control over vast areas of the Sahara. ' The principal Senussi settlements in the borderlands of the-Lib-yan Desert (apart from Kufra and Barka) are Aujila (actually in the Vilayet-of Tripoli!). Tibesti, 'Borku, \Vanyayga .and; Ennendi. Their base of communication with the outer: world,, is .Beijgazi, on the 'Barka .coast.; 'At this port arms and ammunition. have .hitherto' . entered freely, "under the averted, eyes of Turkish officials." . Hence any European -Power established at Tripoli •must eventually find itself at once engaged in difficulties with the Senussi. As far-back as 1899.Mr Silva White uttered a note of warning, wihieh recent events have rendered doubly significant. "It would be in the highest degree unwise, on the part of Italy or of France, to take any .steps to change the status quo in Tripoli. The settlement of Tripoli involves the settlement of the Senussi question, -which at .present is dormant, though big with fate." Kufra, the headquarters of the Senussi, is within the Angfy-Egyptian ' sphere "'■' of influence.. And, the .fact, . that, as "The Times" reminds us, thev recognise ..ne'spiritual headship of the Sdiltan, adds to the gravjty of the situation.