“THREE CHEERS FOR KING GEORGE!“

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1186, 8 December 1924, Page 9

“THREE CHEERS FOR KING GEORGE!“

INDIANS’ ANSWER TO PRUSSIAN TYRANT. In the October Blackwood’s Magazine, Major-General Sir George MacMunn, under the title of “The King’s Pawns,” tells a story which lie says should “touch strong men’s hearts with glory till they weep." The story was told to General MacMunn by Mr James Breasted, Professor of History at Chicago, who had it from a Turkish officer. It. tells of llavildar Muhammad Ismael and nine rank and file oft a Mohammedan company of Indian troops guarding the Suez Canal who were lost; among the sandhills and captured by enemy Bedouins and Turkish cavalry.

They were taken before a Prussian officer of the General Stall' of life Turkish Army. “How is it,” he demanded, “that your Indian Mohammedans are engaged in lighting your co-religionists? Surely you are aware that a Holy War against tbe English and their Allies has been declared from the mosques of Islam?” The luivildar thought ' for a bit (the story proceeds) ami then "made answer; “This is a political war and not a religious war. Therefore we remain with our own units and observe our enlistment oath and our faith with the salt we eat.” “Thul may be.” said the Prussian with a scowl. “There are ten Turkish uniforms iu the corner there.. 1 will give you five minutes to put them oil or be shot as deserters from Islam, whose lives are forfeit.” At the havildar’s request the Prussian gave him three minutes to speak alone with his comrades. . . . And then —fame has blazoned the answer. I hope, as jewels that on the forefinger of time sparkle for ever. The party, soldierlike while in cytremis, drew themselves up, and there rang forth as fine a challenge to a cruel tyrant as the world has ever heard: “Three cheers for King George !” The Prussian lifted his hand, and they were led out through the crowd of fierce, flushed faces thronging the door, and a volley wrote their simple names on the great book of Fate.