NORTHERN AFRICA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 225, 21 August 1940, Page 9

NORTHERN AFRICA

ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY. HATRED OP ITALIANS. Ten years ago Kiiucl Holmboe, a Danish journalist who had. embraced Islam, made an adventurous journey across Northern Africa, through the territories ruled by Italy and more largely populated by the,native Arab tribes who have long resisted the invaders ot' their soil, His adventures he has told in aii absorbing story, “Desert Encounter,” in which an introduction given by Mr J. H. Driberg, lecturer in anthropology at Cambridge University, gives an intimate glimpse of the man who amazed even the Italian soldiers in Libya and Cyrenaica by his remarkable and audacious journey. “In him we have lost a potential T. E. Lawrence.” says this personal note, tor Holmooe ,was murdered in 1931 by Arab brigand’s when making a pilgrimage to Mecca through Arabia. “He lias much to say against Italian methods in Africa and recent events have proved liis censure to be justified. Yet, bitterly as he felt for the oppressed, bitterly as he resented the injustice and atrocities which they have had to suffer, every statement is made judicially, dispassionately, and carries the hall-mark of truth.” But Holmboe also had tlie “gracious attribute” of recognising the good in others and he pays a generous tribute to several Italians who were popular with the natives and line and sympathetic administrators. ENMITY REMAINS TO-DAY.

The narrative is most interesting at this stage when, it may be recalled, the Italians are still far from friendly with the Arab tribes in Tripoli and Cyrenaica. Shortly alter Italy entered the present conflict there was a pronounced report of Italian soldiers being hampered by tribesmen who rejoiced. to know that perhaps this war would mean their liberation from the slavery forced upon them. The author’s route lay from Tetu.au, through Algeria to Tunisia, on to Tripoli and thence across the Libyan Desert to Benghazi and Derna. It was in Arghela, where ho stopped before reaching Benghazi, that Holmboe felt the difference between Tripoli, and Cyrenaica. “Here was not a single Arab soldier; they were all natives from Eritrea.” The Arab troops, the explanation ran, could not be trusted as they fraternised with the enemy. At Fort Ajedabia the little party—an American had accompanied Holmboe since leading Tetuan and frequently an Arab helper — witnessed the execution of two Bedouins who had been engaged in a light with the Italians, a rather common thing before Cyrenaica was crossed. Near liere Holmboe met a Bedouin chief, one of many lie conversed with to gain an insight into their feelings towards the Italians, and the story he told was typical:—“We are getting fewer and fewer. Our villages arc bombed and destroyed. Our women are taken away. We can do nothing against the devilish machines of the Italians.” “SALT OP THE EARTH.”

A Maltese who had lived long in Benghazi, even before the Italians arrived, told a similar story. “Graziani gives no quarter. All prisoners are Ranged or shot, and it the civilian population shows even the slightest sign of sympathy with the rebels, they, too, aro punished. It’s terrible.” The reason was simply stated —“the Italians have gone quite mad since they took to Fascism. Now they imagine they are the salt of the earth. They dislike everything that is not Italian. They feel they are the heirs of Rome.” Typical, too,'of the Arab response to good treatment was the explanation tendered at Morj where the author met Commandant Diodiece whose peaceful views and understanding of the Arabs made him well liked. “Graziani tries •to choke us in blood; Diodiece could make peace by a handshake,” ran the tribute from an Arab merchant. To Diodiece. indeed, the author pays a very remarkable tribute —“he referred to the Arabs always with the greatest sympathy, and I never hear of him employing expressions like ‘dogs,’ ‘animals,’ etc., which were generally used about the legitimate inhabitants.” Between Merj a.nd Derna Holmboe crossed one of the worst parts of Cyrenaica and when his car broke down the Italians did not hesitate to go on. The incident caused his capture b.v Bedouins, but he at last convinced them of his bona fides and gained their confidence. Their chief told a story of a son and daughter, the victims of Italian lust for murder and wretchedness, the former killed in a raid when his father was away, and the latter carried off to white slavery' in Derna, later to be murdered by her own father to avoid further shame. HOPE FOR JUSTICE. Derna provided the same story of executions; even women at times paid the penalty. It also was here that Holmboe found himself involuntarily remaining to witness many more such things when he wished to continue his journey, until at last the Italians had him arrested and deported. But before he was taken on a foul smelling vessel with other prisoners back to Benghazi he spent several days in the Italian prison. There at that time were several Arabs, “their only crime was that they belonged to the house of. Senoussi.” Others were there awaiting death, just because they warred with Italy. Indignity upon indignity was piled upon the Senoussi, but the Italians cared not for their finer feelings or the outrage their sheik suffered in public as the small party made their 'way to the ship, in whose foul hold the brief voyage to Benghazi was made, each prisoner chained so that he could not escape. Eventually Holmboe was released tq learn 'that his arrest was ordered to prevent his passing between Derna and the Egyptian frontier and through the war zone. Thus lie failed to reach Egypt by car when within 6ight of his journey’s end. As he left Africa’s shores for Denmark he “gazed at the coast receding, slowly from sight and liis heart ached for the poor hardy people whom he had learnt to know, and for their hopeless struggle,” trusting that “justice would be victorious one day.”