DISCREDITED MULLAH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10763, 10 May 1911, Page 1

DISCREDITED MULLAH.

'REPORTED TO RE TN A PARLOUS CONDITION. The Somaliland Mullah now seems to be hopelessly discredited. Renter's Agency learns that according to intelligence from Somaliland up to February 20 the following is the situation there:— The Mullah is now in the southeastern portion of the Protectorate, at a distance of about 300 miles from the Bristish coast towns. Me is very short of ammunition, and his following, which is daily dwindling, is smaller than for some vcars past. He is on unfriendly terms with most of the tribes in his vicinity, and owing to the fact that the various raiding parties he has dispatched during the past few months have all been repulsed by armed friendlies, he is in a parlous condition. As an inspired leader lie is entirely discredited owing to his methods having been denounced by the Sheikh of Mecca, who is the rccogniso'l head or the Mohammedan sect to which all Somalis belong. The Mullah has never recovered from the crushing d-.-i'oat sustained when he sent a force of 2000 dervishes into the Protectorate hist year to recruit men from his old friends the Warsangli, who, however, in consequence of the Mullah's exactions, are now his open enemies, and who repulsed his hands. The Mullah having entirely failed- to advance into the Protectorate in order to strengthen his position, it is regarded as lilielv that he may further withdraw and before long disappear. The friendlies, who are well and regularly armed from Berhera, are now more combined, and are elated at- their victories over the Mullah, who no longer has any terrors for them. The line of British forts into the interior are all strongly held by these friondlies who keep their scouts out. There is thus a buffer state of friendlies between the Mullah and the British positions on the coast. The whole of the coastline is quite peaceful, trade has improved since the evacuation or the interior and the caravan roads are all open.