GROSS V. GSESGENT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4393, 25 November 1912, Page 6

GROSS V. GSESGENT.

WILL THERE BE A HOLY AVAR? TURKISH CONSUL’S REPLY. The report that a Jeliad, or holy war, might be proclaimed was discredited by Ksper Nassoor Bey, Turkish Consul in Sydney, in an interview a few days ago. He thought it most unlikely that such an extreme step would be taken. It is only in the oase of the direct xtremity that a proclamation of such a character would be dreamt of. “I don’t believe that any Jehad has been proclaimed,” the Consul •aid. “If it is true, it will be for the purpose of shaking up the Mohammedans m Turkov so that they may

oombine for their own preservation—that- they shall assist one another in exactly the same way that Australians would sympathise with and feel disposed to help Great Britain in the time of any threatened trouble. It cannot have anything at all to do with India or any other part of the world. It may have a moral effect in other places, but the direct active result of such a proclamation would Snd centralisation in Turkey. “Do you think that the proclamation of a Jehad would mean that the Mohammedans in India would set about killing their Hindu neighbours?” “No. It would only mean, as I have said, a call to patriotism. An appeal to Mohammedanism would only be in effect similar to what took place in 1876 and 1877, when the Turks were entreated to band themselves together so as to defeat their Russian foe. There is no reason for a Jehad. The situation does not warrant it.” “But supposing a Jehad were declared?" the Cor sul was asked. “That’s not likely,”' he replied, “and there’s no need for any alarm on that score.” “GOD HELP OCR CHRISTIANS.” “May God help every Christian who lives next door to a Mahonunedan —- even in Sydney—if Jehad is declared." Tills startling exclamation, says the “Sun.” was made by Air Joseph K. Bellamy, the special Australian corn -pendent ow the Beyrout “Lis-san-ul-Kal." when he was told the latest new - concerning the war. Mr Bellamy has followed the war news from the stall;, and lie knows the details off by heart. He has an intimate knowledge of the seat of war. His lather was for 39 years a servant of the Turkish Government, and his three brother one a colonel in the Turkish army, although not at the front —two sisters, two brothers-in-law and many con-ins are now in Turkey. He i~. however, a Christian. “This i- the most serious tiling that could have happened,” he said, “and it is what has been anticipated for a long time. The meaning of your cable is that immediately the sacred pemoi oi the Caliph, which is the Sultan, is threatened, then the only alternative i> a Holv War. When that is proclaimed the Mahommedans go on killing the Christians until they are killed themselves. A Holy War is not properly declared until the green flag covering the tomb of the Prophet Mahomet is unfurled. “1 have relatives in Turkey, and they, too, are Christians. But, although I fear for their welfare, yet I sa\ that if Holv War lias been declared it is quite justified. At the commencement of the war I expressed an opinion that our Government had made a great mistake in including Christians in the army. Three days later a cable came from tin- front .saving that while the Christians in the troops had surrendered, the Moslems had fought to the last. “The Christians may have a grievance. but when the nation calls there should only !«• one race, and that undenominational. One of the Bulgarian arehfii-hop said some time ago t-hai this was a Holy War—‘a Cross rain the Cre cent’ —hut not one of the Ktiroja »n papers madea comment And h< re we have a bishop at Bathurst the other day saying: Let the Powers be sports and allow the fighting parties fight this war ton, - ring f(H the 10,000 nun that were slaughtered in three day leaving behind them tlmir mil • ; p ins, a 8 long as his own ' alp was ale in the hack bu ll “Whil* this is going on the Sultan Hint civcdly tilled the ‘Monstrous Turf. repeatedly urging on his ti'sip.. to eon ider the war a political one, and requesting them to re-peot tie p< t-ons and property of the noneon batants. Now that Shcikb-ul-Islarn has retaliated, declaring it, as . i a Holy War. I 111 whole ol Kuropo will be up ■n arm callitn/ them bloodthirsty Ma hoiiijni lans anil Other insulting titles. Before allowing the Sheikll-ul f - I m to t; o siu li a step,” Mr Bellamy continued, “the Turkish Cabinet appealed no li+s than twice to Europe to intervene and bring this blo.aiv war to a termination, showing thereby her willingms.. to concede to the Balkan States more than they had demanded Itefore the war. But Euro[>e lent a deaf ear to these ai>-

peals. Now Europe, particularly England, with a hundred million of Mahommedans beneath her flag, will have to bear the consequences. “It is only natural that the Sheikli-ul-Islam should ask the priests to am as missioners. They will hold their people in readiness for Holy AVar in e ase Constantinople is taken, and the sacred person of the Sultan is threatened. AA’hon I say ‘sacred’ in that case. I am speaking in the Mahommedan sense. “A Jehad cannot be confined to Turkey, or, in fact, any one place or section. AA'hen a Jeliad is declared all true Mahommedans, wherever they are must act. Once the green flag is unfurled the Mahommedan in China is to go on slaughtering the Christian, the same as the Mahommedan in .Mecca. The same thing applies to Australia. There are a lot of Alahommedans in Australia, who, since coming here, have become more broadminded, and would respect the laws of their adopted country. Yet there are amongst us here in Sydney some fanatics of tlu' treacherous type.”