"THREE CHEERS FOR KING GEORGE."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16606, 9 December 1924, Page 4

"THREE CHEERS FOR KING GEORGE."

INDIANS ANSWER TO PRUSSIAN TYRANT. AN EPIC OK THE WAR. In the October Blackwood's Magazine, Major-General Sir George Macr Alum), under the title of "The King's Pawns," tells a story which he says should "touch strong men's hearts with glory till they weep." The story was told to General MacMiinii by Mr. .James Breasted, Professor lof iHiatory at Chicago., who had it from a Turkish officer. It tells of Havildar Muhammad Isinacl and nine rank and tile- of a Mahommedan 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 Staff of the Turkish Army. "How is it," he demanded, "that you Indian Mahommedans are engaged in fighting your coreligionists? Surely you are aware that a Holy War against, the English and their Allies has been declared from the mosques of Islam?" The havildar thought for u bit (the story proceeds) and 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." "That may be," said the Prussian with a scowl. "There are ten Turkish uniforms in the corner there. I will give you live minutes to put them on or be shot as deserters from 'lslam, whose lived are forfeit." iTNANIMOtJB ANSWER. . At the havildar's request the Prus J

sian gave him three minutes to speak alone with his comrades'. . . . And then—fame has bla/.oned, the answer, I hope, as jewels that*''on the forefinger of time sparkle forever. The party, soldier-like while in extremis,' drew themselves up, and there rang out 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 tho door, and a volley wrote their simple village names on. the great book of Pate. -