The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1911. THE CROSS AND THE CRESCENT.

Southland Times, Issue 16888, 13 November 1911, Page 4

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1911. THE CROSS AND THE CRESCENT.

When a little over a month ago the cables reported that war had broken out between Italy and Turkey as the result of an ultimatum delivered to the Porte by the Italian Government, the world' was moved by a wave of indignation against the wanton disregard of international rights by a Christian power. But there was no difference of opinion as to the outcome of the struggle. It was impossible to see any other result than the speedy defeat of Turkey, since the Turkish navy was entirely at Italy’s mercy. The apparently easy initial victories of the Italians and the subsequent bombardment and seizure of the town of Tripoli, created no great surprise, and when at last it was announced that Italy had formally given notice to the Powers of her annexation of Tripoli, no doubt the general feeling was one ,

of relief that the business was practically over without/adding the horrors of war to an act of international brigandage. But this feeling has sustained a very abrupt shock. It seems to be very doubtful, after all, whether Italy will be able by a demonstration of naval and military 'strength to add Tripoli to her own dominions. Italy seems to have greats ly underestimated the strength which Turkey could pit against her in her grab for further African dominion. Furthermore the atrocities which have taken place -during the last few days have tended to deepen and intensify the disgust with Italy which her first lawless act excited. The sudden drop from the heights of elation to the lowest depths of depression, caused by the recent decisive Turkish victories, coupled with the paralysis of fear which the daily and nightly persistency of the enemy would cause to an' imaginative and nervous race like the Italians, might in a measure excuse a massacre. But we cannot ignore the testimony of so many non-combatant Independent witnesses as we have. Reuter’s Tripoli correspondent affirms that the slaughter of the Arabs was the outcome of General Caneva’s specific orders. Lieutenant Montague testifies to the fact that he saw over a hundred mutilated bodies of women and children. Mr McCullagh, the “Westminster Gazette’s” special correspondent, has returned his papers to Caneva as a protest against such fearful atrocities as he saw and even photographed. Four hundred women and children, he says, were shot as were also four thousand men of whom not one hundred were guilty. And these are only a small number of such witnesses. Now Italy finds herself in a most humiliating position, although news from Rome has it that she will fight to a finish. But what is the finish to be? The Turkish leaders have summoned more and more thousands of the desert tribesmen, to mass together to repel the invader. The Italians are practicaly shut up in Tripoli : Certainly another army corps has been dispatched to the front, but the numbers of Arabs ready to respond to the Turkish call must be enormous. The wastage of war can be made upby drawing upon a vast area of hinterland for men to make up even the heaviest losses. Whatever transpires for Italy, her bill will be a heavy one both in lives and gold. Moreover we have it that the Turks, incensed by the unjustifiable interference with, part of their dominions and inflamed by the perpetration of such atrocities as we have mentioned, have proclaimed a jihad or holy war. This is a religious duty inculcated in the Koran on the followers of Mahomet to wage upon those who do not accept the doctrines of Islam. Such a war can be instituted by the command of a recognised religious authority only, and this the Sultan is. It is held to be an event of the deepest significance that the powerful and restless Senoussl fyave recognised the spiritual authority of the Sultan. What the result of such a holy war would he it is hard to realise. That a Christian nation such as Italy should retain its prestige is -much to be desired, foi* : the smallest success on . the part of the followers of Islam is sufficient to excite them to frenzy. The consolidation of the vast Islamic peoples of Northern Africa has been rapidly promoted during the last few years by emissaries of the young Turk administration, and under such further pressure as Italian defeat, this movement might easily lead to a general outburst of fanaticism in Northern and Central Africa. Any appeal for help which Italy may have to make would doubtless meet with a response from those nations which feel the tie of a common culture and religion with the Italians; biit there are other nations whose sense of justice as well as their political interests might make them side with the Moslems, and thus would arise a possible struggle between the powers of Europe. England has been appealed to for intervention in the cause of Turkey, and since England numbers so many followers of Islam among the population of her dependencies, the question becomes of vital moment to us. Amur Ali, at present visiting London, has already publicly appealed to the British Government to use its influence in opposition to the invasion in Tripoli, in view of ' the hostility it is likely to provoke between Christianity and Islam. “To England,” he declares, “the matter,is one of serious moment; 100,000,000 of Mussalraans acknowledge her sway, and they all take the keenest interest in everything that concerns their fellow religionists abroad. The fury and hatred to which such a wanton and unwarrantable act of is sure to give rise will react m every part of the Moslem world. Egypt and the whole of Northern Africa will immediately be affected by it, and the work of conciliation and the progress of good will be thrown back by centuries.”