Why Somaliland Cannot be Abandoned.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXIX, Issue 12111, 4 July 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

Why Somaliland Cannot be Abandoned.

-. There seems, to be a notion afloat in the House'of Commons (says the "Spectator") that'we might get but of a vexatiously unprofitable position by retiring from Somaliland, and allowing the fighting clans who dwell in and infest':that .region to kill each other and make peace with.each other 'at their own"discretion. We heartily wish we could, for we feel keenly the disparity between the extent of the. work we shall have to do and its positive utility:; but we fear,.in spite of official declarations in that .'direction, that it will prove impossible. The key to our position, and the French position,' and the Italian position in Northern Africa, down: almost to the equator, is that the masses pf Mussulmanised negroes who inhabit the centre of the semicircle shall'think Europeans too formidable to:be' attacked. They are all,men careless of life; they are all'believers in force as the only, political method; and they all hate the intruding white man with a hatred Trhich is both religious and*, racial.; They, are constantly finding leaders who, usually under, jjojqoe. religious pretext, try to set up thrones, an'd who see that to make those thrones safe they must try conclusions with (he white, man: If they are ' only convinced that victory for them is possible they will, go on attacking as ' the Somalis' did-at Gumburru,' without caring about losses, and'-regarding defeats. as only pas/Sing incidents:' If the Europeans are to :be } they, must teach /them/ that a •momentary success means nothing; that it only arouses energy : iri tie. invaders; and "that it will be, assuredly '.followed ,-by subjugation so complete that'- their subjects will take to agriculture and commerce instead of war. The huge potential force which: we call' that-of'the Dervishes, and , which often derives/ its inner, strength from some sucli religious brotherhood, must be curbed: whenever,it moves, or Northern, Africa, with--its coast provinces included, must be left-to take care pf itself., .It is a ghastly piece pf work to.;have to ,do, because it will involve the wasting of ?o many valuable lives; but Europe has undertaken it,: and it must be carried through. OUr share is the easiest because we have Sikh help, and know how to;.turn any brave black men into disciplined soldiers; and sv'e cannot recede in a panic without injury both to the national hopefulness and the -national character/ But while;doing it.we ought to remember steadily, ;ari"d not by fits and starts, that it is a big work, ought to keep ourselves prepared, and, above all, ought to accumulate the knowledge Without which we shall be fighting blindfold. And we: may add, as we are saying/unpopular things, that we ought to get rid of bur preposterous notion that all men who are not white are cowaTds, or at least indisoosed to die. If contempt for death is /the test, there are many dark races braver than ourselves, in fighting:whom we shall, •if we are;wise, fall back upoi the enchanted armour of a scientific civilisation:-