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It need not trouble us very much... (Read 550 times)
The Heartless Felon
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It need not trouble us very much...
Feb 18th, 2020 at 10:38am
 
From The Times, February 17, 1920
We must assume that the Colonial Office has good grounds for sanctioning another expedition in Somaliland against the Mullah Mahomed Abdullah, who is no more “mad” than the rest of the world. Whatever the reasons, they will have to be scanned very closely, for the nation is in no mood to concur in the waging of any more little wars. The last operations against the Mullah were undertaken in 1914, since when he has suffered eclipse. Apparently he has been sending out bands of raiders, in conformity with his old custom. He is also said to have been preaching a Holy War, which need not trouble us very much; he has done so at intervals for a quarter of a century. The new expedition is to take the form of combined Anglo-Italian action. Indian and African troops, with tanks and an Air Force detachment have been landed at Berbera, in British Somaliland. This is the first time Italian troops have cooperated with us in Somaliland, though on more than one occasion we have had assistance from the Abyssinians, who have their own score to settle.
There have been at least seven expeditions against the Mullah in the last 20 years, almost invariably indecisive, ranging in strength from a few hundred men to the little army 6,000 strong commanded by Sir Charles Egerton in 1903-04. His horse and spearmen move with extraordinary speed, and live on the country. He has no permanent dwelling but lives in camps which he can abandon in a night. Sometimes we have hit him very hard. Once or twice he has hit us hard. Invariably we have had to retire without overwhelming him, undone by transport and water difficulties. Whether tanks will be of use in this form of warfare is doubtful. It will be like chasing a hornet with a steamroller. The aeroplanes, though, ought to be of immense assistance. At the same time, we see no reason to modify the view we expressed in March, 1914: “The only way to hold the interior of (British) Somaliland is to build a railway on our frontier, and to garrison the Protectorate with a substantial force of Indian troops.” Just now we cannot afford to build railways across deserts, yet it would be better to spend the money thus than to throw it away upon an eighth “will-o’-the-wisp” expedition.
thetimes.co.uk/archive
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The Heartless Felon
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Re: It need not trouble us very much...
Reply #1 - Feb 19th, 2020 at 1:50pm
 
From The Times February 19, 1920
Colonel Amery has informed a surprised House of Commons that the operations in Somaliland are over. The Mullah Mahomed Abdullah has been routed thanks, as we anticipated, to the use of aeroplanes. His forts have been bombarded and destroyed, his followers killed or taken prisoner, his cattle and rifles captured. He is in flight with a small party of horsemen.
It is clear from Colonel Amery’s explanation that the operations were justified. It is also clear that in the open country of Somaliland aircraft can be used with extraordinary results. What is not clear is the reason for the reticence of the Colonial Office. The Mullah’s inland stronghold was captured on February 9, the day before Parliament met, but not a word was said until the publication of a telegram from Nairobi, in British East Africa, compelled disclosure of the facts. The Colonial Office seems to regard its minor wars as purely private adventures which are no concern of the public. The same reticence has been maintained by the War Office in regard to small expeditions in Kurdistan and elsewhere. No one expects the premature revelation of intended operations, but Departments which take the field on their own account should understand that no more secret wars, however small, will be tolerated. The moment issue is joined, the public, who have to pay, and Parliament, which is ultimately liable to be called to account, have a right to know what is going on.
The Mullah has probably received a deadly blow, but we shall believe in his final overthrow when he is dead. He has always, as on this occasion, eluded capture and turned up again. Once we missed him, but captured his mother-in-law, an exploit which he contemplated with marked equanimity. Ten years ago Mr John Dillon said that “parties come and go in this House, but the Mad Mullah goes on forever”.
It is time the Government explained their policy in Somaliland. Mr Churchill, when Home Secretary, said that it was “a great mistake” to have left the coastline and that we had spent millions there in vain. The Government should state frankly whether they propose to hold the interior or not.
thetimes.co.uk/archive
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Mattyfisk
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Re: It need not trouble us very much...
Reply #2 - Feb 19th, 2020 at 9:03pm
 
I have a feeling Sir Reggie was involved in that one, Heartless.
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