The Heartless Felon
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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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