Why has the Jehad fallen flat? Why do the followers of the Prophet throughout the world not rise, defend the Turks, and attack the Allies, in obedience to the Fetvah of the Sheikh-ul-Islam at Constantinople?
These questions, I know, are being asked by many of our Christian fellow-subjects, who, while they are glad to find we are loyal to our British allegiance, are not quite clear in their minds as to how our attitude is to be explained.
To us, however, it is a very simple matter, and not to us alone, but also to the thousands of Moslem subjects of France and Russia.
The whole point is as to whether this is really a Holy War, a true Jehad.
We hold that it is not, and cannot be.
There can be no Holy War for the purposes of spoliation and aggression, and we should be blind, indeed, if we closed our eyes to the fact that our brethren the Turks have been misguided enough to join in a war which has these objects in view.
It is true that the Koran countenances war under certain circumstances, as it shows by the following text: ''Oppression and civil discord is worse than carnage. Fight, therefore, against them until there be no more civil discord and oppression.''
And also in case of profanation of holy places, the Koran says: ''And if God had not repelled some men by others, cloisters and churches, and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of God is ever commemorated, would surely have been destroyed.''
It cannot be said, however, that the Turks have gone to war either to put down oppression and civil discord, or to defend sacred places from destruction or profanation. The most ignorant Moslem can scarcely be in danger of thinking that they have done so.
On the other hand, in the Koran are many strong injunctions against disloyalty to one's Government, whatever Government it may happen to be.
• The necessity for strictly abiding by an agreement made was impressed upon members of the Otago Motor Club by their president (Mr J. A. Roberts) last night.
Speaking of the low road to Portobello, he said that members of the club were breaking the by-laws as to speed, and were going along that road at 25 miles an hour or more.
The limit was 12 miles.
They had undertaken to see that members of the club adhered to the by-laws, and he thought it right to ask members to keep to the rules made for the low road, and, also, for the Brighton road, otherwise there was no question about the low road being closed again to motor traffic.
• That practical patriotism which shows itself in a preference for British-made goods is taking a firm hold of New Zealanders.
The Board of Trade Journal provides evidence that numbers of business people in the dominion have not been slow to avail themselves of the services of Mr W. G. Wickham, the British Trade Commissioner in Wellington, in getting into touch with English manufacturers of special lines desired by them.
Many others, desiring to find substitutes for foreign-made goods, are probably not aware of the facilities offered at the commissioner's office.
Mr Wickham has not only an extensive personal knowledge of the lines put on the market by British manufacturers; but those interested may consult at his office extensive files of British trade and technical journals representative of all industries of importance.
In addition, inquiries made for special articles are given publicity in Britain in the Board of Trade Journal, and reprinted in most cases by the various trade publications concerned.
The New Zealand business man has thus at hand a valuable and ready means of getting into touch with British manufacturers, of which he would do well to avail himself to the full.
• The Johannesburg Sunday Post has published a thrilling story of the adventures of Trooper Snyman, of the Imperial Light Horse, a despatch rider, who, in ordinary life, is a Dutch farmer in the Orange River Colony.
Snyman had to carry three despatches for Colonel Alberts, Colonel Vanzyl, and Colonel Royston respectively.
It was necessary to cross the Vaal, and when he reached the river it was in flood. He removed all his clothing, which he made into a bundle and fastened to the back of his spare horse.
Then he remounted his own horse and started to cross the river.
The spare horse was swept away and drowned, but Snyman, on the other animal, reached the further bank.
He rode naked through a hot day and well into a cold night, when he found himself in touch with the rebels.
This rendered it necessary to hide in the bush all night.
The next morning his skin was peeling, and he was so cold that he could scarcely clamber on his horse.
The whole of that day he rode through country infested with the enemy, and, still naked, delivered the first of his despatches at nightfall.
Then, merely stopping to get a pair of trousers and a blanket, he continued his journey, and next day delivered the other two despatches, after which he returned to the base. - ODT, 14.4.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
