Editorial:

 

We learn with some trepidation of the precipitate withdrawal of the British garrison from Mahaba, a district plagued in recent months by a rebellion led by the treacherous Amir of Balagash.   The fighting retreat to Kheris of soldier and civilian alike resulted in the deaths of the Military Governor Sir Garnett Humber, Captain Cecil Keen of the 85th and a number of other ranks.   Only a single civilian was killed in the action.   This is a tribute to the courage of the officer commanding, Captain M.StJ. Eager, hero of Pardoo Station, who kept his cool despite being perfidiously betrayed by his erstwhile ally the Sheikh of Ourugha.

 

Notwithstanding the death of the Amir during the action, the sight of British soldiers being forced to give up their rifles to howling natives as they silently boarded the steamer to Gohar can only damage the reputation of our Nation in the eyes of others and encourage the rebellious instincts of the Sudistani.   Indeed, the dead Amir's brother has already taken up the reins of the rebellion and ordered a withdrawal of all British, civilian and soldier, from Southern Sudistan and threatened their lives if they do not comply.   And, most shameful of all, the new Balagashi Amir has signalled his intention to restablish the slave trade into his lands, which vile trade was eradicated a mere few years ago by our civilising hands.

 

To take no action, as some in Parliament are exhorting, would be to lose our standing in the world, to encourage the rebellion of native peoples everywhere and to condemn another generation of Africans to servitude.   This newspaper is calling for immediate punative action to nip this rebellion in the bud.