These were bitter truths for my pride in England.
The cheik, by the way, was born in Egypt, and regarded as a dangerous Moslem foe! I wonder if that can in any sense justify his exile from his native land?
As he tells me: The victory of M. Kemal is the direct result of an attempt to express the spirit of nationalism, which will not be kept down. For the first time Moslems have adopted the Nationalist appeal. If that fail, you will be confronted by a Pan-Islam uprising. The eyes of all Moslem are on Turkey. Strike her, who is Islam’s head, and every limb will rise in protest against the blow.
“As a man of God,” I protested, “you have no right to speak of war. There must not be war.”
“When responsible British Ministers refer to Salonika as the Gate of Christendom, we can no longer stand aside.”
The Governor and all the “notables” of Ouchak were on the platform as our luggage train arrived “in state.” When they invited us to stay the night, I accepted at once, without giving anyone else the chance to refuse. After three days and two nights on the road, I could not forego the luxury of a wash and a change of clothes, or the chance to brush and comb out my hair!
CHAPTER XI
A PUBLIC MEETING AT OUCHAK—HOSPITALITY—A SACRED RITE