Good news rarely comes from Africa. This week the newest
incident is that the Somalis in Julealand, the most northerly of the four provinces of the East Africa Protec_ terate, have risen against the British, have killed the Sub-Com- missioner, Mr. A.. C. W. Jenner, a son of the great physician, and require a force for their repression. The reason of the rising seems to be a fine inflioted on the tribe for some mis- conduct. The entire Protectorate is just five times the size of France, and has at least two millions of people in it, but as usual we refuse to maintain any adequate garrison. A force of five hundred men has been gathered together some- how, and is marching on the rebel Somalis, who are some four thousand in number, but if it should meet with a check there will be nothing for it but to indent upon Bombay for a small expedition. Most likely there will be no check, but this trick of ours of annexing vast areas of tropical country, and trying to tax their people without providing any new force to hold the new territory, will some day result in a lamentable catas troplse. Great sections of our Empire float on air. The force resuired is not enormous, but still there should always be a force thoroughly organised and provided with light artillery. The expense should be advanced by the Treasury, but charged to the Colony, and repaid as soon as the revenue from trade will justify a small loan.
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