Dar al Salaam
The 1880 British Invasion
of the Land of Peace

Turn 2-27-00 and 3-2-00

by Chris Engle

Turn Results for 2-27-00

Colonel Ahmed Al-Najir succeeds in purging the elements of the Young Salaamite battalions that showed loyalty to the Mullahs. The unreliable elements were disarmed and put out into the street. The remaining Young Salaamites are very loyal, very well armed and very secular. The unreliable soldiers are immediately recruited into the regular battalions of the Bey's army. Which is now highly open to the will of the Mullahs!

Ali Baba gets a horde that fills the horizon from one need to the other. They'll go anywhere where they might get loot, but where is Ali going to find food and water for them all?

Turn results for 3-2-00

Major Fitzgerald moves most of the British forces south of Dar as Salaam, fortifying some of the area between it and Dorah. This cuts Ali Baba off from supplies from Dar as Salaam and by extention the rest of the world.

The Bey and his ministers come out to parley with General Wesley. They want peace on the following terms.

    a) All the Gates of Dar as Salaam to be opened.
    b) British forces not to further enter the city. They will still occupy the Mahgrib gate temporarily.
    c) The Bey's troops to be confined to barracks. Order to be kept in the city by Turkish and French troops.
    d) The Bey to declare Ali Baba an outlaw and demand the return of the hostages.
    e) British forces to be 'assisted' to hunt down Ali Baba.
    f) An Anglo-French Financial Commission to be established to deal with the matter of Dar as Salaams debts.

The following story appears in the London Times, Hearst's New York Herlad, and several other major newspapers:

    "Arab Atrocities in Dar as Salaam -- American Hostage Still Missing!
    Byline: Rudyard Kipling. Dar as Salaam, March 1880: The bandit Ali Baba fled ignominiously into the desert as British troops attacked. Many bandits were taken into custody and turned over to the Salaamite authorities. To create confusion among his pursuers, Ali Baba's remaining men set fire to several villages, killing many innocent Salaamites. Ali Baba has attempted to blame this on the British. This is a lie; I was recently a 'guest' of the bandit, and I can testify personally to his ruthlessness. He continues to hold several hostages, including an American archaeology student. The British and local authorities are collaborating in the continuing search for this God-less devil."

Schliemann's expedition reaches Haffar. They quickly and quietly head out to the dig. They have a well established supply line. Captain Hornblaeser receives the following message…

"Party of 50 archaeologists, mixed European nationalities, several miles from Haffar. Armed party by the 3 steam launches at Haffar, armed camp at the dig site, small party in capital; one former party member (an American) still hostage. Situation stable but dangerous and not tenable in the long term."

Ali Baba organizes his army of Mujhadin along traditional Islamic patterns. The fellahin (peasants) pay the Zakat tax to pay for the Jihad. Dorah is on the delta of the Shatt el Arab and is rich agriculturally. With the addition of funds collected on the Bey's monopoly on Kiff, Ali is in a very strong position.

Dar as Salaam: 1880 British Invasion Matrix Game

Started in MG #11.

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© Copyright 2000 by Chris Engle.
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