"The first Islamic terrorist attack in the West" - Holy War at Broken Hill, Australia, 1915

Sam Byrne, First World War: Turks fire on picnic train, Broken Hill, Jan. 1st. 1915, oil on canvas, c.1965, National Gallery of Victoria.

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Daily Herald, Adelaide, 2 January 1915.

The first Islamic terrorist attack in the West was the so-called Battle of Broken Hill [Australia] where two [Afghan] Muslims answered the call of Jihad in 1915 to obey the Calif of the Ottoman Empire and randomly began shooting Australians while they were having a picnic on the 1st of January 1915. So this is not new..... (The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters, London, 16 December 2025)

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Abstract: On the public holiday of Friday, 1 January 1915, two Muslim men from Afghanistan - Mullah Abdullah (c.1855 - 1915) and Badsha Mahomed Gül (c.1875 - 1915) - attacked with rifles approximately 1200 innocent Australians travelling on an open wagon picnic train from Broken Hill to nearby Silverton. They killed four people, aged from 17 to 69, and injured another ten, aged 14 to 70. A subsequent gun battle ensued between local police, militia and rifle club members at White Rocks (Cable Hill) near the town, resulting in both gunmen being killed and a number of locals wounded. This was an Islamic jihad initiated action - a terrorist attack - undertaken at the behest of the Calif of Turkey. It was said to have also been spurred on by personal animosities on the part of both perpetrators at a time when a state of war existed between Australia and Turkey. Both gunmen wrote suicide notes clearly stating that they were undertaking this "jihad of the sword" action in line with their Islamic faith, and therefore carrying out the massacre in the name of Allah, or God. The similarities between the killings at Broken Hill on New Year's Day 1915 and those at Bondi Beach on the first day of Hanukkah, 14 December 2025, are striking. It is for this reason that the Broken Hill attack is internationally cited as the first Muslim jihad terrorist attack on the West in the modern era. Recent Australian revisionist historians and politicians have sought to ignore or downplay the Islamic elements of the Broken Hill massacre of 1915 and Bondi Beach massacre of 2025, simply putting the killings down to personal animosities on the part of the Afghans, ignoring the content of the two suicide notes, and to antisemitism. This modern-day appeasement of Islam by governments and authorities in order to defer accusations of Islamophobia have been identified as an element of Australian culture since the 2010s, in alignment with Leftist Woke ideologies and Right wing appeasement driven by the seeking of commercial advantage. The present article takes a deep dive into the Broken Hill event, emphasising Islamic "jihad of the sword" aspects of the killings and utilising contemporary, uncensored newspaper reports, and the perpetrators own statements.

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Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, 1 January 1915.

Contents

Battle of Broken Hill
Events on the day
Victims
Statements by the killers
Contemporary accounts
Videos
Islamic jihad terrorism
Broken Hill & Bondi Beach
References

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1. The Battle of Broken Hill

The Battle of Broken Hill, which took place on New Year's Day 1915, is a little known event in Australian history. At the time the population of the town was approximately 35,000, making it the ninth largest in the country. Though rather isolated in far western New South Wales, half-way between Sydney and the South Australian capital of Adelaide, it was a centre of mining for silver, lead at zinc and would remain so for decades to come. The landscape later became famous as the backdrop to the Mad Max films starring Mel Gibson. With a hot, dry climate and rather barren terrain, during those early years of the twentieth century it was also noted for the non-indigenous camels which had been exported from Africa to assist with travel and the movement of goods in that section of outback Australia. Muslim Afghans were commonly the camel drivers (Stevens 1989). As such, they were generally seen as a foreign, semi-permanent immigrant population and treated with distance and disdain by the majority population of British descent who had supplanted the original Australian Aborigines as a result of the invasion of 1788. Now part of the British Commonwealth, though an independent nation since Federation in 1900, Australia's racist stance was deeply entrenched, having come to the fore with the White Australia policy developed during the 1860s and arising out of the arrival in the country from the previous decade large numbers of Chinese in connection with the goldrushes. Both the Aborigines and Afghans were very much outsiders and discriminated against in the Broken Hill of the early 1900s, and whilst this was not the primary cause of the events outlined here, it was part of the backdrop to the Muslim jihad terrorist attack which took place on 1 January 1915.

Racism was to feature in another such atrocity, in the form of the tragic Bondi Beach massacre of 14 December 2025 wherein two Muslim men carried out a brutal attack on a group of Jewish people celebrating the beginning of the festival of Hanukkah. This event has brought to the attention of the public the so-called Battle of Broken Hill as it represents not only the first known Muslim jihad attack on Australian soil, but also the first in the West during the modern era. This latter designation was brought to the attention of the writer in The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters, a London-based YouTube presentation released on 16 December 2025, just two days after the Bondi Beach attack. The significance of the 1915 event was clearly announced by the British commentator as "the first Islamic terrorist attack in the West". A deep diving into contemporary Australian newspaper reports of the day clearly reinforces this statement and the "jihad of the sword" nature of the action of the two Afghan snipers. The following quotes highlight this, with relevant comments from 1915 through to the present day. They also include efforts by individuals to remove the Islamic elements of the event and present it as a mere local disturbance arising out of personal hostilities. The latter is, of course, far from the truth.

On 29 October 1914 the Ottoman Empire entered the First World War as an ally of Germany. On 11 November, the Sultan of the Ottoman Caliphate [Mehmed V] declared Jihad, calling for Muslims in British-controlled countries to fight against all enemies of the Ottoman Empire. A halal butcher and an ice-cream seller in Broken Hill decided to take up arms in response to the Sultan’s decree. It didn’t go well. (Blunders Down Under, 13 April 2025).

This was not an ideological attack, but a tragic example of what can happen when people pushed to the fringes of society react with anger and violence (Dunn 2025)

..... I must kill your men and give my life for my faith by order of the Sultan.(Gool 1 January 1915)

Abdullah's suicide note contained a resolution to die for his faith (Dash 2011)

Broken Hill's 1915 Picnic Train attack was not terrorism, historians say (ABC News, December 2024)

.....[ this was not an Islamic terrorist attack] due to the fact that the act of the attack goes against Islamic rules of war .... (Dr Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook, December 2024)

As noted by an Australian academic during the 100th anniversary of the event (Panayiotis 2015):

The attack in outback New South Wales came only a few weeks after Sheikh-ul-Islam, the Ottoman Turkish Empire’s primary religious leader, declared a jihad (or holy war) on behalf of the government, urging his followers to take up arms against Great Britain and the Allies on 14 November 1914. The sheikh’s declaration urged Muslims all over the world – including those living in Allied countries – to rise up and defend the Ottoman Empire. In part, his declaration read:

Of those who go to the Jihad for the sake of happiness and salvation of the believers in God’s victory, the lot of those who remain alive is felicity, while the rank of those who depart to the next world is martyrdom. In accordance with God’s beautiful promise, those who sacrifice their lives to give life to the truth will have honour in this world, and their latter end is paradise.

The horrific "act of faith" by the two perpetrators in killing, wounding and terrorising Australians during January 1915 was a direct result of this call to jihad. A couple of months later Australian soldiers would encounter the Turkish military forces with disastrous results on the steep slopes of Gallipoli, going on to suffer significant casualties. It was in this context of overseas war and conflict that Islamic terrorism came to Australia in both 1915 with World War I and the Gallipoli campaign, and in 2025 with the war and genocide in Gaza and Palestine. The latter followed in part on the invasion of Israel by a group of jihadists on 7 October 2023, resulting in some 6,000 casualities. Historically, therefore, the Battle of Broken Hill is not an isolated incident in Australian or international history, and neither is the Bondi Beach Massacre of 2025. They are single events in a 1400 year long holy war staged by Islam and its followers against the rest of the world.

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2. Events on the day

The numerous newspaper reports and video links below summarise the events, whilst the reference list contains article and book chapter accounts which go deeper into its contemporary context and ultimate significance. A few notes are presented below in chronological order to introduce the events of that day at Broken Hill. First off, the perpetrators were:

* Mullah Abdullah (c.1855 - 1915) - he was born in Afghanistan and arrived in Broken Hill around 1899, subsequently working as a Halal butcher and Imam, serving the local foreign camel driver population. He was said to be both of "a reserved disposition" and also a fiery individual, with the latter perhaps reflecting the anger towards the two shooters following the attack and massacre of innocent civilians (Stevens 2005).

* Gool Badsha Mahomed (c.1875 - 1915) - he also was born in Afghanistan and arrived in Broken Hill around 1912 after serving in the Turkish army. He subsequently worked in one of the local mines, and after being retrenched took to earning a living as an ice cream vendor. He was said to be argumentative and opposed to Australians going to war against Turkey.

Final letters outlining reasons for action.

Both men were known to smoke marijuana laced with laudanum. They apparently planned their attack during December 1914, acquiring guns and equipment and making a mock up of the flag of Turkey, which graced the side of the ice cream cart on the day of the attack. They spent a number of weeks practicing and refining their sniper abilities. Gool's were already enhanced by his Turkish army experiences. Both men left behind suicide notes outlining the reasons for their actions, with the following by Gool:

I hold the Sultan’s order, duly signed and sealed by him. It is in my waist belt now, and if it is not destroyed by cannon shot or rifle bullets, you will find it on me...... I must kill your men and give my life for my faith by order of the Sultan. ..... I have no enmity against anyone, nor have I consulted with anyone, nor informed anyone (Gool 1 January 2015).

Similar wording appeared on Mullah Abdullah's note, along with a specific reference to wanting to kill a local Broken Hill man who had slighted him.

On the morning of Friday, 1 January 1915 the two men headed out of town and took up a firing position next to the train line.

The train, loaded with approximately 1200 passengers, left the Sulphide St. station, Broken Hill, around 10am and encountered the two shooters approximately ten minutes later.

Handmade Flag of Turkey, 1914, Justice and Police Museum, Sydney.

The pair fired between 30 to 40 bullets from their shotguns into the train and its open passenger carriages.

On the morning of 1 January 1915 the two men raised the Turkish flag on the ice-cream cart and, using the cart to carry their weapons, set out on a terrorist-suicide mission: an attack on a train carrying holiday-makers to Silverton for the annual Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows picnic. Gool (fighting for the Turks against the British allies) and Abdullah (avenging his malice against the sanitary inspector and his honour) opened fire on the moving, open carriages. Four citizens were killed and seven others severely wounded (Stevens 2005). These are mentioned below.

* Alma Cowie, 17, whilst on the train with her boyfriend, was shot through the head, dying instantly.

* William Shaw, 46, was also mortally wounded on the train when he was shot in the head.

* Shaw's daughter Lucy, sitting next to him, was shot and injured.

* Eleven other passengers suffered injuries, with serious bullet wounds to the face and body.

* Alan Millard, 31, was riding a motorcycle nearby as the shooting took place. He was shot in the head by the perpetrators and died instantly.

The train conductor returned fire and the perpetrators fled the scene, heading towards White Rocks - also known as Cable Hill - closer to town.

A responding police officer - Sergeant Diamond - was shot and wounded as they fled.

The pair took cover on the hill at White Rocks.

A local contingent of police, locals from the rifle club and military, numbering some 50 rifles, headed out of town to confront the shooters.

A gun battle ensued on Cable Hill.

* James Craig, 69, was killed by a stray bullet as he attempted to cut wood nearby.

During the latter part of the battle, one of the Afghans - dressed in black - was seen moving amongst the rocks. A volley of fire hit him; he stood up, arms flailing and feel to the ground. It is unclear whether this was Mullah Abdullah - who was later found dead, shot in the head - or Gool Badsha Mahomed, who was later found unconscious on the ground with 16 bullet wounds.

The hill was then charged and overrun, with no opposition.

The battle ending around 1pm. Abdullah was dead and Ghoul shortly thereafter passed away either whilst en route to hospital, or at the hospital.

B. Hill Riflemen returning to town after wiping the Turks out.

The two men were subsequently buried in a secret location by a local Aboriginal person as neither the local community or the killers' fellow Afghans would do so.

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3. Victims

The following is a list of those known to be shot and wounded on the day by the two Afghans, some from a distance and others at close range, in a most brutal and heartless manner. One witness noted at the inquest seeing one of the killers kick one of the victims after he was shot. A total of four are known to have been killed, and ten wounded. Not all those shot and wounded or grazed were identified by name or otherwise. Modern accounts refer to only seven being wounded, though contemporary records list at least ten.

Alma M. Cowie, 17, Frieberg Hotel, Railway Town, whilst on the train with her boyfriend was shot through the head, dying instantly. She was amongst the first to be shot. [Killed #1]
William Shaw, 46, foreman of the sanitary department, was also mortally wounded on the train when he was shot in the head. [Killed #2]
Lucy Shaw, 15, was shot in the elbow and injured whilst sitting next to her father William. The injury opened and the bullet was extracted. She returned home. [Wounded #1]
Mary Cavanagh, 23, tailoress of Cummings Street, West Broken Hill suffered a bullet wound to her left eye and the base of the skull whilst on the train. She was subsequently in a serious condition but recovered. [Wounded #2]
Mrs. Alma Crocker, 34, of Petersburg was wounded in the mouth whilst on the train. [Wounded #3]
C. O'Brien suffered unknown injuries whilst on the train. [Wounded #4]
George F. Stokes, a boy about 14 or 15, was shot in the shoulder and chest; condition serious. [Wounded #5]
Beyrl Lane, shot in the jaw. This victim had only recently arrived from Petersburg (S.A.) on a holiday. [Wounded #6]
Rose Crabb, aged 30, shot through the shoulder; bone splintered; returned home. [Wounded #7]
Alan E. Millard, 31, Cobalt Street, Railway Town, was riding a motorcycle alongside the railway line as the shooting took place. He was shot in the head by the perpetrators and died instantly. One kicked him in the head. [Killed #3]
Thomas Campbell, 70 year old tinsmith, was shot at twice at his front door, receiving a bullet in the stomach as the Afghans fled the scene. [Wounded #8]
Sergeant Diamond, a responding police officer, was shot and wounded as he travelled to meet up with the train and the Afghans were escaping. [Wounded #9]
Mounted-constable Mills was shot in the thigh and the lower part of the leg during the encounter with the Afghans. He suffered a great deal of pain. [Wounded #10]
James Craig, 69, labourer, was killed by a stray bullet as he attempted to cut wood nearby during the gun fight on Cable Hill. [Killed #4]

During the episode a number of people were shot at by the Afghans but the bullets missed them. Others were subject to grazing by bullets during the gunfight on Cable Hill, but details are not available.

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4. Statements by the killers

The initial public translation of the killer statements had been made available in part on 6 January and were published in the Sydney media on 15 January. Official statements by the two killers were translated in Adelaide and presented as evidence during the second day of the official inquest into their deaths, on Tuesday, 12 January 1915 and read in court. Both versions are presented below:

#1a - Mullah Abdullah

"MuIla Abdulla speaks : I am a poor man and a poor sinner. Only we two know what we are doing. One day I got very worried, because I was summoned at court; I asked them to forgive me, but they did not, and I have worried over it. I have been a very sorry man. As I was thinking over it, Mahomed Goul came to me, and I told him what I was thinking. When he told me his troubles, which were greater than mine, it eased my heart. Then we both prayed to God. Life was no good or use to us. No man interfered with us, except at court. We had no enemies, except one day a long time ago, when I put on a turban, some larrikin children threw stones, and I did not like it. That was why I put on a turban to-day. I didn't wear one since the day the larrikins threw stones. I wear a turban to-day. Nobody knows but God, and us two, what we are going to do. I swear to God that this is true."

#1b - Mullah Abdullah

I am a poor sinner in the sight of the Almighty, and I supplicate His mercy. I am a poor resident of this country. I gave another name for my own purpose. One day the inspector accused me. On another occasion I begged and prayed, but he would not listen to me. I was sitting brooding in anger. Just then the man Gool Badsha Mahomed came to me, and we made our grievances known to each other. I rejoiced and gladly fell in with his plans, and asked God that I might die an easy death for my faith, otherwise neither of us had any enmity against anybody. For my faith, and in obedience to the order of the Sultan and the order of the Koran; but owing to my grudge against the inspector it was my intention to kill him first. Beyond this there is no enmity against anybody, and we informed nobody. I swear this by God and on the Koran. (Signed) Mullah Abdullah.

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#2a - Gool Badsha Mahomed

Mahomed Goul speaks, and says I am a poor man and belongs to Sultan Hamid's country. I have been backward and forward to Turkey four times. I want to fight. I got no chance to fight there. Abdul Hamid gave me a paper with his seal, so I tie it up in my vest just as l fight. I kill your people because your people are fighting my country. I am doing this because I feel it so. I never interfered with anyone here, and no one interfered with me. I have no enemies. Nobody has told me to do it, and I tell nobody. As God is my witness, nobody knows except us two.

#2b - Gool Badsha Mahomed

In the name of God, all Merciful, and of Mahommed His prophet. This poor sinner is a subject of the Sultan. My name is Gool Badsha Mahomed, Afghan Afridi. In the reign of Abdul Hamid Sultan, I have visited his kingdom four times for the purpose of fighting. I hold the Sultan's order, duly signed and sealed by him. It is in my waist belt now, and if it is not destroyed by cannon shot or rifle bullets, you will find it on me. I must kill your men and give my life for my faith by order of the Sultan. I have no enmity against anyone; nor have I consulted with anyone, nor informed anyone. We bid to all the faithful farewell. Signed by Gool Badsha Mahomed, Afridi.

It can be seen from the above that both versions are significantly different, though also have substantial similarities. It is possible that more than two documents were available, and that there was an additional one written by Mullah Abdullah. This would explain the length of his combined statement. The available translations for each of the killers have been combined in the following form by the present author.

#1X - Mullah Abdullah - combined

MuIla Abdulla speaks : I am a poor man and a poor sinnern in the sight of the Almighty, and I supplicate His mercy. I gave another name for my own purpose. One day the inspector accused me and I got very worried, because I was summoned at court. I asked them to forgive me, but they did not, and I have worried over it. On another occasion I begged and prayed, but he would not listen to me. I have been a very sorry man. I was sitting brooding in anger. As I was thinking over it, Mahomed Goul came to me, and I told him what I was thinking and we shared our grievances. When he told me his troubles, which were greater than mine, it eased my heart. Then we both prayed to God. Life was no good or use to us. I rejoiced and gladly fell in with his plans, and asked God that I might die an easy death for my faith, otherwise neither of us had any enmity against anybody. No man interfered with us, except at court. We had no enemies, except one day a long time ago, when I put on a turban, some larrikin children threw stones, and I did not like it. That was why I put on a turban to-day. I didn't wear one since the day the larrikins threw stones. I wear a turban to-day. For my faith, and in obedience to the order of the Sultan and the order of the Koran; but owing to my grudge against the inspector, it was my intention to kill him first. Beyond this there is no enmity against anybody, and we informed nobody. Nobody knows but God, and us two, what we are going to do. I swear this by God that it is true and on the Koran. (Signed) Mullah Abdullah.

#2X - Gool Badsha Mahomed - combined

Mahomed Goul speaks, and says in the name of God, all Merciful, and of Mahommed His prophet, I am a poor man and belong to Sultan Hamid's country as a subject of the Sultan. I have been backward and forward to Turkey, the kingdom of the Sultan, four times, because I want to fight. I got no chance to fight there. Abdul Hamid gave me a paper with his seal, containing his order. I tie it up in my vest, in my waist belt, just as l fight, and if it is not destroyed by cannon shot or rifle bullets, you will find it on me. I must kill your people and give my life for my faith by order of the Sultan, because your people are fighting my country. I am doing this because I feel it so. I never interfered with anyone here, and no one interfered with me. I have no enemies. Nobody has told me to do it, and I tell nobody. As God is my witness, nobody knows except us two. We bid to all the faithful farewell. Signed by Gool Badsha Mahomed, Afridi.

These statements reveal both the personal, individual reasons behind the decision to go down the "jihad of the sword" path. Firstly, in one instance partially a desire for revenge against the local Broken Hill court, and in another a desire to fight with the Turkish army; secondly, the fact that they subsequently discussed together and determined to follow the call to jihad by the Sultan of Turkey. Mullah Abdullah's statement clearly outlines whilst he was keen to kill the inspector first, he was very much aware that he would be killing innocent civilians - Infidels - as part of his decision. This was clearly a jihadist terrorist attack in the long Islamic tradition as carried out since the time of Mohammad from circa 622AD.

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5. Contemporary accounts

The following are various newspaper reports on the Broken Hill attack. A great deal of fine detail can be found within this items, though there are also obvious discrepancies and some errors are all the information is not yet available.

* The Sun, Sydney, Friday, 1 January 1915.

PICNIC TRAIN FIRED ON. THREE PERSONS KILLED. ONE ASSAILANT SHOT DEAD. BROKEN HILL.

Friday. As a picnic train for Silverton was leaving the precincts of Railway Town, two Mahometans [Muslims] fired at the train. Three persons were killed and eight wounded. Those killed were: —

WILLIAM SHAW, foreman, municipal sanitary department, shot through the head.

Miss L. McCOWIE, Petersburg (S.A.), shot through the forehead.

Mr MILLARD, shot through the head.

Amongst the wounded are: —

Mary Cavanagh, West Broken Hill, bullet wound left eye.

Mrs. Crocker, Petersburg, wounded in the mouth.

C. O'Brien, whose Injuries are not known.

Others were wounded, but their names are not known.

The train left Broken Hill crowded. When It was near the sale yards, three miles from Broken Hill, just after leaving Railway Town the passengers were startled by the sound of shots. A cart flying a red flag with a star and crescent was practically entrenched near the line, and in it were two turbaned individuals firing, rifles. The train pulled up after the safety zone had been reached, and the crowd raced back to where the shots had come from, but the murderers had escaped, and taken to rocky hills in the vicinity. The flag and cart were seized.

ENCOUNTER WITH THE POLICE!

When news of the outrage reached Broken Hill, a number of the local infantry and rifle-men turned out fully armed and scoured the hills. Under the charge of Sub-inspector Mille and Lieutenant R. N. J. Resch, the party spread over the rocky country. The rattle of rifle fire followed when the fugitives were observed, and after several volleys one of the Turks dropped dead. The other bolted for fresh cover, but was wounded during the flight, and ultimately surrendered. Another Turk who put in an appearance to help his friends was taken prisoner. There was a great demonstration by hundreds, who called "Bring him out! We will lynch him!" The police who took an effective part in the capture were cheered when they brought the prisoners to the station.

A CONSTABLE WOUNDED.

During the encounter, Mounted-constable Mills was shot in the thigh and the lower part of the leg. Other members of the attacking party received abrasions. The wounded on the train are progressing satisfactorily. Constable Mills and the wounded Turk are in the hospital.

* Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, 1 January 1915. Pieces of the newspaper report are missing.

WAR IN BROKEN HILL.
ATTACK ON A PICNIC TRAIN.
UNDER THE TURKISH FLAG.
MEN AND WOMEN SHOT.
FOUR KILLED AND SEVEN WOUNDED.
BROKEN HILL IN ARMS.
THE CHASE OF THE MURDERERS.
FIGHT ON THE HILLS.
BEHIND THE CABLE HOTEL.
THE MURDERERS RIDDLED WITH BULLETS.
BOTH PAY THE LAST PENALTY.
A CONSTABLE TWICE WOUNDED.

One of the longest and most crowded picnic trains that has ever left Broken Hill, carried those who set out with light hearts this morning to attend the annual Manchester Unity Picnic at Silverton. The train left the Sulphide street station at 10 a.m., and the goods station a few minutes later. The train consisted of two break vans and 40 ore trucks of the usual sort used for Barrier picnics, with a freight of some 1200 picnickers on board.

When the train was about two miles on the way to Silverton, near the cattle yards, an ice-cream cart, with a flag flying on it, was noticed on the northern side of the line, close to the railway fence. The flag was red about 18in. square, with a white crescent and white star - the flag of Turkey. Two men were also seen crouching behind the bank of earth which marks the line of the water main from Umberumberka to Broken Hill. These men attracted the attention of Mr. M. Kenny, who was a passenger on the train. Mr. Kenny, who is engaged on the water supply works in the capacity of electrician, thought at first that there must be something wrong with the main, and that these men were attending to the damage. He then saw that they had rifles in their hands, pointed at the train, and almost simultaneously he saw and heard the rifles fired. The firing continued during the whole time the train was passing the two men, 20 or 30 shots being fired in all. The men being so close to the train could be plainly seen to be either Turks or Afghans. As they were flying the Turkish flag it was assumed that they were Turks, of whom there are several in Broken Hill.

Mr. A. E. Millard was riding along the track beside the railway line as the train was fired on, and he became the target for one shot which killed him on the spot, the bullet going through his head.

The train was stopped, and it being ascertained that a number of the passengers had been seriously injured, if not killed, the train was taken a little further on to the Silverton Tramway Company's reservoir, where there is telephonic communication with Broken Hill. Three of the victims were removed from the train and taken to the pumping station at the reservoir, and medical men were summoned from Broken Hill.

The train with its saddened freight of men, women, and children, then returned to Broken Hill, meeting on the way Dr. Moulden and others in motor cars, who had responded to the telephone calls. Some of the injured were taken into these cars, and the others were brought in on the train.

The alarm was telephoned from the railway pumping station to the police, and Inspector Miller at once sent a force of police to the scene. The constable on duty at the explosive magazine, not far from the scene, was early on the spot, and was in a position to give valuable assistance to his comrades. Lieutenant Resch was communicated with by the police, and he dispatched all the available men connected with the military forces whom he could reach.

The Turks, after their attack on the train, moved off towards the west of Broken Hill, and were followed by their armed pursuers.

After shooting another man on their way, they at last took cover in some rocks a few hundred yards west of the Cable Hotel. These rocks are a white quartz blow projecting well above the general level, and they afforded good cover. Soon there was a general rush towards the spot from the town, mainly by civilians, mostly present or past members of rifle clubs, and members of the citizen forces. The general operations were under the direction of Inspector Miller and Lieutenant Resch. The attacking party spread out on the adjoining hills, and there was a hot fire poured into the enemy's position, the Turks returning the fire with spirit but without effect, which is rather surprising, as the range was short, and the attacking parties in some cases exposed themselves rather rashly in their efforts to get a shot.

There was a desperate determination to leave no work for the hangman, or to run the risk of the murderers of peaceful citizens being allowed to escape. It was not a long battle. The attacking party was being constantly reinforced by eager men, who arrived in any vehicles they could obtain or on foot. At just about 1 o'clock a rush took place to the Turks' stronghold, and they were found lying on the ground behind their shelter. Both had many wounds. One was dead, and the other expired at the Hospital later. They wore the dress of their people, with turbans on their heads. The police took charge of the bodies.

On receipt of the information, Inspector Miller dispatched Sergeant Gibson with two motor cars containing a force of armed police, who followed on the track taken by the Turks, leading along the western outskirts of the town. When the police cars reached a point near the Cable Hotel, Sergeant Gibson saw two men amongst the white quartz rocks on a hill. Not suspecting that they were the enemy, Sergeant Gibson was about to make inquiries of them, when suddenly they opened fire on the car. Mounted Constable Mills was struck by two bullets at the outset, and then the firing commenced on both sides. The word was passed by telephone to the police station and elsewhere, and soon reinforcements began to arrive, mainly civilians with military rifles, which they either possessed as members of rifle clubs or which they had rapidly obtained from the military or rifle club offices. Others were armed with guns of various descriptions.

Removing wounded & dead to S.T. Comp Pump Stn., Broken Hill City Archives.

Just before the final rush took place Inspector Miller and Lieutenant Resch, in a motor car, the latter driving, swept round the hill between the Cable Hotel and the enemy's position. On reaching the front of the firing line the occupants (including a third person, a civilian) all armed with rifles, joined in the advance, and were just in time to reach the fallen foe amongst the first dozen or so. Inspector Miller checked a disposition (that was manifested by some) to fall upon the bodies of the killed or wounded men. On first examination both the Turks seemed to be dead. One had been shot through the head, and the other had several wounds, and was motionless. On being carried down to wards the road, by which the ambulance would be able to approach, Inspector Miller noticed a movement in the latter, who, on further examination, was found to be alive. He was removed to the Hospital, and there attended to, but he was evidently mortally wounded, and his death was only a question of a very few hours.

The police, under Sergeant Gibson, ran short of ammunition, and the sergeant made a perilous journey to the rear of the Cable Hotel to obtain a fresh supply.

On their way across to their rocky stronghold, the Turks knocked at the door of a house near the Allandale Hotel. The resident opened the door and some words passed between him and the Turks. Then one of them raised his rifle, and without warning fired point blank, the bullet going through the victim's body.

Two of the iron railway trucks bear marks of the fusillade. One has a circular hole in it about seven-eighths of an inch in diameter. The other has a circular bullet mark of about the same size, but this one did not penetrate the steel side of the truck. The large size of the hole in the perforated truck suggests that the bullet had expanded considerably on striking the steel, and had not passed clean through on impact. The appearance of both the bullets suggested that soft-nosed bullets were used, as it might be reasonably supposed that a hard nickel service bullet would go clean through the thin steel at such a short range.

Color-sergeant Williams, of the 82nd Infantry, has supplied the following list of the members of the military forces who took part in the fight :— Lieutenants Anderson, Shepherd, J. M'Carthy, Color-sergeants Williams, Tester, Sergeants Bishop, Nettle, Petney, Reid, Price, Main, Corporals Roland, Matthew, Comley, Jefferys, Lance-corporals Davies, Harris, Riley, Privates Purcell, Lean, Richards, McLeeney, Braithwaite, Anderson, Kenworthy, Day, Hayes, Gibson, Battle, Wickham, Ashwood, Hoare, Bevan, Jones, Shore, Curnow, Wallace, Hanley, Ju... Shelley, Partington, Collicot, ... Murray, Dowd, Chenhall ... Arthur, Brad... Camp...

The following is the official report of the police:— Two colored men, Afghans or Turks, armed with rifles, fired on a picnic train laden with men, women, and children just outside the city en route to Silverton, and killed wounded several. The police when informed, went in pursuit of offenders, who took refuge on a rocky hill, and fired on the police and wounded Constable Mills. The two men were finally shot down, one dead, the other wounded. Constable Mills, wounded, and wounded offender, in the Hospital.

Evidence gathered by police, 1915, Broken Hill City Archives.

* Daily Herald, Adelaide, 2 January 1915.

HOLY WAR AT BROKEN HILL
TURKS ATTACK A PICNIC TRAIN
A LADY AND TWO MEN SHOT DEAD
TWO OF THE ASSAILANTS KILLED AND ONE CAPTURED.

BROKEN HILL, January 1, 1 p.m. The annual picnic of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was the occasion of a racial tragedy. Three Turks fired at the picnic train while it was on the way to Silverton, and three people were killed and several were wounded. The murderers were attacked by police sent from Broken Hill. Two were shot and one was captured.

The Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows hold their annual picnic at Silverton on New Year's Day. To-day the train -consisting of about 20 trucks, crowded with men, women, and children, started as usual. It was a little way beyond the cemetery when the picnickers saw what appeared to be an ice cream cart 30 paces from the line. As the train passed two men lying in the goiter, or some natural trench, fired shots. The picnic crowd cheered, and waved their hands, thinking it was a salute in their honor, but they soon discovered that a tragedy was being enacted. Four people in one truck were wounded, two fatally by the shots.

The Turkish flag was noticed flying over the cart. A passenger stated that a man was firing from behind the cart, but a pressman present saw only those in the trench. The Turks fired approximately 40 rounds. The engine driver pulled the train up at first, which gave the snipers a better chance. Realising his error, however, he started again and continued until out of the danger zone. A man bearing a 22 repeater was begged and prayed by riflemen to lend it to them. But he refused.

Messrs. S. Hendry and Peterson, gave the alarm to the Broken Hill police. The telephone wire was cut, and they had to reach the, Methodist Cemetery, where a phone was installed, under an incessant fire. Bullets struck the earth all round them.

The wounded passengers were taken on to Silverton. The picnickers returned to the Barrier subsequently in the same train, reaching home at midday. The dead were brought back at the same time. The train then returned to Silverton for the wounded and the early picnickers. The casualties were :

Miss Mary Kavanagh, Cummings street, West Broken Hill, bullet wound over left eye; condition serious.

Mr. William Shaw, fireman, municipal sanitary department, shot through the head; dead.

Mrs. Crocker, Petersburg, wound in the mouth, condition serious.

Miss L. McCowie, Railway Town, shot through the forehead, expired on the way back.

Mr. C. O'Brien, who accompanied Miss McCowie, totally collapsed from the shock.

Mr. Millard was found dead on the way back. He was shot through the head. He had been seen following the train on a motor bike.

An Indian who was interviewed concerning the matter said that he considered the murderers mad. Probably they were influenced by the jehad proclaimed in Turkey. The Afghans of the Barrier took absolutely no interest in the religious aspect of the question. Details of the wounded are not yet fully available. One truck (the. journey was made in open trucks) was covered with blood. The dead woman was removed from the train at Railway Town. The men were taken out at Sulphide street.

A great crowd surged through the streets vowing vengeance on the Turks. Some suggested tackling the entire camel camp and demanding the surrender of the murderers, threatening a wholesale lynching as the alternative. The Afghans at the camp know nothing about it.

The Barrier Labor Federation has called a meeting for Sunday to decide the question of working with foreigners. Previously, this had been looked at sympathetically towards the foreigners. Now the outlook is quite altered.

* The Mail, Adelaide, 2 January 1915.

IS IT HOLY WAR?
A MUSSULMAN THEORY.
THE KILLING OF CHRISTIANS.

An authority on the customs of the Oriental races who is resident in Adelaide expressed the opinion to a representative of "The Mail" that the murderous outbreak on the part of the two Afghans at Broken Hill was due entirely to the belief that a Holy War had been declared by the head of the Mohammedans. Our informant stated that the two men who fired on the passing train of picnickers were Mussulmans, and being under the impression that, in the turmoil of strife in Europe a Holy War had been declared by the head of their church, they immediately set out to bring about the death of as many Christians as they possibly could. It may not be generally known that there is only one who can declare a Holy War, and once his proclamation is made followers of the church the whole world over will endeavour to add to their merit in the after world by killing as many Christians as possible. The more Christians they do away with the greater will be their honour in heaven, and for a Mohammedan to die fighting Christians is to attain the highest plane after death. It is interesting to note that Mr. R. M. Hawker has named one of his racehorses Jehad, and this is the Mohammedan equivalent for the declaration of a Holy War. Jehad, by the way, ran second in a race at Morphettville on New Year's Day, the occasion of the curious outbreak at Broken Hill.

* The Mail, Adelaide, 2 January 1915.

OUTSIDE THE MOSQUE
CAUSE OF BARRIER TRAGEDY
A STRANGE STORY
PROBABLY THE RESULT OF USING DRUGS

As the result of enquiries made by a 'Mail' reporter at the Mohammedan Mosque, off Sturt street, this morning, it was discovered that the probable cause of the Broken Hill tragedy was the use of a drug which has same effect as intoxicating liquor.

Several of the Indians interviewed stated that they were personally acquainted with both the perpetrators of the outrage, Gool Mahomed and Mulla Abdulla.

"Were they Turkish subjects, or did they have anti-British tendencies?" enquired the reporter.

"No, like us, they were loyal British subjects. Both men came from the city of Peshawar, in the Punjab province of India, near the border of Afghanistan."

"Mulla Abdulla was fined recently at Broken Hill for slaughtering a beast for 'kosher' meat. Do you think the interference with his religious principles would have caused him and his companion to commit the outrage ?"

"No, that was not the cause. We feel sure that both men were mad as the result of smoking an Indian herb called 'ganga'."

"And it caused them to run 'amok'?"

"Yes, you could call it that."

"Do you know that these men were in the habit of smoking 'ganga'?"

"Yes, they were frequent users of it. About 12 years ago, when they came to Broken Hill, they used to smoke opium, but when it was impossible to procure that drug they began to smoke 'ganga' mixed with laudanaum. This had the effect of causing temporry madness, and in time a man would become an imbecile."

A man who came from Peshawar stated that he was in Broken Hill recently, and while there noticed that Mulla Abdulla and Gool Mahomed were smoking 'ganga.' One of the men was unable to get up for three days as the result of excessive smoking.

A Ghoorka was questioned about the use of 'ganga' in India. He stated that the Ghoorka soldiers in India smoke the herb, while the Sikhs mix it with sugar and masticate it.

WHAT A CHEMIST SAID.

A city chemist was questioned by our reporter with regard to 'ganga'. He stated that it was technically known as 'Canabis Indica,' and the chief buyrs were Indians. These men willingly paid one shilling an ounce for the herb, and often endeavoured to purchase laudanum at the same time

* The Mail, Adelaide, 2 January 1915.

LOCAL DOCTOR'S VERSION.

Dr. J. F. Bartley, who was in the scene at the time the terrible tragedy occurred, had to leave the Barrier last night, and on reaching Adelaide this morning he took his departure later in the day by the express for Melbourne. Interviewed by a representative of 'The Mail,' he stated: — 'From what I know of the affair, the pair were seen to leave Broken Hill early in the morning in an ice cart. Their next appearance was on the other side of the town, about three miles away, and on the track of the train route. They had then dug a trench alongside the railway line. It was in the soft earth, near the pipe line, where they entrenched themselves. A picnic train left Broken Hill at about 10.30, and on passing through the cutting the passengers noticed that two men armed with rifles made the train their target. Shots were fired in rapid succession, and the result is already known.

* Barrier Miner, 3 January 1915.

MILITARY IN ACTION.
82ND INFANTRY RESPOND TO THE CALL.
CHARGES OVER THE HILLS.
HOW ONE OF THE TURKS DIED.

Staff-sergeant-major Clark was in the forefront of the fighting on the western hills yesterday. A little before midday he was walking down Argent-street when he saw a commotion in front of the police station. He went to investigate, and was informed by Inspector Miller of the attack on the Manchester Unity picnic train. The inspector stated that Lieutenant Resch had already gone to Railway Town, and suggested that the military should be called out.

Staff-sergeant-major Clark returned to the street, and, addressing the crowd in front of the police station, I called upon all members of the 82nd Infantry present to fall in. About 20 men responded. These he directed to go to their homes, secure their rifles, and parade at the Barrier Boys Brigade (B.B.B. Hall in Oxide-street in ten minutes, for ammunition. Those men who had no rifle at home went to tho B.B.B. Hall and received them from there.

Inspector Miller drove Staff-sergeant major Clark to the B.B.B. Hall, and there issued some rifles and also ten rounds or ammunition to each of about 40 members of the citizen forces and a few civilians. This force-was put under the charge of Lieutenant Anderson, quartermaster of the 82nd Infantry.

Staff-sergeant-major Clark then motored out to the Cable Hotel, where, as the military authority responsible (in the absence in Adelaide of Lieutenant H. M. Conran) be took charge. A little later Sergeant-major Uhe came on the scene, and as senior, took control.

Staff-sergeant-major Clark next called for volunteers to join him in an attempt to dislodge the enemy from their cover. That was in the Cable Hotel, and the hand of almost every person present went up. The majority were civilians with rifle club men and soldiers amongst them. A dozen men were chosen, and these were instructed to advance cautiously in open order, at intervals of about 20 paces, to the first hill from the hotel. This journey was accomplished in safety, and the party wheeled to the left and were thereby brought with their front towards the enemy's position. The advance had been made by means of a series of rushes, the men, under the advice of the staff officer, who told them they were under fire, and should take as little risk as possible, taking such cover as the nature of the ground allowed. As they approached the brow of the hill the bullets were falling amongst them, and the volunteers returned the fire, the range being about 400 yards. The next hill was 200 yards away, and it was resolved to approach it in the same way. Staff-sergeant Major Clark was warned by his men for exposing himself too much as a target for the enemy, and he coolly replied that if he were shot then the next oldest and best man amongst them should be chosen as leader. He told them to reserve their fire, and this they did for a time, telling him that they did not mind doing anything, but would go where ever he led them, and would carry out what ever instructions be received from them to the best of their ability.

About this time the sergeant-major saw a black object against the white rocks, and he directed them to fire at it. After about five minutes of continuous firing, he could see the object that was being fired at move. About two seconds later the figure jumped up and stood upright for a minute among the rocks. For a brief moment, the men in the attacking party were confused, but the staff sergeant-major sang out, "Fire! Fire!" Officer and men all fired at the same time, and the figure was seen to fling up its arms and fall to the ground. The next order was to charge up the hill, and they did so with rifles ready to apply the butt ends if anyone rose in opposition against them. The charge, however, was not resisted, and when the men got to the top of the hill they found the murderers prone on the ground, about 10 yards apart, and their bodies riddled with bullets. One was still alive. The other had a shot right through the base of the forehead, between the eyebrows.

Staff Sargent-Major Clark states that one of the most brave and conspicuous men in the storming party was Police-constable Povey. Lieutenant Anderson and Sergeant-Major Uhe also worked splendidly. The staff sergeant-major, however, states that the man deserving of the greatest praise and credit was Lieutenant R. N. J. Resch. He worked hard from the very commencement of the trouble. Earlier in the day he had been assisting at the picnic train, using his motor to convey the wounded to the Hospital, mobilising the military, and assisting in the assault upon the position occupied by the Turks.

The police took charge of the bodies of tho two murderers, and Lieutenant Resch drove the wounded man in his motor to the Hospital.

* Sunday Times, Perth, 3 January 1915.

"A HOLY WAR"

Declared by Broken Hill Fanatics

Several Picnickers Shot

On Friday at Broken Hill, a train laden with men, women and children picnickers on the way to Silverton was fired upon by two fanatical Turks who were stationed in a cart near the railway line. The fanatics had the flag of the crescent flying above them and apparently had declared war against the whites. The shooting resulted in the death of three persons and three were also wounded. The police and military succeeded in killing the aliens who offered a stubborn resistance and wounded a policeman.

In the ordinary way this information might be read with but passing interest, but on consideration it abounds in importance. Turkish Mohammedans have decided a holy war against the British and their Allies. There is nothing to fear from Indian Mohammedans in this country, but we have in Australia a large number of alien Mohammedans, and the danger of of sporadic fanatic outbreaks must not be overlooked. The alien Mohammedans are most numerous on the fields. It is not suggested that they should be all placed under surveillance, but a list of them should be compiled without delay and their leaders will be expected to cooperate with the military authorities to obviate the danger of fanatics running amock. In times like these, we cant be too careful. The public safety is the supreme law.

* The Express and Telegraph, Adelaide, 4 January 1915.

THE BROKEN HILL SENSATION
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.
THE TWO MURDERERS SMOKED INDIAN HEMP.

Broken Hill, January 3. The wounded patients, who were taken to the hospital from the picnic train after the shooting affray on Friday, are on the mend, although two of the seven patients are still in a dangerous condition. Mulla Abdulla, one of the Turk attackers, had been 16 years in Broken Hill, chiefly camel-driving. For the past few years he had been a butcher for the camel camp at North Broken Hill, vested with a priest's rights in order to kill according to the Mohammedan religion. He was of a reserved disposition, always childish and simple in his ways. He was convicted last month of killing sheep off licensed premises, and although given time, was unable to pay the fine. He became very moody. About this time Mahomed Gool came to the camp and lived next to Mulla Abdulla, and the two took up with one another. They smoked together Indian hemp, known to the natives by the name of Gungha. Mahomed Gool is said to have been a Turk born near the Persian border. He was in Broken Hill many years ago, and then left Australia and travelled. He returned about two years ago and lived at Central Broken Hill, working at the mines. He was a Mohammedan, and on that account, having no work, he shifted to the camel camp a few weeks ago. Mulla Abdulla was never known to possess firearms, and it is believed that Mahomed Gool provided, them.

Loyal Afghans.

The men at the camp, although called Afghans, come from various parts of India, and are all British subjects. Many have served in the British army, and at the beginning of the war offered their services, saying they would fight for Australia. They are said to take great interest in the fighting, and are intensely loyal. They are very bitter against the perpetrators of the raid, and say they will have nothing to do with the bodies. They say also there is but one Afghan in the camp. He is married to a white woman.

The question has been asked over and over again what was the motive of the men in attacking the picnic train with its load of women and children. Inspector Miller, when the question was put to him, expressed the view that Gool Mahomed was the instigator of the affair. '"Gool Mahomed is a Turk," he said, "with the Turks' lust for blood, and he was out for revenge as an enemy of the British. I believe that he talked Abdulla, who is a Hindu, into it. Abdulla was fined recently, and was unable to raise the money to pay the fine. Mahomed probably used this as a lever, and suggested to Abdulla that there was very little to live for, and that he was certain to be arrested and to undergo imprisonment. He no doubt played upon Abdulla's mind until he was persuaded that it was better to die, and that it would be dying gloriously and with the certainty ot happiness in the hereafter if he killed as many of the British as he could before he was himself slain. Mahomed then made his plans, and Abdulla falling in with them, the pair carried them through with all their tragic awfulness."

A Terrible Experience.

A lady, who was one of a party of friends on the picnic train, recounted her experiences. She had not long been out from England, and the ride in the open trucks had been looked forward to as a new experience. "It was certainly a novel experience," she stated, "and also a terrible one. I shall never forget it as long as I live. There was only one truck be tween the one I was in and the one that suffered most from the firing. It was all so sudden, so unexpected, so astounding, that one almost forgot to feel afraid, but gazed instead in open-mouthed wonder. We saw the ice-cream cart drawn up near the pipe track as we came along, and we saw the flag on the cart. Even when we heard the firing we did not think anything was wrong. We thought it was perhaps a sham fight or some target practice. Then we saw the Turks with their guns deliberately pointed in the direction of the people on the train. Very quickly we knew the worst, and the next few minutes was a very trying period indeed. The train soon hurried us out of range. Nearly everybody was shouting to the driver to stop, but we went on to the Acacia Dam, from where some of the people telephoned the awful news to town. One woman who was lifted out presented an awful appearance. She and her baby clasped in her arms were covered in blood. I am sure the men intended to shoot the engine-driver, hut misjudged the distance and the pace of the train, as the first shots entered a truck very near the front of the train. There were, of course, many narrow escapes, and many acts of bravery."

A Boy with a Pea Rifle.

Among the army of armed men who were fighting the Turks was a boy with a pea rifle as his weapon. He took up a position well in the firing line, and appeared to be as keen as anyone.

Mr. A. E. Millard, one of the victims of the tragedy, was a resident of Rennie street, Balmain, Sydney. He took Mr. J. Duncalfe's position in connection with the pipe laying of the Umberumberka water service. A fellow-employee said — "I was a mate of Alf. Millard for the last six months. He was always of a happy disposition, always smiling and joking — in fact one of Nature's gentlemen. Everybody who came in contact with him will say the same. His untimely end is a great shock to the water supply employees."

The inquest on the bodies of the victims was formally opened on Saturday and adjourned until Thursday next.

Battle Lasted Two Hours.

The soldiers, police, and civilians who had exchanged shots with the Turks had an exciting time. "We must have been exchanging shots for nearly two hours," said Sergeant Dimond. "To us every minute seemed an awfully long time, for the Turks kept bobbing their heads out and having a shot, and then seeking cover again. I believe that one of them was settled early in the fight, however, as for a long time only one man was firing. I was told that just before the end came the surviving Turk was seen to stagger to his feet and hold his arms out without any gun in them, and that in one hand he clutched something that looked like a white handkerchief. It was suggested that he was flying a flag of truce for surrender. I escaped the bullets, but I was told afterwards that at one time the bullets were dropping all round me.. The military behaved well, and so did the armed civilians."

Inspector Miller joined with the sergeant in praising the military and Lieutenant R. N. J. Resch, who, they stated, acted splendidly. The police also received praise.

"He Did Not Move Again."

Staff-Sergeant-Major Olark was in the forefront, of the fighting on the western hills, and, addressing the crowd in front of the police-station, called upon all members of the 82nd Infantry present to fall in. About 20 responded, and these he directed to go to their homes, secure their rifles and parade. Inspector Miller drove Mr. Clark to the area office, and there issued some rifles, and also 10 rounds of ammunition to each of about 40 members of the citizen forces and a few civilians. This force was put under the charge of Lieutenant Anderson, quartermaster of the 82nd Infantry. On reaching the battle area Clark called for volunteers to join him in an attempt to dislodge the enemy from cover. The hand of almost every person present went up. The majority were civilians, with rifle club men and soldiers amongst them. A dozen men were chosen, and these were instructed to advance cautiously in open order at intervals of about 20 paces to the first hill from the Cable Hotel. This journey was accomplished in safety, and the party wheeled to the left, and were thereby brought with their front towards the enemy's position. The advance had been made by means of a series of rushes. The men, under the advice of the staff officer, taking such cover as the nature of the ground, allowed. As they approached the brow of the hill bullets were falling amongst them, and the volunteers returned the fire, the range being about 400 yards. The next hill was 200 yards away, and it was resolved to approach it in the same way as the second hill was taken, and then the fatal issue of the battle occurred. Station-Officer R. W. Smith, of the Fire Brigade, was early on the scene, and while rounding one corner of the Cable Hotel building a bullet came very close to him and his party. They were able to see the position occupied by Mahomed and his ally by the smoke from their guns. "I made a detour to the right of the enemy's position several times," he said. "Open ground, with no cover, had to be crossed, and bullets came very close. Eventually I got to a good position, almost to the rear of where they were hiding. I had started out with about 40 rounds of ammunition, but had used most of it in shooting from the Cable Hotel, and while traversing the gully to get into a good position on the hills. I had only 10 or 12 shots left, and I was very careful how I used them. After waiting patiently for a time, and having a number of narrow escapes from shots sent in my direction, one chipped a piece off the rock behind which I was taking cover. I had a splendid opportunity, and took full advantage of it. One of the men came a little way down from the rocks, and stood up from the position he was in. It would have not been possible for the men at the Cable Hotel or at the hut to have hit him. I took careful aim, fired, and almost immediately I saw him throw up his arms and fall to the ground. He did not move again. The other man kept firing for a time afterwards, until he, too, was shot down. I feel' confident that it was my shot which put the first man out of action."

The Burning of the German Club.

Following upon the tragedy a turbulent crowd assembled in Argent-street on Friday night at about 8 o clock. There was a big gathering, mostly of young men and youths in the vicinity of the police-station. Those who contended that the Germans were the authors of the outrage were in the majority, and a few raised the cry of "To the German Club, lads." The call needed no repetition. The crowd took up a stand in front of the premises. Stones were hurled against the walls and through the windows, while the crowd alternately cheered and sang snatches of patriotic songs. Then there was a dash towards the building, and some of the men forcing, an entrance caused considerable damage. Others advanced, and, apparently following a prearranged plan, scattered methylated spirits from two bottles in the front portion of the building. Lights were then applied and flames at once shot upwards. In a few seconds the building was ablaze. When the fire was at its fiercest and the heat was almost unbearable the fire brigade arrived. The gable end of an adjoining house, occupied by Mr. D. Desmond, was then blazing, and the building on the other side of the club premises, Messrs. G. & R. Wills & Co.'s warehouse, was threatened. As the firemen drove up they were loudly hooted by a section of the crowd, and there were cries of "Stop them; don't let them put it out." The firemen were not. however, interfered with. They tackled the task of extinguishing the outbreak bravely. The club was soon in ruins, but the other buildings were saved. It was only with difficulty that the constable who switched on the bell in the street fire-box and thus notified the brigade of the fire was able to do so. The crowd for a long time hampered his progress to the instrument, although they did not actually lay violent hands upon him.

The Union Jack.

On Saturday morning there was a sudden movement of the Argent-street crowd towards Delamore-street, and within a few minutes the crowd must have been 2,000 strong. A party of enthusiasts were at work attempting to climb the flagstaff of the German Club, and after a few attempts a young man succeeded. He passed a rope through the flag block and quickly, amidst thunderous cheers, the flag of Australia blew clear to the breeze.

At the Camel Camp.

After the burning of the German Club the crowd decided to raid the camel camp at North Broken Hill, where the Turks had lived with the Indian camel-drivers. The Asiatic settlement is situated at the extreme northern end of Williams-street. The "camp" consists of a few galvanized iron buildings, straggling irregularly round an area of two or three acres. Here the men live during the intervals of their periodical trips with camels across country to the various stations. The buildings are rude and of a flimsy character, the most substantial being the one that is used as a mosque. All was perfectly still about the camp early in the evening. Then a couple of motor cars drove up containing a mixed body of police and armed military. The posse made its way straight through the fences that surround and divide the blocks of land, and went up to the enclosure which surrounds the mosque. Here two venerable figures appeared, turbaned and robed like a bearded man, who accompanied the police party, who said the Asiatics had constables imprisoned within the building. Enquiry of the priests elicited a calm denial. This denial was rejected by the informant, and to settle the question it was decided to make a search. An entry was not opposed. On seeing that all was harmless the party left. That visit in force was not in consequence of the alleged seizure of the constable. It was to preserve order. The force was there none too soon. By the time the party returned to the road another detachment of military arrived. Lieutenant Anderson rapidly formed his company in line and then marched them slowly across the road, gently pressing back the massed line of the crowd. There was no real attempt to rush the place.

An Anxious Time.

There was every reason for anxiety, for if the Asiatics had been attacked and their buildings wrecked as was done in the case of the German Club Building, there would most certainly have been a terrible retribution enforced. While the main body of the agitated crowd was held in check by a line of military, pickets were poised at all of the other approaches to the Asiatics' building. These were alert and instantly challenged and turned back all who approached the area of the camp. A car containing two police and some civilians which came from the direction of Stephen's Creek, was held up by a couple of pickets and compelled to make a detour. About half an hour afterwards the crowd began to drift away, and soon the drift became general. Then the military and police were left in sole possession.

Guarding the Powder Magazine.

Crowds of people yesterday and to-day visited the scenes of Friday's tragedies. Mention was made of them in several churches to-day at the intercession services in connection with the war. A large crowd of infantry and senior cadets attended a church parade to-night. A company of senior cadets were on duty last night guarding the powder magazine in Argent-street north. The funerals of the victims this afternoon were largely attended.

* Warialda Standard, 4 January 1915.

TURKS ATTACK PICNIC TRAIN. NEAR BROKEN HILL.

On Friday morning, when a few miles out from Broken Hill, a picnic train, en route for Silverton, conveying the Manchester Unity Oddfellows and their friends, was attacked by a number of entrenched Turks, flying the Turkish flag. Three of the occupants of one car were killed and five wounded by rifle fire. Another person was killed while passing on a motor cycle. Shortly after the occurrence the Broken Hill police arrived on the scene, and with the assistance of some of the military, attacked the Turks in rocky ground. One Turk was shot dead and another fatally wounded. Sergeant Diamond, of the Broken Hill police force, was also wounded.

That night several thousand men walked to the German Club in Delmore Street and set fire to the building, which in a brief time became entirely consumed. The crowd sang patriotic airs and hurrahed lustily. A large number were arrested in connection with the club fire. The military with fixed bayonets and loaded rifles appeared while the fire was in progress, but were too late to do anything.

Five of the wounded are on the mend. Two are still in a dangerous condition. The funerals of the victims yesterday (Sunday) were largely attended.

Mulla Abdulla, one of the attackers who has been at 16 years at Broken Hill engaged in camel-driving, was of a reserved disposition.

* Barrier Miner, 4 January 1915.

ASSASSINS' BODIES.
GRAVE-DIGGING STOPPED.
BUT DISPOSED OF.

The bodies of Gool Mahomed and Mullah Abdullah, the two men responsible for the deaths of four persons on the M.U. picnic train on New Year's Day, and for the wounding of others, have been disposed of by the police authorities. The bodies of the two murderers have been buried somewhere, or they may have been cremated, but the police decline to give any information as to the final disposal of the carcases. When asked by a "Miner" reporter if the men were buried at the gaol reserve, Inspector Miller answered neither "Yes" or "No," but stated that such an impression had, he believed, got about.

There is, however, one place where they are certainly not buried, and that is in the Mohammedan cemetery. While at the funerals of the victims yesterday afternoon a "Miner" reporter visited the Mohammedan cemetery. Several graves are scattered about in the little plot of ground. These graves are all arranged the same way, heads to the north, feet to the south. Right away in a corner, right up against the fence, were two partially-dug graves. They were dug at right angles with the fence, without regard to the points of the compass. The digging of those graves had been commenced on Saturday night. A crowd of people had been roaming about the western hills for most of the time, and they interfered when they saw the digging operations in progress, and stated that they would not permit of the burial there or in any part of the cemetery. If the bodies were interred in any part of the sacred ground they would be torn up again from the graves. The person doing the digging at once put down his tools. He said he did not know who the graves were for when he started, but if they were for the Turks he was not going to complete the job. And so the half-dug apertures in the earth were left.

The Mohammedan section of the community, however, also raised their voice in protest at their burial place being utilised for the interment of cowardly slaughterers of defenceless women and children, and directed the caretaker of the cemetery to allow no burials in the Mohammedan section without special order. They would not have the two bodies in their ground. The bodies were therefore otherwise disposed of, and the two graves, not north by south, but north-west by south east, still remain empty.

* Barrier Miner, 2 January 1915.

AT THE NORTH CAMEL CAMP.
A DEMONSTRATION AND A CHECK.
POLICE AND MILITARY FIRST ON THE SPOT.

The Asiatics' settlement at North Broken Hill is situated at the extreme northern end of Williams-street. The "camp" as it is called, consists of a few galvanised-iron buildings straggling irregularly around an area of two or three acres. The land here consists of blocks or allotments each one acre in area, like all the other residential land outside the central portion of the city. Two or three of these areas are held by Asiatics. Here they live during the intervals of their periodical trips with their camels across country to the various stations and settlements to and from which they carry merchandise. It is here that their business depot is situated, and here their camels are to be found on their return from a trip except when they are sent adrift to graze on such feed as may be obtainable on the surrounding, land.

The buildings are of a rude and flimsy character, the most substantial being the one that is used as a mosque. This place of worship is attended to by priests of the Mohammedan religion. At half-past nine, all was perfectly still at and about the camp. There was not only no sign of disorder, but there was no sign even of life. Then a couple of motor cars drove up and stopped in the silent street. As the passengers jumped out of the cars, it was apparent at once that they had an object in view, and an urgent one. A minute's observation was enough to show that they were on pressing business, and a closer view showed them to be a mixed body of police and armed military. The posse made its way straight across through the wire fences that surround and divide the blocks of land, and went up by the back way to the enclosure which surrounds the mosque. Here two venerable figures appeared, picturesque in the moonlight, turbaned, robed, like bearded ancients, typical priests of Islam. Calm, silent, imperturbed at the invasion of the sacred precincts of their place of worship, they stood there impassive and unmoved.

A man who accompanied the police party averred in strong terms that the Asiatics had a constable imprisoned within the building. Inquiry of the priests elected a calm denial. This denial was rejected by the informant, and to set the question at rest it was decided to make a search. Entry was not opposed. Some went round to the back door. Two or three remained at the front door. These latter soon got tired of waiting, and one turned the handle of the door, which was not locked, and entered the building. The room they stepped into was about 20ft. long by about 15ft. wide. In the dimmest of light it could be seen that on one side there was an alcove in the wall, apparently for the reception of a sacred image or ceremonial vessels, or possibly as a praying stand. The floor was heavily carpeted, but apart from the carpet and one or two lamps, the room held no furniture. Those who entered had undoubtedly profaned the sacred building as they were not only unbelievers, but had marched in with their boots upon their feet.

On seeing that all was harmless within, the party returned, and then it was explained that the visit in force was not in consequence of the alleged seizure of a constable, but for a quite contrary reason, viz., that the authorities feared a repetition of the proceedings that had taken place a little earlier in the evening at the German Club, and had hurried a force to the scene to preserve order. The force was there none too soon. By the time the party which had visited the mosque had returned to the road where the cars were, after leaving a guard near the buildings occupied by the Asiatics, a crowd apparently numbering some hundreds was seen surging down the road. But before they arrived opposite the camp, where the motor cars stood, the lights of which had drawn the crowd to that spot, a detachment of military had arrived. Lieutenant Anderson was in command, and Lieutenant Resch, area officer, had arrived on the scene with the police, and the advance guard in the cars. Lieut. Anderson rapidly formed his company in line, extended them a few paces apart, thus making the line equally as long as the extended front of the crowd ,and then marched them slowly across the road gently pressing back the massed line of angry civilians whose advent was the cause of anxiety to the authorities.

There was every reason for anxiety. If the Afghans and half-Afghans who comprise the population of the camel camp had been attacked, and their buildings wrecked as had been done in the case of the German Club building, there would most certainly have been a terrible retribution enforced by the Asiatics, upon their unarmed antagonists.

While the main body of the agitated crowd was held in check by the line of military, pickets were posted at all the other approaches to the Asiatics' buildings. These were alert, and instantly challenged and turned back all who approached the area of the camp. A cart containing two police and some civilians which came from the direction of Stephens Creek was inexorably held up by a couple of pickets, and compelled to make a detour clear of the disturbed area. One picket who was posted alone at the entrance to a lane leading off the street where the crowd was, and which passes along the back of the Asiatics' camp, had his hands full in stemming a strong disposition to push past him, and had he been less determined there certainly would have been a break-away at this point. But Lieutenant Anderson noticed the pressure and soon had the picket reinforced by several of his men, who were accompanied by constables, and this danger passed. Gradually the inaction of waiting in idleness had its effect, and about half an hour after the crowd arrived it began to drift away. Soon the drift became general, and then the military and police were left in sole possession of the ground.

* The Mail, Adelaide, 2 January 1915.

BARRIER TRAGEDY.
Evidence from the Mosque.
'GANGA,' A VILE DRUG, CAUSES INDIANS TO RUN AMOK,
Remarkable Theory Supported by Medical Men
Burning of the German Club.
Union Jack Hoisted

As there seems to be considerable official uncertainty regarding the nationality of the men who were responsible for the tragedy at Broken Hill on Friday, a representative of "The Mail" was commissioned to make full enquiries in the Mohammedan and alien quarters of the city to clear the matter up. As the result of statements made by mosque worshippers who knew the desperadoes well, there is reason to believe they were not Turks, and that neither racial nor religious contentions are at the bottom of the trouble. According to compatriots, they were addicted to a certain form of drug taking, combined with generous pinches of laudanum when obtainable, as the result of which they became irresponsible, and, in police language, "ran amuk." This view was supported by medical testimony when the results of the investigation were brought under the notice of a leading practitioner. However, the foundations for the Indians' grudge were probably caused in this case primarily by the Police Court prosecution in November of Mulla Abdulla, a butcher, who slaughtered a bullock, according to Mohammedan custom and contrary to the by-laws of the Broken Hill Corporation.

* Kalgoorlie Miner, 4 January 1915.

THE BROKEN HILL OUTRAGE
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
FURTHER CASUALTIES REPORTED
FOUR KILLED ; SEVEN WOUNDED
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE
A BRISK ENCOUNTER

Broken Hill. Jan. 2. The community continues in a state of intense excitement over the sensational happenings of yesterday, when a couple of men, described as Turks, entrenched them selves a couple of miles outside Broken Hill on the road to Silverton, and fired on a picnic train going to Silverton for the annual Manchester Unity of Oddfellows' picnic sports. Four civilians were killed, seven other folk, including police, were wounded, and two of the attacking party were killed. The following were killed :—

Elma M. Cowie, Freiberg Hotel, Railway Town.

A. E. Millard, Cobalt-street, Railway Town.

William Shaw, foreman of the sanitary department.

James Greig, aged 69, labourer.

The following were wounded: —

Mary Kavanagh, aged 23, tailoress, shot through the base of the skull; condition serious.

George F. Stokes, a boy about 14 or 15, shot in the shoulder and chest; condition serious.

Thomas Campbell, aged 70, tinsmith, shot in the side; condition not serious at present.

Lucy Shaw, aged 15, bullet in the elbow, injury opened and bullet extracted; returned home.

Alma Crocker, aged 34, care of Mrs. Bray.

Beyrl Lane, shot in the jaw. This victim only arrived from Petersburg (S.A.) yesterday morning on a holiday.

Rose Crabb, aged 30, shot through the shoulder; bone splintered; returned home.

Constable Mills, shot in the groin and thigh, suffering a good deal of pain; condition not critical.

The train consisted of two brake vans and 41 trucks of the usual sort used for Barrier picnics, with some 1200 picnickers on board. When the train was about two miles on the way to Silverton, near the cattle yards, an ice cream cart with the Turkish flag flying on it was noticed on the northern side of the line close to the railway fence. The flag was red, about 18 inches square, with a white crescent and a white star — the flag of Turkey. Two men were also seen crouching behind a bank. The men had rifles in their hands pointed at the train, and almost simultaneously fired. The firing continued during the whole time the train was passing the two men, 20 or 30 shots being fired in all. The men were so close to the train that they could be plainly seen to be either Turks or Afghans. As they were flying the Turkish flag it was assumed that they were Turks, of whom there are several in Broken Hill.

A. B. Millard was riding along the track beside the railway line as the train was fired on, and he became a target for one shot and was killed on the spot. The bullet pierced his head.

Inspector Miller at once sent a force of police to the scene. Lieut. Resch was communicated with by the police, and he despatched all the available men connected with the military forces whom he could reach.The Turks, after their attack on the train, moved off towards the west of Broken Hill, and were followed by their armed pursuers.

When the police cars reached a point near the Cable Hotel, Sergeant Gibson saw two men amongst the white quartz rocks on the hill. Not suspecting that they were the enemy, Sergeant Gibson was about to make inquiries of them when suddenly they opened fire on the car. Mounted-constable Mills was struck by two bullets at the outset. Firing commenced then on both sides. After shooting one man on their way the Turks took cover in, some rocks a few hundred yards west of the Cable Hotel. Soon there was a general rush, towards the spot from the town by civilians, mostly present or past members of rifle clubs and members of the citizen forces.

The attacking party spread out on the adjoining hills, and a hot fire poured into the enemy's position. The Turks returned the fire with spirit, but without effect, which is rather surprising, as the range was short and the attacking parties in some cases exposed themselves rashly in their efforts to get a shot. It was not a long battle. The attacking party was being constantly reinforced, by eager men who were arriving in any vehicles they could obtain or on foot.

Just about 1 o'clock a rush took place to the Turks' stronghold, and they were found lying on the ground behind their shelter. Both had many wounds. One was dead, and the other expired on his way to the hospital.

* Queanbeyan Age, 5 January 1915.

The Slaughter at Broken Hill.

Naturally, the slaughter at Broken Hill has aroused some apprehension lest similar scenes should be witnessed nearer home. The perpetrators of the outrage were a couple of Turks, who had evidently made up their minds to end their lives in sanguinary fashion, and who fired on a crowded picnic train, and subsequently at the police and others who tried to arrest them. Both paid the penalty of their outrage with their lives. Whether they had been driven to desperation by the racial hatred which has been so freely manifested since the outbreak of the war, or whether they had come to the conclusion that it was time to wage a "Jehad," or holy war for the extermination of infidels on their own account, is not yet clear. But evidently murderous passions are seething below the surface where they are little suspected. Four of the Broken Hill residents were killed outright, two others were seriously wounded and five others less so.

* Gundagai Times, 5 January 1915.

TURKS ATTACK TRAIN. BROKEN HILL SENSATION.

A party of Turks attacked a train near Broken Hill. Four persons were killed in the fight which followed, and many were injured. The Inspector-General of Police has received the following telegram from Broken Hill :-

Two colored men, Turks or Afghans, armed with rifles, fired on a picnic train laded with men, women, and children, en route to Silverton, killing and wounding several. The police were informed, and set out in pursuit. The Turks had taken refuge behind some rocks on the hill, and fired on the police, wounding Mounted-constables Mills. The two Turks were finally shot down.

* The Week, Brisbane, [6] 15 January 1915.

BROKEN HILL AFFAIR.

Sydney, January 6. Documents in an eastern language have come into the possession of the Broken Hill police, purporting to give an account by Mahomed Goul and Mulla Abdulla of what led up to Friday's shooting. An accurate translation of the documents is being made. In the meantime, a local translation has been made. The police state that the documents were taken to the station by James P. Lyons, of Crystal street North, who asserted that he found them in a letter envelope among the rocks, where the Turks made their last stand. Apparently, he said, the envelope was put under a stone and was not noticed when the bodies were removed. The stone, however, must have been dislodged later, when the envelope came to light. The police also have in their possession a paper of which Mahomed Goul speaks. The first document is described as written for Mahomed Goul by Abdulla, and states :

"Mahomed Goul speaks, and says I am a poor man and belongs to Sultan Hamid's country. I have been backward and forward to Turkey four times. I want to fight. I got no chance to fight there. Abdul Hamid gave me a paper with his seal, so I tie it up in my vest just as l fight. I kill your people because your people are fighting my country. I am doing this because I feel it so. I never interfered with anyone here, and no one interfered with me. I have no enemies. Nobody has told me to do it, and I tell nobody. As God is my witness, nobody knows except us two."

The second document was given thus :

"MuIla Abdulla speaks : I am a poor man and a poor sinner. Only we two know what we are doing. One day I got very worried, because I was summoned at court; I asked them to forgive me, but they did not, and I have worried over it. I have been a very sorry man. As I was thinking over it, Mahomed Goul came to me, and I told him what I was thinking. When he told me his troubles, which were greater than mine, it eased my heart. Then we both prayed to God. Life was no good or use to us. No man interfered with us, except at court. We had no enemies, except one day a long time ago, when I put on a turban, some larrikin children threw stones, and I did not like it. That was why I put on a turban to-day. I didn't wear one since the day the larrikins threw stones. I wear a turban to-day. Nobody knows but God, and us two, what we are going to do. I swear to God that this is true."

SYDNEY, January 8. At the inquest on the bodies of the four victims of the recent Broken Hill shooting tragedy, a finding of murder was recorded against the two Turks, who also were killed. An inquest on the bodies of the two Turks will be held to-morrow. Those wounded in the shooting are doing well.

* Armidale Chronicle, 6 January 1915.

TURKS ATTACK TRAIN.
OCCURRENCE AT BROKEN HILL.

Broken Hill is always sensational, but on New Year's Day it excelled itself. A couple of men, described as Turks, entrenched themselves a couple of miles outside Broken Hill on the road to Silverton, and fired on a picnic train going to Silverton for the annual Manchester Unity Oddfellows' picnic sports. As a result, four civilians were killed, seven other folk, including police, wounded, and two of the attacking party were killed. Following is the first official report of the police:—

"Two coloured-men, Afghans or Turks, armed with rifles, fired on a picnic train laden with men, women, and children, just outside the city en route to Silverton, and killed and wounded several. The police, when informed, went in pursuit of the offenders, who took refuge on a rocky hill, fired on the police, and wounded Constable Mills. The two men were finally shot down — one dead and the other injured. One wounded offender is in hospital, and the second man died in hospital with nine bullet wounds in him. Crowded picnic trains left Broken Hill about 10 o'clock, and carried those who set out with light hearts to attend the annual picnic at Silverton. The train consisted of two brake vans, and 40 ore trucks of the usual sort used for Barrier picnics, with some 1200 picnickers on board. When the train was about two miles on the way to Silverton, near the cattle yards, an ice cream cart, with a Turkish flag flying on it, was noticed on the northern side of the line, close to the railway fence. The flag was red, about 18 inches square, with a white crescent and white star, the flag of Turkey. Two men, who were also seen crouching behind the bank of earth which marks the line of the water main from Umberumberka to Broken Hill, attracted the attention of Mr. M. Kenny, who was a passenger on the train. Mr. Kenny, who is engaged on the water supply works in the capacity of electrician, thought, at first that there must be something wrong with the main, and that these men were attending to the damage. He then saw that they had rifles in their hands pointed at the train, and almost simultaneously he saw and heard the rifles fired. The firing continued during the whole time the train was passing the two men, 20 or 30 shots being fired in all. The men were so close to the train that they could be plainly seen to be either Turks or Afghans. As they were flying the Turkish flag, it was assumed that they were Turks, of whom there are several in Broken Hill. A. E. Millard was riding along the track beside the railway line as the train was fired on, and he became the target for one shot, which killed him on the spot. The bullet pierced his head. The train with its saddened freight of men, women, and children, then returned to Broken Hill. The police were communicated with, and they attacked the assailants in their fastnesses, and ultimately succeeded in destroying their resistance, but not before two of the Turks had been killed and some of the police were shot and injured more or less seriously.

The identity of the Turks who were shot has been established by the police. Mulla Abdulla, who was killed outright, was a butcher. Some-days ago he was convicted and fined for slaughtering sheep on premises not licensed for slaughtering. He had previously been before the Court on a similar charge. He was an elderly man by appearance, about 60. Gool Mahomed died on the way to the hospital. He is believed to have been an ice-cream vendor. Abdulla carried a Snider rifle and an apparently home-made bandolier. The latter had pockets for 48 cartridges, and 26 of the pockets were empty. He also had in his possession a revolver and cartridges and a new knife and sheath. The other man's rifle was a Martini-Henry.

Walshama Assou, a Punjab from Peshawar, when one of the police was shot, carried water to him. This he did at no little risk to himself, for he was at times a target for the Turks. Another man who contributed largely to the defeat was Khan Bahader, camel owner and driver, his residence is near the Cable Hotel and it was used by the police as cover to shoot from through the windows. Bahader stated to the police that he saw the Turks walking at a little distance past his place. He was at the door feeding a goat, when one of the Turks fired at him, and said, "Don't follow me, or I will shoot you." He fired again at about 50 yards range, and the bullet passed over his shoulder, very close to his ear. Bahader said to the Turk, "If you shoot at me again I will get my rifle and shoot you."

* Barrier Miner, 7 January 1915.

MULLAH ABDULLAH'S NATIONALITY.

In yesterday's war cables it was mentioned that Almay Abdullah, a Soudanese, Enver Pasha's chief spy, had been arrested in Egypt. Senior-constable Monday thinks it probable that here is a clue to the real nationality of Mullah Abdullah. The latter, he says, generally kept away from the other residents of the North camel camp, and his customs and ways were different to those of the Hindus in the camp. It is quite possible, Constable Monday believes, that the deceased was a Turk from Egypt.

* Barrier Miner, Friday, 8 January 1915.

NEW YEAR'S DAY TRAGEDY.
INQUEST ON THE TURKS.
ADJOURNED TILL TUESDAY.

At the Courthouse this afternoon the coroner (Mr. C. P. Butler, S.M.) opened a coronial inquiry into circumstances attending the deaths of the men who fired upon the Manchester Unity picnic train on New Year's Day. Their names were:—

GOOL MAHOMED.
MULLAH ABDULLAH.

Inspector Miller conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police. Apart from the witnesses, there were very few persons in court when the inquest was opened.
On the press table and witness-box were the cartridge belts found on the men when they were captured, a long knife in a sheath, the rifles, bandoliers, and several revolver bullets.

Medical Evidence.

Melville Birks, medical practitioner, deposed that he was surgeon superintendent of the Broken Hill and District Hospital ; at about 1.30 p.m. on January 1 a man whose name he understood was Gool Mahomed was admitted suffering from small bore rifle bullet wounds ; one bullet had gone through the upper part of the chest on the right side ; one had grazed the root of the neck on the left side ; one had gone through the right forearm ; the fingers of his left hand were lacerated, and there was a bullet wound in the left thigh ; the patient died shortly afterwards from shock, due to the bullet wounds the witness had described ; in stating small bore, witness meant hard bullets, which made clean holes as distinct from the soft bullets which had caused the wounds in the other patients and caused large holes.

A Moslem's Testimony.

Kodaram, who took the oath according to his religion, deposed that he lived at the North Camel Camp ; he knew Mullah Abdullah and Gool Mahomed, deceased ; in company with Inspector Miller and Lieutenant Resch, witness went to the Hospital on New Year's Day in the afternoon, and saw the dead body of Mullah Abdullah in the morgue, and that of Gool Mahomed in a bed ; Mullah Abdullah used to live at the North camp, but he did not know whether Gool Mahomed did ; witness had only returned from a trip on Christmas Eve ; witness did not see either of the dead men on the morning of January 1 ; someone at the camp told him that day that Abdullah had been smoking gungha, and had gone away into the bush with his gun ; afterwards on the same morning, witness saw Senior-Constable Monday, and told him about Abdullah going into the bush ; witness had not previously seen the rifles, belts, cartridges, etc., produced.

On the Train.

Charles E. Oliver, grocer, residing in Morgan-lane, Broken Hill, deposed that on January 1 he was on the M.U. picnic train ; when the train had reached about a mile beyond the Railway Town station witness looked along the line, and just outside the fence saw what appeared to be an ice cream cart, on which flew a Turkish flag ; witness saw a dark man lying in the trench with a rifle pointing towards the train, and another dark man standing at the back of the cart with a rifle in his hand ; he appeared to sling something over his shoulder and then go into the trench ; witness then heard a shot fired ; witness saw them fire several times, and saw Miss Cowie, who was behind witness in the same truck, shot ; Miss Kavanagh, who was alongside witness, was wounded ; Mrs. Crocker, who was shot in the jaw, was seated opposite to witness.

By the coroner: Witness did not see either of the two men at a later stage.

Inspector Miller: I am calling another witness for that, your Worship.

Another Passenger.

Edward John Glasson deposed that he was a mill hand, residing in Cornish-street, Railway Town; he was a passenger on the picnic train on New Year's Day ; when the train was about a mile beyond Railway Town witness heard shots fired, and on looking up saw two dark men lying in the Umberumberka pipe track trench ; witness also noticed what appeared to be an ice cream cart and a bay horse ; the men had turbans on ; they were pointing rifles at the train ; they fired the first shot hitting the ground and the second penetrating the side of the truck and entering the body of Mr. Shaw, who died about a quarter of an hour afterwards.

What a Woman Saw.

Mary Wilkes, married woman, residing at West Broken Hill, not far from the railway line, stated that on January 1 she saw a picnic train passing ; two dark men, dressed in turbans and light clothes, fired on the train ; a man on a bicycle passed towards Silverton ; the men fired at him, and he fell off his bicycle ; after firing four shots they went across to the object which was lying on the ground and kicked it ; subsequently they went towards West Broken Hill ; where the men were firing on the train witness saw a white cart with a red flag on it.

A Reporter's Observations.

Frederick Edward Wenzel, journalist, residing in Wolfram-street, described as in his evidence at yesterday's inquest, the men who fired on the train ; afterwards he came to the city and proceeded to, near the Cable Hotel, and joined the attacking parties ; in a rocky outcrop behind the hotel he saw two men ; he was informed that one was dead and the other wounded ; they were similarly dressed, and similar in appearance to the men who fired on the train, and witness had no doubt that they were the same ; the flag produced was identical with the one witness saw on the ice cream cart, where the men fired on the train.

Sergeant Dimond Gives Evidence.

William Francis Dimond, sergeant of police, stationed at Broken Hill, deposed that at about 10.30 a.m. on January 1, a telephone message was received at the Central Police Station, stating that the M.U. picnic train had been shot at by two armed men near the cemetery, and that there were several passengers killed and wounded ; Sergeant Gibson and witness procured two motor cars and went to the police barracks, where Sergeant Gibson informed the inspector ; the following policemen, besides Sergeant Gibson and witness—

The coroner: I don't think we need have the names.

Continuing, Sergeant Dimond said with 10 policemen they went to the Frieberg Hotel, and from there to West Broken Hill, near the scene of the tragedy ; they then started towards the West camel camp ; when about three-quarters of a mile from the West camel camp, one of the motors broke down ; Sergeant Gibson, and witness, and six other police, proceeded in one of the cars, and the remaining four men in a spring cart, lent by a passer by ; they saw two men leaving the West camp going in a northerly direction ; they were dressed in turbans and khaki coats, and wore leggings ; each carried what appeared to be a rifle ; witness' party continued to about 250 yards past the camp, and saw the men passing the brow of a hill towards the top ; as witness' motor was about to pull up, the two men turned towards them, knelt down and fired shots at them ; the police got out of the car and immediately opened fire on them ; Constable Mills, who was one of the party, was wounded twice during the battle ; the police and the two men exchanged several shots ; the men then got to the top of the hill and got behind some rocks ; after more shots were fired by the police and the men, Sergeant Gibson made all haste to get to a near telephone to ring up the inspector ; the bullets were flying when Sergeant Gibson was getting to safety ; witness and the remaining six police exchanged shots with the two men for a considerable time ; the police were in the open, but the men were behind the rocks on the hill ; they were bobbing their heads and parts of their bodies up occasionally ; after about three-quarters of an hour, witness saw what appeared to be civilians gathering around the hills, and towards the West camel camp ; there were attacking parties of police and volunteers at the West camp, along the hill at the back of witness, and at the Cable Hotel, and later a party made its way along the hill, towards the outcrop, where the men were ; the attacking parties stormed the hill, firing ; when witness reached the rocks, Mullah Abdullah was dead, and Gool Mahomed was wounded ; round Mahomed's right hand was tied a dirty handkerchief with blood on it round a wound.

Inspector Miller said he brought this piece of evidence out because some people said they thought they saw a flag of truce waved ; but that was not so.

Continuing, Sergeant Dimond said he found the rifle and cartridge belts produced ; on the body of Gool Mahomed was a little black bag (produced) containing documents written or printed in a foreign language, and a small card with foreign writing on it ; witness handed the documents to Inspector Miller ; one of the rifles, the long one, of the Mauser pattern, was lying alongside Gool Mahomed ; the stock was broken ; the cartridges in one of the belts fitted the rifle ; the cartridges of the other belt fitted the other rifle, a Snider, found near Abdullah ; the cartridge belts were found the men's waists ; witness also produced a sheath knife which he found, and a book which he found on Mullah Abdullah ; Abdullah's body was taken to the Hospital morgue by the police ; witness was present with the coroner when he viewed the bodies of the two deceased ; the distance to where the men were when they opened fire on the motor car was 180 yards.

A Bombay Hawker.

Frank Rahim Bughush deposed that he was a hawker, residing at Broken Hill ; witness was a native of Bombay ; witness knew the deceased man, Gool Mahomed, who used to work in the British mine until the war commenced ; he then lived in a room rented from an Assyrian in Argent-lane ; some time after the war commenced, he went outback and went for a trip with a camel team trading from Tarrawingee ; he returned between three and four weeks ago ; up till that time he had very little to do with the North camp, but since then witness had seen him with Mullah Abdullah ; he was with Mullah Abdullah the day the latter was fined at the court ; witness had heard Gool say he had been in the Turkish army several times, and it was generally understood that he was a Turk ; he told witness he was an Afridi, which meant that he would be born in a back part of Afghanistan ; witness believed he was the only one Gool ever told that ; witness had known Gool for 15 years.

By the coroner: Gool was always looked upon as a man of Turkish nationality.

Continuing, witness said Gool kept a good deal to himself ; witness thought he used to batch when working on the mines ; when he was working on the mine, Gool wore ordinary European clothes ; he had European clothes on the day witness saw him at the court ; witness had never seen him with a turban on in Broken Hill ; witness believed he was a little over 40 years of age ; witness did not think he had been in this country more than 15 or 16 years ; witness first met him in Adelaide ; Gool had told witness that he had been to Turkey several times, and had been in the war there ; the last time he said he had been there was between 18 months and two years ago.

By the coroner: So far as witness knew, Gool had no property.

Question of Identification.

Inspector Miller said that that was all the evidence he proposed to call that day. The documents described by Sergeant Dimond had, by direction of the coroner, been handed to Captain Hardie, of the military, and taken to Adelaide to be interpreted. He had received a wire from Captain Hardie stating that he was having the documents interpreted by the military interpreter.

The coroner: Will you send a wire to Captain Hardie, then, requesting his attendance on Tuesday morning?

Inspector Miller: Yes, your worship.

The coroner: With regard to the identification, were there any other persons who saw the dead bodies, apart from the evidence we have had?

Inspector Miller: Sergeant Dimond stated that he had viewed them in the morgue with your worship.

The coroner: I think on Tuesday we will amplify the evidence a little with regard to identification.

Inspector Miller stated that he could give short evidence on the matter. He deposed that his name was James Edward Miller, and that he was an inspector of police ; on the afternoon of January 1, in company with Lieutenant Resch, he proceeded to the North camel camp and interviewed the witness Kodaram ; all three then proceeded to the Hospital, and in the morgue witness saw Kodaram look at and examine the body of Mullah Abdullah, which witness had seen lying dead after the final rush of the attackers ; witness saw Kodaram examine the body of Gool Mahomed in a bed at the Hospital ; the body was that of the man shot down at the place beyond the Cable Hotel described by previous witnesses ; it was afterwards conveyed to the Hospital by Lieutenant Resch and witness.

The inquest was then adjourned until 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning.

* The Farmer and Settler, Sydney, 8 January 1915.

BARRIER TRAGEDY
Funerals of the Victims
INQUIRY PROMISED BY THE MILITARY.

The Broken Hill outrage is being closely inquired into by the Commonwealth military authorities. The Minister for Defence stated on Monday that he had tailed for a full report upon the matter from those concerned, in tlic meanwhile steps were being taken by the military to find the whereabouts of all Turks in the State, and to inquire into their bona fides. Four or five have already been examined. The bodies of the two Turks. Mahomed and Abdulla, according to the police, have been buried, though not in the cemetery. It has bce^ ascertained that they did not live in the north camel camp it self, but close by. It is stated that the two men had practised with their rifles in the hills.

The Silverton Tramway Company has decided to hand over to the Oddfellows the whole of the takings of the picnic train, and itself bear the whole of the expense of running the train. The committee of the Oddfellows' Society intend to use the money for the inauguration of a public relief fund for the relatives ond dependents of those killed and injured by the shooting.

After the shooting of the two Turks, an envelope was found among the rocks which contained a letter signed by Gool Mahomed and Mulla Abdulla. The burden of each was that 'They were 'out to kill' your people because your people are fighting our country.' Emphasis was laid upon the statement in each letter that 'Nobody knows but God and us two what we are going to do. I swear it to God that this is true.'

Among other stories told of narrow escape from death during the attack is one in which Mrs. Baker, of South Broken Hill, is the central figure. She was on one of the trucks and declared that she distinctly heard a bullet whistle past her head. That she had had a very close call was proved subsequently at her home. About 6 o'clock in the afternoon Mrs. Baker was about to put her hat on when she saw two bullet holes in it. The bullet had gone through Cu crown just above the head. Mrs. Baker was so over come with the thought of her narrow escape that she was seized with a fainting fit, and has been suffering from similar fits ever since. The bullet passed through about an inch below the crown and about 5 in. above the bottom of the brim.

Most of the mines resumed work on Monday morning, generally full handed, and without any trouble. At the Central mine, the following notice was posted ;— 'Notice to employees generally.— In leu of the present ivar crisis, nnd particularly In view of the high state of feeling engendered by the events of New Year's Day, I have decided that it is better for all parties that all alien enemy employees must stand down for the time being.' James Hebbard, manager.' This is the only mine where any official recognition of the tragedy has been made. Broken Hill at the present time is more ' or less under military rule. Since Friday various sections of troops have been under arms. The infantry and senior cadets have borne the brunt so far, but the engineers went on guard duty on Monday night.

* Bunyip, Gawler, 8 January 1915.

TOWN TATTLE
(By."Cit")
THE BARRIER TRAGEDY

Truth is stranger than fiction. Until it happened the Barrier tragedy was inconceivable. Even now the diabolical shooting at a New Year's picnic party in a moving train is inexplicable. 'The Mail' started a theory that the two Mahommedans had become mad by consuming hemp mixed with laudanum, but a Broken Hill crowd thought they had been instigated by Germans and proceeded to burn down the German Club. Only the reports of German atrocities in war made it possible to attribute to resident Germans the dastardly crime in question. At first view the drug theory seems to be the more feasible explanation. The Ottoman Association denied that the murderers were Turks. But the Turks, the non-official Turks, are not bitter against the Germans, who, they feel are making a catspaw of their country. The Mahommedhan world has refused to follow the Turkish Government in making holy war against the Allies, and declares that the Caliphate has betrayed its sacred trust. While it is difficult to conclude that the attack was due to German instigation or to religious fanaticism, it is not easy to find that the assassins were victims of 'gianga,' the vile opiate indicated, because they did not run amok but calmly stood and co-operated in the butchery and defended themselves incident will make it harder for aliens to come and to live among us and 'easier for the. Commonwealth recruiting sergeant.

* Saturday Mail, Adelaide, 9 January 1915.

THE BARRIER TRAGEDY.

To the Editor of "The Mail."

Sir - There is evidently a confusion regarding the identity o£ the nationality of the assailants in the Broken Hill affray, and in justice to the Ottoman subjects in the Commonwealth the closest enquiries should be made. According to statements made by the Afghans of Adelaide, it was proved beyond the shadow of doubt that those guilty are Afghans. It is absurd to attribute the crime to a Turk simply by waving the Turkish flag. It was also proved that these people were in the habit of smoking a certain kind of herb, which eminent doctors emphasise has some effect on the smokers. It suits Broken Hill Afghans to deny the nationality of the assailants, but I defy anybody who can find in the length and breadth of Turkey, people of such type and name. The countrymen of the assailants in Adelaide admitted that they are Afghans, British subjects, and notwithstanding this fact the inspector of Police at Broken Hill insists on saying that one of the assailants is a Turk. Surely we cannot take the inspector's statement as an authority and ignore that of the Afghans themselves. The confusion of reports at such time only creates a stir in the public mind, and carefulness in this direction should be exercised.

It is very fortunate indeed that the Australians in general and the authorities in particular are very broad-minded people and understand that a mad action such as that at Broken Hill, should only concern the doer himself. Most of the Ottomans, especially those who hail from Mount Lebanon, are known to be a very fine body of men. It is only two weeks ago when the Minister of External Affairs remarked to me in Melbourne, in the presence of Senator Story, that he should like to have in Australia much more of the Ottomans referred to - a compliment which I felt very proud of. There is not an Ottoman who ever heard a single word from a Britisher which casts any doubt on his loyalty since the war commenced.

The Ottomans at home and abroad are constantly fighting the military party in the Ottoman Empire with the power of their pen and speech. In Egypt they are offering to help the British not only in money but in arms as well. Some of the Ottomans in Australia have already enlisted themselves with the Australian Expeditionary Force. It is only recently I have received the reliable news from my brother, who is the secretary of the Governor-General in Egypt, Sir Wingate Pasha, describing how the population of Beirout and Mount Lebanon are helping the allied subjects in every possible way, especially the Druses of Mount Lebanon, who have thrown their homes open to the Britishers in the event of a general outbreak. Many editors of newspapers in our country have been arrested because of their sympathy with the Allies. Such are the sentiments at home, the quarters of the military party ..... our our levity would in Australia be the centre of justice and fair play. I am, Sir, etc., ATITAH, President Ottoman Association.

* The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 9 January 1915. The Barrier Tragedy - collection of three photographs: (1) The crowded picnic train at standstill shortly after the shooting; (2) Miss Alma P. Cowie, who was killed outright during the attack on the train; and (3) Relics of the tragedy.

* Barrier Miner, 12 January 1915.

INQUEST ON THE TURKS
TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
THE ALLEGED CONFESSIONS.
TRANSLATIONS PRESENTED IN COURT.
THE VERDICT.
SHOT JUSTIFIABLY IN SELF-DEFENCE.

The adjourned inquest on the bodies of Gool Mahomed and Mullah Abdullah, authors of the New Year's Day Tragedy, was continued at the Courthouse this morning by the coroner (Mr. C. F. Butler. S.M.).

Frederick E. Wenzel, journalist, said he saw the flag produced ; that was the flag he saw on the ice cream cart, as described in his previous evidence. James Patrick Lyons, miner, residing at North Broken Hill, said he saw the documents produced (the confessions) ; he found them planted under the north end of a firm rock where the men were firing ; by men he referred to the deceased ; both papers were in an envelope together ; he found the papers on Monday, January 4 ; he went out to the scene of the fight, and was rooting about in the dust ; the papers were almost completely covered ; he took the papers to the police station, and gave them to Inspector Miller ; there were bloodstains on the envelope when he found it.

John L. Hardie, captain in the permanent military forces and D.A.A.G. of the 4th Military District, stated that on January 5, in Broken Hill, he received the two documents, marked A and B, from Inspector Miller ; he took the papers to Adelaide, and obtained an interpretation, which he tendered, together with a statutory declaration by the interpreter (the interpretations were marked exhibit 1) ; he produced a further document, the translation of part of which was attached ; part was an application for enlistment in the Turkish army, part was a private letter ; further documents were copies of extracts from the Koran and a priest's visiting card.

The Translations.

The translations, which were read in court, were:

I am a poor sinner in the sight of the Almighty, and I supplicate His mercy. I am a poor resident of this country. I gave another name for my own purpose. One day the inspector accused me. On another occasion I begged and prayed, but he would not listen to me. I was sitting brooding in anger. Just then the man Gool Badsha Mahomed came to me, and we made our grievances known to each other. I rejoiced and gladly fell in with his plans, and asked God that I might die an easy death for my faith, otherwise neither of us had any enmity against anybody. For my faith, and in obedience to the order of the Sultan and the order of the Koran; but owing to my grudge against the inspector it was my intention to kill him first. Beyond this there is no enmity against anybody, and we informed nobody. I swear this by God and on the Koran. (Signed) Mullah Abdullah.

In the name of God, all Merciful, and of Mahommed His prophet. This poor sinner is a subject of the Sultan. My name is Gool Badsha Mahomed, Afghan Afridi. In the reign of Abdul Hamid Sultan, I have visited his kingdom four times for the purpose of fighting. I hold the Sultan's order, duly signed and sealed by him. It is in my waist belt now, and if it is not destroyed by cannon shot or rifle bullets, you will find it on me. I must kill your men and give my life for my faith by order of the Sultan. I have no enmity against anyone; nor have I consulted with anyone, nor informed anyone. We bid to all the faithful farewell. Signed by Gool Badsha Mahomed, Afridi.

Mr. Butler: The inspector referred to was Mr. Brosnan, was it not ?

Inspector Miller: Yes.

Mr. Butler: He is still alive?

Mr. Miller: Yes ; they passed close to his place on the Friday, but did not disturb him.

Mr. Butler (to witness): Gool Mahomed's letter shows him to have been an Afghan.

Witness: Yes, sir.

In reply to Mr. Butler, the witness said that the Mahommedans recognised the Sultan as the head of their religion. Gool was evidently a warlike and a very religious man. The case seemed to have been one of Moslem fanaticism. He was certain that the men were not Turks. Inspector Miller: Not by birth, but they may have been naturalised ?

Witness: Yes ; but there is no proof of that. Gool was born in India or on the Afghan frontier.

Inspector Miller: Such cases happen in India.

Witness: They frequently occur on the north-west of India, on the frontier. The Mahommedans frequently come out and kill the Christians.

Inspector Miller: That concludes the evidence, your Worship.

Mr. Butler: Were the letters written by the one man?

Captain Hardie: No, sir ; they were in different hand writings.

The Verdict.

Mr. Butler recorded the following verdict:—

I find that the deceased Gool Badsha Mahomed and Mullah Abdullah, at Broken Hill, in the State of New South Wales, on the 1st day of January, 1915, died from shock due to gun-shot wounds inflicted upon them on the same day by some person or persons to me unknown. I further find that such gun-shot wounds were inflicted by such unknown person or persons in self-defence, and that the shooting which inflicted such wounds was justifiable under the circumstances disclosed.

* The Sydney Mail, 13 January 1915. Full illustrated page with text.

A second illustrated page with text is here.

* The Australian Worker, 18 March 1915.

When a couple of Turks went berserk in Broken Hill, and attacked an excursion train, killing four people and wounding seven before they were themselves killed, the 'Bulletin' published a sarcastic skit on the way in which the news was received in Berlin of this 'notable success of our arms, in Australia.' On Thursday, March 4, Sydney 'Sun' published, as the genuine official announcement, this same "characteristic German story of the Broken Hill shooting," heading it "Battle of the Barrier; German version, 'Forty enemies killed; way to Candbin opened!"

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6. Videos

* Australia's Deadliest Picnic, The Skeptical Historian, 14 January 2025, YouTube, duration: 40.12 minutes.

* Battle of Broken Hill, Australian Crime Stories, 21 July 2025, YouTube, duration: 22.13 minutes.

* Battle of Broken Hill, FAIR, 10 August 2012, YouTube, duration: 9.26 minutes.

* Battle of Broken Hill - The Great War Comes to Australia, Blunders Down Under, 13 April 2025, YouTube, duration: 7.59 minutes.

* Battle of Broken Hill, Handsome Young Strangers, YouTube, duration: 4.23 minutes. Music video.

* Battle of Broken Hill - The two-man war on Australia, The Knight Watchman, 20 February 2023, YouTube, duration: 7.02 minutes.

* The Attack at Broken Hill, The Incredible Journey, 11 March 2022, YouTube, duration: 34.01 minutes.

* The Bondi Beach Bloodbath, The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters #1317, 16 December 2025, YouTube, duration: 50.15 minutes.

* Two Turks declare war on Australia, History Uncovered, 17 December 2024, YouTube, duration: 0.49 minutes.

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7. Islamic jihad terrorism

Islam's stated goal since 622AD and the time of Mohammad, and as outlined in the Quran, has been the killing of all non-believers (infidels) and the implementation of a global caliphate (Islamic state) under Sharia law. Therefore, how can it, and its two billion supporters in 2025, exist alongside the Jewish state of Israel and Western democratic societies such as the United States and Australia? It can't. It never could, and it never will. Furthermore, in order to achieve its goal, Mohammad put in place "jihad by the sword" which manifest as global terrorism and murder of innocent people. Islam is not a religion of peace; it is an ideology of brutal conquest and control. Covertly coordinated through international organisations such as the Muslim Brotherhood, a network of teaching, indoctrination has existed to assist in training for, and implementing, terrorist attacks.

It has been argued that Mullah Abdullah's action was not an act of war according to Islam ideology and law (Sirajuddin 2023). However, the evidence presented indicates that it is more consistent with a "jihad of the sword" action as seen regularly in modern times and as commanded by the Calif during 1914. It is not a simple act of war.

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8. Broken Hill 1915 & Bondi Beach 2025

The similarities between the two Australian jihad-driven Muslim terrorist events at Broken Hill in 1915 and Bondi Beach at the end of 2025 are striking. Both aimed to terrorise the Australian population at the time and achieved that result; both saw the brutal slaying of innocent people, from children through to the aged; both resulted in significant wounding and maiming; both took place on days of peaceful celebration; both were undertaken by individuals either foreign or the children of foreigners; both were suicidal; both used rifles in order to shoot accurately at a distance; both were carried out from secure positions located on a rise overlooking the nearby location of a large number of people; both were subject to prior planning; both were supposedly the work of just two individuals alone, with no co-conspirators; both displayed foreign flags on the day to let the public know clearly what was behind the attack; both were undertaken by individuals from geographical areas located adjacent to each other; and both were undertaken by mature, male adults, with one on each side displaying a deep knowledge of Islamic teachings.

Islamic "jihad of the sword" has taken place since 622AD when Arab warlord Mohammad first revealed his teachings and they were taken up by the public. It has continued unabated over more than 1400 years and lies at the core of the goal of Islam to conquer the world and put in place both Islamic states and Sharia law. Since the time of Mohammad, Islam has fought a brutal war against all peoples who were not followers of the ideology and who are referred to as Infidels. It has especially discriminated against the Jewish people and those of other spiritual beliefs such as Christians.

----------------

9. References

Adam Smith, Patsy, Folklore of the Australian Railwaymen, Macmillan of Australia, Sydney, 1969.

Assassin’s Bodies. Grave-Digging Stopped. But Disposed of, Barrier Miner, 4 January 1915.

At the Battle of Broken Hill - when Turks held up a picnic train, Pageant of the Past No.118, The News, Adelaide, 26 March 1954. Full page article.

At the North Camel Camp. A Demonstration and a Check. Police and Military First on the Spot, Barrier Miner, 2 January 1915.

Atta, Grace and Oliver Brown, Broken Hill's 1915 Picnic Train attack was not terrorism, historians say, ABC News, 1 January 2025.

Australasian, Sydney, 16 January 1915.

Australia got attacked - Battle of Broken Hill, January 1915, Razz Australian History, 24 January 2020, YouTube, duration: 2.50 minutes. Digital animation.

Australia's Deadliest Picnic, The Skeptical Historian, 14 January 2025, YouTube, duration: 40.12 minutes.

Barrier Miner,Broken Hill, 1, 2, 4, 5, 12 January 1915.

Barrier Tragedy. Evidence from the Mosque. ‘Ganga’, A Vile Drug, Causes Indians to Run Amok. Remarkable Theory Supported by Medical Men. Burning of the German Club. Union Jack Hoisted, The Mail, 2 January 1915.

Battle of Broken Hill, Australian Crime Stories, 21 July 2025, YouTube, duration: 22.13 minutes.

Battle of Broken Hill, FAIR, 10 August 2012, YouTube, duration: 9.26 minutes.

Battle of Broken Hill - The Great War Comes to Australia, Blunders Down Under, 13 April 2025, YouTube, duration: 7.59 minutes.

Battle of Broken Hill, Handsome Young Strangers, YouTube, duration: 4.23 minutes. Music video.

Battle of Broken Hill - The two-man war on Australia, The Knight Watchman, 20 February 2023, YouTube, duration: 7.02 minutes.

Campbell, Nerida, The battle of Broken Hill, Museums of History of New South Wales, Sydney, 5 December 2022.

Carlton, B., correspondence, 30 September 1979, Broken Hill Library archives.

Clarence & Richmond Examiner, 5 January 1915.

Dash, Mike, The Battle of Broken Hill, Smithsonian Magazine, Washington, 20 October 2011.

Diamadis, Panayiotis, History repeating: From the Battle of Broken Hill to the sands of Syria, The Conversation, 2015.

Dunn, Morgan W.R., World War I in Broken Hill: a Turkish-inspired attack on Australia's home soil, History Guild, 27 August 2025.

Ertur, Omer, A Prelude to Gallipoli: The Battle of Broken Hill, The Author, 2006, 308p. Novelisation.

Hillis, Joshua, Diversifying the teaching of the First World War: The Battle of Broken Hill, Parallel Histories: The New Way to Study Conflict, United Kingdom, accessed 20 December 2025.

Ilhan, Mehmet, Broken Hill Attack 1915 Revisited: A Battle fought for Gallipolli on Australian soil, Australian National University, Canberra, in Mehmet Mehdi Ilhan, Mehmet Bulut and Ibrahim G. Yumusak (editors), Gallipoli Campaign 1915: History, Economy, Literature and Art, Sabahattin Zaim University, Istanbul, 2017, 125-162.

Inquest on the Turks. Today’s Proceedings. The Alleged Confessions. Translations Presented in Court. The Verdict. Shot Justifiably in Self-Defence, Barrier Miner, 12 January 1915.

James, Peter, The Battle of Broken Hill - publicity material, National Film and South Archives of Australia, Canberra, 1976 - 1981. Includes cast list, poster and photographs.

Kyululu, Ayten, The Battle of Broken Hill (script), 1977. Not completed as a feature film.

Levinson, Robin (director), The Battle of Broken Hill, Sagittarius Films, Australia, 1981, 55 minutes. Dramatised reenactment documentary film.

Logan, John, Not a suicide pact? Judicial power and national defence and security in practice, Australian Institute of Administrative Law Forum, 106, December 2022.

Ludke, Tilman, Jihad, Holy War (Ottoman), 1914-1918 Online: International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 17 December 2018.

Mullah Abdullah’s Nationality, Barrier Miner, 7 January 1915.

New Year’s Day Tragedy. Inquest On the Turks, Barrier Miner, 8 January 1915.

Murderers Addicted to Drugs, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 4 January 1915.

Northern Territory Times and Gazette, Darwin, 7 January 1915.

Outside the Mosque. Cause of the Barrier Tragedy. A Strange Story. Probably the Result of Using Drugs, The Mail, 2 January 1915.

Rajkowski, P., In the Tracks of the Camel-Men, Sydney, 1987.

Rogan, E., The Fall of the Ottomans: The Great War in the Middle East, 2015.

Shakespeare, Nicholas, Oddfellows, Random House Publishing, 2015, 128p. Novelisation.

Sirajuddin, Abu Bakr, Mullah Abdullah, A Mullah?: A Reassessment of the Assertions and the Evidence, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs 42(4), March 2023, 500-11. Abstract: On January 1, 1915, Gool Badsha Muhammad and Mullah Abdullah shot at a picnic train as it left Broken Hill, headed towards Silverton, killing four and wounding seven. Had it not been for this horrific act and tragic loss of life, it is likely that little would be remembered of the perpetrators. This paper does not intend to revisit the events known as the Battle of Broken Hill, nor does it purport to examine the motivations for the actions that led to this event. Rather, the focus of this paper is to provide a reassessment of the often reiterated claim that Mullah Abdullah was the mullah, imam, or “Islamic priest” of the Cameleer community in Broken Hill. After showing the extent this claim is made within scholarly literature, evidence will be drawn primarily from newspaper reports of the period to assess what, if any, support there is for this claim. The paper will utilise some of the comments made within the newspaper reports regarding Mullah Abdullah in order to examine the extent to which he could have been considered a religious leader amongst his community.

Somerville, Gary and Bruce Scott, Rifle Club men and the Battle of Broken Hill, Australian Target Rifle, National Rifle Association of Australia, 10 November 2025.

Stevens, Christine, Tin Mosques and Ghantowns: A History of Afghan Camel Drivers in Australia, Oxford University Press, Sydney, 1989.

-----, Mullah Abdullah (1875-1915), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, Canberra, 2005.

-----. Gool Badsha Mahomed (c. -1915), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, Canberra, 2005.

Stratton, David, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angas & Robertson, Sydney, 1980.

Tattersfield, David, New Years Day 1915: The unknown Battle of Broken Hill, The Western Front Association. 22 November 2018.

The Attack at Broken Hill, The Incredible Journey, 11 March 2022, YouTube, duration: 34.01 minutes.

The Bondi Beach Bloodbath, The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters #1317, 16 December 2025, YouTube, duration: 50.15 minutes.

The Broken Hill Sensation. Story of the Tragedy. The Two Murderers Smoked Indian Hemp, Express Telegraph, 4 January 1915.

The Mohammedan Mosque Desecrated at Broken Hill, Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail, 8 January 1915.

The New Year’s Day Tragedy. The Cartridges Used. Where They Came From. Leading Storekeeper’s Statement, Barrier Miner, 7 January 1915.

The New Year’s Day Tragedy. The Battlefield Now a Scene of Peaceful Quiet. Bullet-Scarred Rocks, Barrier Miner, 6 January 1915.

The picnic train attack, ABC Broken Hill, 24 February 2011.

The Register, Adelaide, January 8+13, 1915.

Two Turks declare war on Australia, History Uncovered, 17 December 2024, YouTube, duration: 0.49 minutes.

Two Turks' Private War Turned Happy Picnic into bloody fracas: The story of the Battle of Broken Hill, The Daily Mirror, Sydney, 1 April 1949. Full page article.

War in Broken Hill, Collections Australia, accessed 17 September 2011.

Whyte, Brendan, Propaganda eats itself: The Battle of Broken Hill, Sabretache: Military Historical Society of Australia, 57(3), September 2016, 48-57. Abstract: The ‘Battle of Broken Hill’ is a well-known Australian domestic incident of the First World War. On 1 January 1915, in local atmosphere heated by anti-war militancy, union agitation at mine layoffs and the continued employment of Germans and Austrians in the mines, two Muslim Afghans from the Broken Hill cameleer camp took out their own longstanding personal grievances on the community by attacking, on the outskirts of the town, the train hired by the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows friendly society to carry townsfolk to its annual New Year’s Day picnic at Silverton. A passer-by and two passengers on the train, one a teenage girl, were shot and killed, and six more, including women and children, wounded. The attackers fled back towards the town, where they were soon holed up by a posse of police, military reservists and civilians. A fourth man, a bystander, was killed by a stray bullet, and a seventh victim wounded, during this final gun-battle in which the two Afghans were also killed. Because the Afghans flew a Turkish flag during the attack, it has been regarded not only as the sole enemy attack on Australia’s soil during the First World War, but also, in more recent times, as Australia’s first act of terrorism. The Turkish flag also caused the Afghans to be considered Turks themselves, although they appear to have originated from British India or Afghanistan.

Wikipedia, Battle of Broken Hill, Wikipedia, accessed 17 December 2025.

Wikipedia, 1914 Ottoman Jihad Proclamation, Wikipedia, accessed 21 December 2025.

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Michael Organ, Australia

Last updated: 28 December 2025

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