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‘The strategic importance of the Euphrates valley railway’ [‎12] (189/204)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (22 pages). It was created in 1873. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: Printed Collections.

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12
arose and passed through the barracks, exclaiming, "Jesus Christ is my
God ! Jesus Christ is my God !" His comrades were scandalized ;
a crowd rushed up, some covered his mouth with their hands ; others
filled it with dirt, and all dealt out freely blows and blasphemies. At
last it was decided that Ahmed had become possessed of a devil, and,
whilst he preserved perfect tranquillity, heavy chains were bound upon
his neck, his arms, and his legs. At that moment Jesus Christ again
appeared to him, and said, " Break that chain ! He said. How
can I break it, it being of iron ? " and again the voice spoke louder,
"Break that chain." He tore it asunder as though it had been
of wax. A heavier chain, was brought, and the same miracle happened
once more. This was reported to the officers, and by them to their
Bey or Commandant; the latter sent for the private and after heaping
reproaches, abuse, and threats upon him, ordered him to be imprisoned
without food or water, and to be carefully fettered. Still for a third
and a fourth time the bonds fell off, and supernatural graces and strength
were renewed to the prisoner, who made no attempt to move or to escape
from his gaolers.
The soldiers fled in fear, and the commandant no longer dared to
molest the convert. The case was represented to Constantinople, and
orders were sent that Ahmed must appear at the capital. He was
despatched accordingly under an escort, and with his wrists in a block
of wood acting as handcuffs. Reaching Diurat, a village three hours
from Damascus, he saw at night the door of his room fly open, and the
Blessed Virgin entering, broke, with her own hands, the block of wood
and his other bonds. By her orders he walked back alone to Damascus
and reported himself to his regiment. It was determined this time to
forward him with a party of soldiers, but without chains or " wood.
Arrived at Constantinople, the accused was brought before a court-
martial ; a medical man was consulted as to his sanity, and the prisoner
was not a little surprised to find himself set at liberty, and fiee to go
where he pleased. Thus the promise of Jesus Christ was fulfilled. 1 he
Neophyte took the name of "Isa," which is Jesus, and returned to
Damascus, where his history became generally known.^ The Turks
pointed him out as the " soldier who broke four chains. " Some term
him the " Majmin," the madman, though there is nothing about him
to indicate the slightest insanity ; but most of the people held him in
the highest respect, calling him Shaykh Ahmed, and thus raising him
to the rank of " Santon," or saintly man.
The terrible example of the Shadili families has not arrested the
movement -persecution never does-the blood of the martyrs is still the
seed of the Church. But the converts now conduct their proceedings
with more secresy. They abstain from public gatherings, although they
occasionally visit Fray Dominic d'Avila, Padre Guardiano, or Superior
ofthe Terra Santa. The society has now assumed a socialistic cha-
racter, with private meetings for prayers, and with the other precautions
of a secret order. The number of converts has greatly increased. At the
end of 1869 the males in the City of Damascus amounted to 500 ; in

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The Strategic importance of the Euphrates Valley Railway , by F M L [Feldmarschallleutnant] Baron Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld, Austrian War Minister, translated by Captain Charles William Wilson. Published by Edward Stanford of 6 & 7 Charing Cross, London, 1873. Authorised translation; second edition. A note at the end of the volume states that the speech was written by von Kuhnenfeld in 1858, and the first edition published in 1869.

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1 volume (22 pages)
Physical characteristics

The volume is bound into a larger volume entitled ‘Political Tracts’ (dimensions: 215mm x 135mm), with four other small volumes.

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English in Latin script
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‘The strategic importance of the Euphrates valley railway’ [‎12] (189/204), British Library: Printed Collections, 8026.cc.1.(2.), in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023666686.0x0000be> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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