SPAIN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 193, 31 May 1860, Page 4

SPAIN.

Pictures from Tetuan

7’lie special correspondent of the Times gives an account of the manner in which the city was entered by the. Spaniards after the defeat of the Moors on the 4th Feb.:—Early on the morning of the 6th Feb., a renegade Cadiz watchmaker, Robles, by name, came to O’Donnell’s headquarters, aud said that the Moorish soldiery, both Moros de Rey, or regulars, and the irregulars of the Kabyles or tribes, had been sacking the place for upwards of 24 hours; and in the name of the inhabitants he implored the entrance of the Spanish troops. General Rios’s division was imme diately sent forward to occupy the town and citadel, and as soon as they had left the passage free through the narrow lanes leading from the camp to the city, O’Donnell, with a numerous staff and escort, followed in the same direction. It was a brilliant, cloudless morning, and the lovely country around Tetuan showed to the greatest advantage, dewbathed and glittering in the sunbeams. The city is built on a brow, extending down both sides of it, and in the part visible as we advanced not the slightest movement was perceptible. It was exactly ten in the forenoon when the Spanish flag was hoisted on the battlements.

The Moorish soldiery, whom the people here designate as Beduinos, and the irregulars of the tribes of Kabyles, who are spoken of as barbaros, or barbarians, seem to have given themselves up, without anybody’s attempting to restrain them, to the most insane licence after their defeat on Saturday. The two brothers of the Emperor, we are told, fled precipitately from the lost position, and rode through Tetuau

without drawing rein, and the soldiery did as they liked. Their excesses are said, however, to have been confined chiefly' to the Jew’s quarter. What amount of damage they may have done in that of the Moors I have not yet been able positively to ascertain, but it is reported to have been comparatively small. Many of the Moorish inhabitants had fled from the city, but many still remain, although in great part hidden. The pillage began in the night of Saturday, or rather at three o’clock on Sunday morning, and lasted until yesterday morning. The Jews say that the Spaniards saved their lives by coming, for that otherwise the Moors, having taken all their property, would assuredly have cut their throats on their refusal to reveal the hiding place of wealth they no longer possessed. I entered some of their houses and heard many of them tell their story. Some of them had their clothes torn from their backs by the Moors, as punishment for remonstrance and prayers for mercy, and were turned out stark naked into the street, wln’ifi the most fiendish violence was perpetrated in their dwellings. A Jew told me that in one house the spoilers had got possession of 20,000 dollars, of which 5000 dollars belonged to him. They were secreted, he said, in a wall, but the Moors went about knocking the walls to see where they sounded hollow, and then broke them in; and when they could discover nothing in this way, they compelled the Jews, by ill-treatment and by the prospect of immediate death, to reveal their treasures.

The Moorish party has betaken itself no one knows whither, and there is certainly little chance of its attempting to retake Tetuan, in and around which the Spaniards have established themselves, There is no talk of a move elsewhere, nor will such be made, I should think, until a little time has been allowed for the operation of other agencies than that of arms.

A treaty of alliance and concurrence in conditions of peace were demanded of Morocco by Spain. The following were the chief points:— The cession of all the territory conquered, and an indemnity of 200 millions reals. These conditions were rejected, and the war has been renewed.

Several of the ports of the Morocco coast have been bombarded, the Moors having been repulsed with great slaughter. On attempting the Spanish camp at Tetuan, the Emperor had sent another messenger to sue for peace. Owing to the aggressive spirit displayed by Spain a British squadron has been despachecl to the Tagus. Spain has a force of 274,000 armed men. She has on foot 24,000 men in Cuba with a reserve of 16,000 more. She has 100,000 mon Spain proper, with,a corps de_ reserve of 69,000; at the Canary Isles 7,000 ; at Puerto Rico 3,800, with a reserve of 3',200 ; in the Gulf of Guinea 150; at the PhiJlippine Islands 14,000, with a reserve of 3,600. Her marine establishment counts 20,000 men; her civic guard 10,600; her gend’armerie or carabinieri 12,000.