DESERT “NAPOLEON.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 28, 12 November 1936, Page 2

DESERT “NAPOLEON.”

ARAB LEADER’S EXILE. One-time “Napoleon of Morocco,” Abd-el-Krim, who was exiled to Reunion Island, near Madagascar, in June, 1926, may be liberated before the end of the year. The French Minister of Colonies, states the “Journal,” has given a favourable reply to efforts made to permit Abd-el-Krim to return home. The former Arab rebel leader is quoted as having stated: “I believe that back there I can be more useful to France. I have known and have seen so many things.” This view, it is stated, has been accepted by certain French circles. Only recently Krim was reported to have escaped from Reunion Island. The Ministry of Colonies subsequently issued a denial of this. Krim is one of the most picturesque figures in French colonial history. He was an obscure deserter from the (Spanish Administration at Ceuta, North Africa, in 1921, when he placed himself at the head of the Riff forces fighting a guerilla campaign against Spain. He proclaimed the independence of his country, and proceeded to inflict a series of crushing defeats on the Spanish forces. The greatest of these was in the summer of 1921, when lie defeated the united Spanish forces and captured an entire division. Later Spain paid £250,000 to ransom the men. Having disposed of the Spaniards, he made the mistake in April, 1925, of launching an offensive against the French, and by September found himself fighting a combined French and Spanish army of 225,000 men. He surrendered, and was exiled.