MOROCCAN BATTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 288, 3 December 1907, Page 5

MOROCCAN BATTLE.

DEFENDERS' GALLANTRY.

NATIVES MOWED DOWN,

(By Cable. -Press Association.—Copyright.)

MOROCCO, December 2.

Details of the fight at Menasseh, on i'riday, snow that 3500 of the Benishassen tribe at Aghbal, Morocco, entered Algeria and attacked an elevated fort at .-•ldiaissa, ln the vicinity of Babelassa. lne fort was defended by contingents of different tribes, a portion of the |ioreign legion, a company of tirailleurs a section of the battoi-y of mountain artillery, and a squadron of Spahis (Algerian cavalrymen serviiig in thee French army). The attack was exceptionally vigorous and well sustained, and was repulsed I with great gallantly. Whole lines of the tribesmen, who attempted a llanking movement, were mown down by gun.s posted at a height, l<3o shells being tired. The Benjshasscn tribesmen, with their ranks decimated, have retiizned to Aghbal, but their provision oi ammunition is very short. The large Attias tribe on the Algerian side have joined the Benishassen, but the arrival of French reinforcements has reassured the border population. General Liantey proposes to drive the tseinshassen tribe into the mountains and then surround and starve them into submission. He has been empowered to temporarily operate in Moroccan territory, to safeguard the Algerian frontier, but occupation i≤ restricted to Ujda.