RISING IN MOROCCO.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17207, 26 July 1921, Page 7

RISING IN MOROCCO.

DISASTBOUS SPANISH EETEEAT. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association. l , MADRID, July 24. Attacks by powerful bodies of Moroccan rebels continue. Genera! Silvestre's detachments are still falling back, though it iB believed there are sufficient to defend Melilla. General Navarra has succeeded General Silvestre. Two thousand troops were urgently despatched to Melilla from Ceuta. Further reinforcements are following, and several warships are being sent. The Government requisitioned a number of Atlantic liners and other large steamers to transport the tr:>ops. The Minister of War described the retreat from Annal as most disastrous. There had been many casualties. He said that Spain was faced with a new situation in Morocco. Hitherto she had only had to deal with isolated groups of rebels. Now she was faced by a real rebel army, perfectly organised. One report states that the native troops at Annal mutinied. General Silvestre fought at the head of his men, who surrounded the munitions until exhausted. General Silvestre ordered a retirement in the face of overwhelming odds, but he himself and his staff, who refused to leave him remained behind. Details are lacking, but it is known that General Silvestre, two aides-de-camp and two colonels are among the killed. (Received July 24, 6.6 p.m.) MADRID, July 25. An escaped officer reports that _the native trained levies showed previous indications of treachery, and committed acts of mutiny. General Silvestre did not heed the reports, believing that his presence would restrain the natives, and restore order; but when the general despatched the bulk of his troops to a new position, thousands of fully armed and trained mutineers, possessing artillery, attacked the remainder. General Silvestre and his staff succeed* ed in getting back to Annal, near Melilla, where the Spanish troops entrenched themselves. The rebels cut off General Silvestre'a force from its supply base. General Silvestre then ordered a retreat t to Sedi Driss, he with bis staff, remaining at the post of danger in Annal. The retreating troops, carrying their wounded with them, proceeded in small contingents, each of which was attacked on route by the pursuing rebels, who charged with fixed bayonets. General Silvestre eventually got all the survivors of his force to safety, he and his staff still remaining alone in Annal. Unable to escape, . they assembled in a body, General # Silvestre saying they must not fall into the hands of the Moors. He drew Jus revolver, and the "-others did likewise". All shook hands, and embraced, and then shot themselves, General Silvestre witnessing their deaths. He shot himself last. General Silvestre is hailefl as a hero throughout Spain,, as having •aved thousands troops from massacre.

Writing on June 7th, tha Madrid correspondent of the "Morning Post" said: Large contingents of natives have attacked and occupied a position in Morocco which was defended by a Spanish battery and two companies of natives who had been enrolled for service under the Spanish flap;. The native companies mutinied and killed six officers belonging to the force occupying the position. The native contingents afterwards attacked another position, "but were replied after a sanguinary fight lasting 26 hours, daring winch they suffered heavy losses, including 100 killed, while the Spanish troopß had three officers, including a major,, and 30 men wounded. These events, which have been made known officially to-day, have produced a bad impression, because the public had come to believe that there would be no more serious fighting in Morocco. On June 9th the "Morning Post" published a statement by the Spanish Ambassador to London, that "the importance of the.incident should not be exaggerated. The Bay of Alhucemas, where the fighting occurred, is. situated midway between the districts of Melilla and Tetuan, in Spanish occupation Bince 1909 and 1912 respectively. The Spanish forces have recently effected a landing at this pointy with the purpose of driving a wedge into the heart of the Rif .between the two above-mentioned regions. Spain is now conducting her military operations verv largely by means of native levies. South-east of Alhucemas the Beni-Urriagel tribe, with its 10,000 riflemen, constitutes the danger-spot of the whole of the Rif and of the Spanish zone generally. Probably there has been a conspiracy between this intelligent and warlike tribe and some of their countrymen in the Spanish ranks, leading to an uprising in the midst of operations, the consequences of which might have been much worse, as the Moors have evidently been repulsed with heavy losses."