MOROCCO.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 57, 30 November 1907, Page 5

MOROCCO.

A CHANGE. IN THE FORTUNE OF WAR. 'STJLTAN DEFEATED. ARABS PRESSING FRANCE. BI rjf.EGRA.PH—MESS ASSOCIATION—COrTEIGHT. Morocco, November 28. The forces of Mulai liaful, the Sultan's half-brother, and Pretender to the Throne of Morocco, inflicted a severe' defeat on the troops of the Sultan (Abdul Aziz) near Rabat, a seaport on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. ■, Jloors have made. two incursions into Algoria, in the vicinity of Kiss (where yesterday.' a French reconnoitring force was compelled to retreat by 1000 Arabs and lost eight men.) Troops are hurrying to dofend Nemours, a seaport on the north-wost coast of Algeria. . IN A TICHT CORNER. A MOROCCAN RAID IN ALGERIA. FRENCH LOSSES. (Rec.'Nov: 29, 9.48 p.m.) fi/orocco, November 29. Several thousand of tho Behi Hassan tribesmen, and members of two other tribes,crossed the Algerian frontier • and attacked Babelassa. The French were "at first compelled to . retire, but, when reinforced, regained Babelassa, and drove the Moroccans over the frontier. For a time the French were in a tight corner. Eleven tirailleurs and an officer were killed, and -a number of men wero wounded. , Tho fight lasted six hours. On November- 10,. a Paris cablegram stated that France considered tho situation in Morocco sufficiently improved to recall all her destroyers and four oruisers. Now, however, the diversion effected by the tribesmen in the direction of Algeria .appears to 'have added a new element of danger, and the French may find themselves oil. the defensive in their own territory. On the opposite or western sido of Morocco, the'fortunes of the Sultan Abdul Aziz also seem to have, received a check at tho hands of : tho Pretender, Mulai Ilafid, whose forces" were recently reported to bo going to pieces. ,Mulai's troubles were Alleged to have starte\l after the Sultan out-paced him for the Atlantic port of Rabat. Then followed reported defeats of tho Pretender's forces at the hands of the French, and subsequently of the . Sultan's troops. Mulai's present victory near Rabat should have a counter-balancing effect; but it seems to bo a mistake to attach over milcli importance to isolated engagements. The real position would seem to bo that Mujai Halid is established at tho southern 1 and inland capital of Marrakesh, and his chance of success deponds oil whether lie bos sufficient, resources to keep ' together a force strong enough to carry'the principal Atlantic coastal towns, which,- taken in. their order from south to north, areMogador, Sp.fi, Maiagan, Casa Blanca, and Rabat. ■At Mogador,, tho port nearest to the Pretender's capital, there is a Governor loyal, to tho Sultan, and though it was reported as .long ago as October 15, that Mulai had sent an expedition, Mogador would seem to be still holding out. In October, the Governor was said to be disappointed at tho ,non : arrival of troops promised bv the Sultan— which fact was regarded as indicating the Government's weakness—but still prepared to defend the town with his own resources. As to Rabat and Mazagan, they, aro in the Sultan's hands, and: .the French aro at Casa Blanca. ■ So',, Mulai cannot yet .be said to bo established on';'the Atlantic' coast. .