SPANISH LOSSES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 626, 4 October 1909, Page 7

SPANISH LOSSES.

MOORS REPELLED; AT THE COST OF 200 CASUALTIES. A GENERAL KILLED. (By Telograph-Preaa ABBociatfon-Oopyrlght.) .■ ; . -.. (Keo. ■ October 3,'. Bis ■ p.m.)'■:-.■' ;.'■:■■ : London, October 2. The Spaniards at Zelwan (recently capturod from the.Moors) mado a strong reconnaissance, during which tho reconnoitring party was attacked by the Moors, whom they repelled. Tho Spaniards were withdrawing in good order when the Moors, favoured by tho condition of tho.fr. ound, renewed tho attack with the utmost ferco. '.>'.'■ . ; . ■ The enemy wero; again repulsed, and suffered heavily. Tho Spaniards had'' 200 casualties. General Vicaro, two captains, a lioutenant and 14,-men were lulled. : •' .; -.yMOORS' STYLE OF FIGHTINQ. "The Moors aro adepts at'fighting on horse-, back (says a writer in an 'English journal), and are extremely mobile) but they, are incorrigibly, lazy, and seldom, indulge in night attacks. When they attack'' in ' force they usually give a lift to the foot soldiers who accompany them, or allow them' to, run alongside and hold on to a The mounted men then . make, a charge, wheel t-ound, and retire, and make.', way for ; the footmen, who crawl along tho ground, almost invisible, and who rise to the attack if they come within striking, distance of the onemy. As a rule, the Rifferos prefer to lure detached parties into an ambush er defile, and thus. inflict heavy loss upon them. The mounted men seldom dismount to fire, consequently their firing from the saddle is very: inaccurate. Should the advance of the white troops bo slow or hesitating, the Moors effect,a bold combination between horsemen and . footmen* and generally succeed in inflicting.heiwy losses-on their enemy. .-■'. •• ' . '~- .■. : "The prime tactics of the Moors are to delay the advance of an enemy as much as possible by mounted, rifle fire, until they can discern its extent and direction,, and .subsequently to try and envelope the advancing force. , The tribes also indulge in sniping, but not to a very groat oxtent, and thay also fight individually. They do not neglect opportunities, for stratagem, and can effect some very ..clever • ruses. They are also guilty of abueing the services of tho white flag in action,'as'the French troops found to'their-cost'durinrf the ..operations around Casa Blanca. STho Moorish inteUige'nce .system is an excpllent one,-and the tribes are seldom without information regarding 'the movements of an .enemy.' They-have also an excellent system'of eignallins at night by means of small fires dotted about the hills and ravines, and which are obscured and revenlod in accordance with au ingenious code of signals known: to themselves."; : . '■