MOROCCAN CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1233, 15 September 1911, Page 5

MOROCCAN CRISIS.

MORE HOPEFUL FEELING.

FEZ ISOLATED AGAIN

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

London, September 13. There is a more hopeful feeling in financial circles in London, Berlin, and Paris respecting the Moroccan question. BELGIAN PRECAUTIONS. (Rec. September It, 10.30 p.m.) Brussels, September 14. Tho Belgian time-expired men have been retained with thei colours until further notice. FIGHTING NEAR MELILLA. Madrid, September 13. A Moorish attack on 'Spanish outposts at Kert River, near Melilla, was repulsed. Three Spanish officers and thirteen men wer6 killed. Tho enemy hod seventy-six killed and many were wounded. A FRENCH ENGAGEMENT. Paris, September 13. Tribesmen are beleaguering Lieutenant Hugo d'Erville and 0000 Skereefian troops at Sei'ru.

Communications with Fez have been I cut. '' Colonel Bremond, with a force of 1500 men, has loft Fez to relieve tho lieutenant's command. GERMAN POLIOY IN AFRICA. THE IMPORTANCE OF AGADIR, , Many people 'in Franco and Great Bri- < tain, writes Mr. J. Ellis Barker in the August "Nineteenth Century," find Germany's aggressive attitude inexplicable, and they are asking: What does Germany want in Africa? . The German population increases every < year by almost 1,000,000, while ours in- , crtascs by only, nbout -100,000. Therefore, '' most Germans believe that they are morally far more strongly entitled to tho j possession of colonies situated in a mod- I crate zono than, is Great Britain. The statesmen of Germany are determined that their surplus population shall no longer serve to strengthen tho non-Ger-man nations across the sea to the weakening of the Fatherland. Recognising that Germany's territory was becoming too small for her rapidly-growing population, and that suitable colonies were tho country's greatest need, the German statesmen and thinkers have striven for. many years to acquire extensive colonies situated in a moderate zone. Surveying the globe, they perceived that Asia was not very suitable for European settlers, that Australia and its islands were too far away, and that, in trying to acquire colonies in America, they would encounter the hostility of tho United States. Africa was the only oontincnt which might give rise to a Greater Germany. Therefore Africa became the centre of German expansionist activity. ■ Morocco is a point which would be of inestimable strategical value to Germany in a war against France and Great Britain as well as against the United States. A German occupation .of Morocco would make Algeria and the rest of FrenchAfrica untenable for Franco. The unruly Algerian tribes could easily be raised in revolt at. the critical moment. Thus tho connection could be out between France and her great African Empire, and France would be deprived not only of the uso of the 750,000 troops whom she maintains in Algeria, but also of the hundreds of thousands of coloured troops whom she is raising in her other African colonies, and who, in case of "need, could be brought to Europo to assist in the defence of Wrarjaa .against a German invasion. Great Britain is most vulnerable through her great dependence on foreign food and raw material. ,2Co\v, thrcojiofj.:fcho principal trade routes of.'tho.'.world-ithe' route through tho Mediterranean to tho East, tho route round the Cape to India, and that from. Europe to South America—pass the coast of Morocco: A port on the Atlantic such as Agadir, would lie a most admirable point whoro to station a few of tho small but exceedingly fast protected cruisers of tho Dartmouth type, which are specially designed to net as commerce-destroyers, of which, by the by, Germany has a large and Great Britain a totally insufficient number. Besides, if Germany should give the North of 'Morocco to Spain— and this is apparently contemplated— the latter, in order to bo able to hold hex own against France, would require Germany's constant support. Through the joint possession of Morocco, Germany and Spain would necessarily become allies, and Spain could in time of war materially assist Germany against France by making a demonstration on the Franco-Spanish frontier, and against Great Britain by threatening Gibraltar. Last, but not least, the future great route to tho Far East by way of the Panama Canal which may become the greatest trade route of all, would also pass by Agadir, and that port would be a most excellent base whence to attack the United States in their most vulnerable spots, the Panama Canal and the American war harbours in tho Antilles protecting it.