GERMAN INTRIGUES IN MOROCCO

Evening Star, Issue 16089, 14 April 1916, Page 7

GERMAN INTRIGUES IN MOROCCO

FAILURE OF THE "HOLY WAR," Mr 11. Warner" , Mlen, special correspondent of the British Press with the French armies, writes with reference to the pesi-" tion of affairs' in Morocco that, long before August, 1914, the Germans had made, their preparations for the declaration of a Holy War in Morocco and the overthrowing o'f the French Protectorate: and the results obtained by German bribery and intrigues up to t::e tnd of January, 1916. he describes in the following brief narrative, which is based on official documents and other trustworthy information kindly placed at his dispcea'l:— The ideal at which the Germans were aiming was expressed by one of them in the following terms:— ,: If there is war. we must arrange that not a single Frenchman leaves the Shawia alive." For the accomplishment of this simple formula, with the general massacre of civilians, women, and children that it implied, the German plans had been carefully worked out- L'verv pretender to the Throne of the Sherifian empire, every malcontent chief, and every religious fanatic were to be provided with money and arms long before smuggled in for the purpose. German psychology, however, overlooked the fact that French rule, by its justice and humanity, had gained the respect of the- tribes, and whilist enemy efforts succeeded in producing a. series of sporadic revolts, inevitable in a barbarous country under European rule during a general European war, none really threatened the position of France in' Morocco. The French indeed has actually extended their regime in .Morocco, the agitation duo to German intrigues having compelled them to bring within their "ienitu'ne-s tribes hitnerto unsubdued. Thus in Mav the Branes country, north of Taza, was'occupied ; between April and August the French fa-ops advanced into ths Guigo without firing a shot, setting up a barrier rjctween the "rebel tribes and the suburbs of Fez. The&e are only two instances, and many others might be* given. Ot all the many pretenders and malcontents who have from time immemorial infested tiie Sherifian Empire, the Germans had chosen out as their special protege Abdul Malek, grandson of the Emir Abdul Kader, who fougnt &o gallantly again.;-! the French in Algeria. Ht was to be the leader of the Hciy War. On iiarui jO. 1915, Abdul Malek left Tangier for the mountains, but there he promptly got into trouble with some of the local tribes, who held him fast until July. Then, not without paying heavy ransom, he was. release, and reached the Riata country in the Fez district. There he announced himself as the agent of Turkey, and promised to every would-be rebel arms and ammunition and the support of Germany and Turkey. But the Moors had discovered that t;.e power of France was still'intact, and thev turned a deaf ear to his blandishments. Last December he managed to collect a scanty force, and raided "the borders of the laza district, only to call down upon himself a. swift riposte from the French. On December 8 tiie French 101 ces came i:.!o cont-ut with Abdul Maiek's harka of about £O3 horse and 1,500 foot in the Mghraua country. Tiie harka was rudely shaken, and most of the Moors composing it lied to their homes in dismay, while tiie friendly tribes carried out a successful raid into the- enemy's country. On January 27 Colonel Simon captured his stronghold 'at Suk-e'-Had with a considerable booty, and Abdul Malek is now a fugitive in the Hill Mountains.