WAR IN MOROCCO

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 September 1924, Page 5

WAR IN MOROCCO

RISING OF FANATICS

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

MADRID, Sept. 10. General de Rreera announces the eAmeuation .of Spanish positions in Morocco without loss. Spain is having to deal with a general rising of fanatical mountain clans, AA r ho are' led by Abdelkrim, avlio a feAA T years ago was a clerk in Madrid.

[ln 1860 a strip of territory AA r as ceded by Morocco to Spain' and though occupation has been little more than nominal, tlie Spanish GoA'ermnent made frequent attempts to extend its influence. In doing this it came into diplomatic collision with Paris and London. Finally France and Spain agreed about their respective rights, 'and the Spanish zone Avas defined by the Treaty of Madrid, signed in 1912. The zone extends along the Mediterranean littoral for some 200 miles, with an average depth'of 60 miles—from the Algerian border to the sea, and westward to El Kasar, and thence to tlie Atlantic. The Spaniards by 1921 Avere found to have been extending their area of occupation, and had declared an intention of occupying all the territory between Melila and the island of Albueemas. In that year, hoAvever, the Spanish arms met Avith a serious reverse. In December, 1923, a convention regarding Tangier Avas signed by representatives of Great Britain, France and Spain, by Avhieh the permanent neutrality of a zone 'known as the “Tangier zone,” distinct from the Spanish zone, .was assured. The terihs of this convention Avere severely criticised by opponents of the BaldAvin Government, aa'lio asserted that British interests had been graA'ely imperilled.]