WAR IN MOROCCO

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 14 September 1925, Page 5

WAR IN MOROCCO

BIG FRENCH ATTACK

HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED. STRONG RIFF RMSTANCE. BY" CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT. Received Sep. 14, 10.45 a.m. PAULS, Seip. 13. Details of the fighting, received from Fez, show that the It iffy repeatedly and vigorously assaulted the small garrison on. Issua-l height. They were supported by hundred millimetre guns, and the operations were directed by Europeans, whose white uniforms were dearly distinguishable. „ The ltiffs reached the entanglements, hub now aha ndo i led the attack. The centre of the enemy resistance is Bifciane Massif, which was defended by means of trenches into the sides of the hills, cleverly camouflaged, but the French .arei likely to encircle the position.

Several! tribes are giving signs of submission. The French successes are attributed to accurate gunnery and judicious use of tanks. —Reuter.

RACE AGAINST RAI\ T

MAKING GOOD PROGRESS: PARIS, Sept. 12. Advices from Fez state that, terrific artillery preparation for twenty-one hours preluded an attack which was launched at two o’clock in .the morning by two wings on the French northern front, extending beyond Terual on one side and Tafrant on the other.

A eoinmuique. states the attacks are developing satisfactorily and a number of posts have been occupied., ' The object of the attack was the re-oceupa-tion of outposts north of Wergha, which were abandoned earlier in the year. t The situation at noon was reported t'o be most favourable. The French attained all their objectives, only encountering resistance at a few points. The, .rebels, under aeroplane aiiduartillerv attack, retreated north to Bibane. V . LONDON, Se.pt. 12. The : .Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail says that after fory-five hours’ bombardment on a forty miles front sixty- /of Marshal Petain’s battalions advanced .another stage in the great race against the coming of the rains. Unless they cross the Ouerglfa, driving back the-Riffe installed on its northern bank/ within, two or three weeks the fords "will become swollen and impassable,' necessitating the., suspension of the campaign until the spring. . Artillery concentrated on.: the- Riffian posts and laid a barjrage before the advancing troops, and tanks cleared the valleys and roads, ensuring the infantry’s’ free passage. ■ There were only occasional hitches *n the progress of the French) due to obstinate, machinegun posts. Pour hours after daybreak the advance had gone well beyond the allotted objective. , The left flank reached Mount.Mesned, which dominates the country round'fTerual, and the right flank advanced/ up the Sahela Valley as far qs. Sker, taking the Astar heights in their -stride: ' Substantial reinforcements have landed at Alhueemas and Morronuevo. Several coastal tribes are ready to surrender. A Spanish general reports that neighbouring villages have hoisted the white flag. . The Paris correspondent of the Daily News says that preceded by heavy artillery preparation the French made a surprise advance-in the .valley of the Upper Ouerglia, marching to Kiffane, and extending to’the right,for the purpose of effecting-a junction with the Spaniards at.. Melilla. The Riffs offered determined resistance.

IN THE SPANISH SECTOR • J

kbim to withdraw forces

MADRID, Sept. 12,

Tl>'e Riffs -are strongly pressing Tetuan, but nevertheless the situation is easier.; The Spanish bombarded and destroyed the village of Hassana. They are concentrating on Alhucemas for .the jmrpose Of marching on. Ajdil. The left flank advance of the French is intended t'o ' culminate in an attack on Sheshuan;, In conjunction with the SpanislTMvancing on the opposite side. Krim’s council of war decided to withdraw to the interior, enabling better resistance. The French battleship Paris was holed below' the waiterline andi.the wireless was destroyed by seven-inch shells during a Riff bombardment. The Metz and the Strasburg were also damaged. PARIS, Sept. 12.

General Lyautey has departed on his return to Morocco, where he will cooperate with Marshal Petain in the political exploitation of the military operations, which the latter directs.