MOROCCAN CAMPAIGN

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 September 1925, Page 5

MOROCCAN CAMPAIGN

BIBANE HEIGHTS CAPTURED.

FRENCH REPORT SUCCESS. A POLITICAL GAIN. .V OißLt PRfcSS ASSOCIATION —..OPYEIGH'I PARIS, Sep. 16. French, troops to-day brilliantly recaptured the Bibane heights midway between Taunat and Wezzan. The capture of the Bibane heights is not only a military success, but a political gain. The French now occupy the territory of the Bemourighels, whese defection undermined-the French political front. The occupation of Wergha facilitates the organisation of an uninterrupted chain of strongholds on the right bank of the river.

FORTUNES OF THE SPANIARDS

CONTRADICTORY REPORTS

CENSOR ACTIVE. » t.AiluL - ASSOCIATION —CO-PVfcfcUlßi LONDON, Sep. 16. The Daily Express announces that the Spanish Ambassador at London has complained on ite behalf that articles from its special correspondent with the Alhucemas forces, also a message from its correspondent at Madrid, were stopped by the Spanish censor. Another message which passed states that the troops in the extreme west of Alhucemas are occupying ground devoid of water and shade. Water has to be brought by boats, but raging storms compel the ships to stand off the dangerous coast; The enemy, recovering from the initial surprise, rallied, redoubling the attacks on the Spanish positions, which are perforated with dug-outs similar to the conditions in the World War. The advance is held up owing to it being contingent on the French advance, which met a strong Riff defence. _ General Primo de Rivera declares that 'he feels the tremendous responsibility of the command of a force of 100,000. together .with the fleet, but he firmly believes that France and Spain will succeed in a few weeks.

The Spanish Embassy deprecates the alarmist messages from Morocco, instancing the reported mutiny of Spanish troops, which is denied bv a Madrid telegram, which speaks of the enthusiasm of the troops embarking for Morocco. The Embassy pleads for the cautious reception of news regarding the report that the Spanish force at Alhucemas is in difficulties. It points out that in the event of rough weather obliging the supplv ships to leave the bay the troops ashore will be able to await their return without suffering great privations. It alludes to the Riff snipers’ “feeble attacks,” and states that nevertheless the troops have gone inland some distance without opposition. The villages of the Bokova tribe are flying the white flag. Advice from Melilla states that Riff attacks ,at various points west of Melilla were repulsed. A supply barge snrang a leak and filled, but a destrover rescued .the crew. The bad weather prevented the disembarkation of troops from several vessels in Cebadilln Bay-.