Up Against It

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XV, Issue 193, 20 July 1925, Page 5

Up Against It

France in Morocco NATION NOT INFORMED. CASUALTIES GREATER THAN REPORTED. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) Paris, July 18. “Le Petit Journal” says tlnft the people are not hearing the whole truth about Morocco. Up to June 30 the French losses were 5148 killed and wounded and 666 missing. “Le Petit Journal’’ alleges that the French effectives are far below the standard of efficiency, and some battalio-ns are reduced to 300 General Naulin, the new Commander-in-Chief in Morocco, has gone to Marseilles, en route to Casablanca. At Alicante, Marshall Petain has arrived in an aeronlaue, en route to Rabat. Marshal Petain met General Lyauterv at Rabat, and later bad an audience with the Sultan of Morocco. General Naulin, interviewed before going to Morocco, applauded ihe decision to send Marshal Petain to Morocco, as his presence would cheer the troops. General -Na-Ulin said that there were at present 125,000 troops in the Riff region. He believed that this force was adequate to achieve the French aims. Reports in the French press °f the Riff activities in tlm direction of Fez are confirmed bv Madrid advices, which describe tho Riff attacks and tho incessant aeroplane bombardments of the enemy lines. OBJECTIVE. THE CAPTURE OF FEZ. London. July 18. The “Daily Exnross’s” Paris correspondent savs that the nows from Morocco is grave. Ahd-01-Krim’s roplv *o tho semi-official poaon offer, and sug-o-estod armistice, has boon an on a scale large enough to cause the qronfest uneasiness.

’lhe “Morning Post” savs that do»nite M. Painleve’s specific assurance, it is taken for granted in Paris that Abd-el-Krim is intent on capturing Fez: there to proclaim a sultanate. The Riff foreign office has been busy carrying on propaganda among tho border tribes, who are easily converted. - (A, and N.Z.) OFFICIAL FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. Paris, July 18. A communique from Fez states that the garrison at the Wadi Warima post repulsed violent attacks of the Riffs, who suffered heavy losses, and retired to the mountains. It appears that tho Riffs intended to attack all the posts between Babhoceine and Tafrant, but a day’s operations show a marked improvement in the situation. A telegram from Tangier states that the reb<‘ls suffered very heavily at Wergha and Argund Helladeslees. A special correspondent of “1.0 Matin” in Morocco estimates that 4.0 French battalions will have to be sent to break the Riff pressure. A Tangier report says that a Riff attack, on n big scale, is in progress in the sector from Tetuan to the limits of the international zone. The Riffs violently attacked French positions at Onedharne and Aainmatouf, but were with heavy losses,—(A. and N.Z.)

PETAIN TAKES CONTROL. (Received 20, 10.35 a.m.) Paris, July 19. A Fez message says that General Petain has arrived and 1 liegan work with the General Staff. Enemy pressure on the central and northern front is palpably slackening. Now attacks on the Ainnastouf and Ainaicha posts were repulsed with heavy loss. There were, no French casualties. The generals in ihe various districts are not meeting with great difficulties. The Air Force is busy ronrovisioning Ibn stations and is compelling the assailants to floe precipitously. The first detachment of the Moroccan division from Rhinoland has arri”ed at Onida.- (Ron I or.) The Exchange Telegraph Agency’s Paris correspondent understands that General Lvautev will shortly resign on Ihe grounds of ago and ill-health. General Malv- will nrobablv bo his successor. (A. and N.Z.) THE SPANISH CAMPAIGN. Madrid, July 17. A communique reports favourably on the Spanish operations, in the course of which the native troops entered the Riff territory, and sacked several villages. ’I he casualties wore practically confimed to the native troops.—(A. and N.Z.) NO CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT. UNTIL RIFFS ARE DEFEATED. (Received 20, 9.55 a.m.) London, July 19. “Tho Times’s” Madrid correspondent denies that the Directory contenmlates an election in October. An official note says that two years is only an instant in the nation’s life, and such a short period has not boon long enough for the Directory to complete reforms. Anyhow, until the Moroccan problem is solved there can he no return to constitutional government. The Directory has appointed Aguilor* to communicate io Abd-el-Kirim the French and Spanish peace conditions, the French delegation accompanying him. (Times.)