CABLE NEWS. THE MOROCCAN CRISIS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9480, 3 December 1907, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

THE MOROCCAN CRISIS.

,{BY ELECTEIC TELEGRAPH. — COPYRIGHT.)

A.TTACK BY BENIS HASSEN TRIBESMEN.

fPBEBS ASSOCIATION.)

MOROCCO, December 2.

Details of the fight at Menaseh show that 3500 of the Benis Hassen tribe at Agabal, Morocco, entered Algeria and attacked an elevated fort -at Sidiaissa* in the vicinity of Babelassa.

Contingents of different tribes, a portion of the foreign legion, a company of tirailleurs, a section? of a battery of mountain artillery, and a squadron of Spahis met the attack, which was exceptionally vigorous and -well sustained. The attach was repulsed. Great gallantry was shown Whole lines of tribesmen, attempting A flanking movement were mown down with the guns posted at a height of 136 ft. Shells were fired and did big •execution.

The Bemis Hassen returaed to Aghbal, but provisions and ammunition •are rather short. . A large Attms tribe jn the Algerian side joined the Benis Hassen tribesaneu, but the- arrival of the French, reinforcements reassured the border population. Colonel le Liantey proposes to drive the Benis Hassan warriors to tihe mountains and then, surround and «tarve them into submission.

He is empowered to temporarily operate in Moroccan territoiy and safeguard the Algerian frontier, but the -occupation is restricted to Ujda.

A large column is concentrating at "Sididjennan, Algeria!. This will ult' jnateiy co-operate with the Ujda> column. The third column, whioh is of a mobile character, will sweep along from Kiss to the sea^