RIFFS STILL BELLIGERENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 11

RIFFS STILL BELLIGERENT.

TWO ATTACKS LAUNCHED. FRENCH SUFFER SEVERELY. TRIBESMEN LOYAL TO KRIM, WINTER CAMPAIGNS PLANNED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received 9.5 p.m.) Times. LONDON, Oct. 21. The Tangier correspondent of the Times says the Riffs are still full of fight. The recent fighting at Bibane was most severe, and entailed heavy French losses. Simultaneously General Boichut's column, further to the east, "was strongly attacked by tribes whose submission had been prematurely announced. Natives who are arriving at Tangier from the Riff country assert that Adb el Krim retains the confidence of the tribes. He is, they say, preparing winter campaigns against France and Spain. Reports from Paris confirm the withdrawal of the French from two posts. This is ascribed to the difficulty of bringing up supplies owing to rain. Abd el Krim, the Riff leader, quickly made capital out of the retirement- by carrying out intensified propaganda among the neighbouring tribesmen. Reports from Fez describe successful French operations at other points. Two columns are advancing on the west front with the object of enveloping the Bibane massif and of punishing the troublesome Werriagel tribe. ■ The French occupied a crater on the centre front after having fought and marched for 12 hours.