COMPLICATIONS

New Zealand Times, 12 September 1907, Page 5

COMPLICATIONS

THE TANGLE IN MOROCCO FIGHT FOR SUPREMACY. WHAT EUROPEAN INTERVENTION MAY DO. By Telegraph—Pres, Asaooiation—Copyright MOROCCO, September 10. It is reported that throe of tho principal tribes who have been supporting Muli Hofed, lately proclaimed Sultan in the south and at Mazagan and Azimur, on the coast., have deserted him owing to his want of money and armaments, Tho Sultan, Abdul Aziz, has appointed his brother, Mulai Hadi, Khalifa of Fez. PIo himself leaves for Ilabat shortly to fight Muli Hofed. Rabat, or New Sallee, a port of Morocco, on the south bank at the mouth of the Bu-Ragreb River, opposite Sallee, is about sixty miles north-east of Casablanca, and a hundred west of Fez, the second capital of the Sultanate. The town of Rabat stands on cliffs amidst gardens, and has a fort and the ruins of the Sultan’s palace. It was once the chief port for European commerce, but tho harbour is now silted up, Tho population is estimated at 21,000. Sallee, on the opposite side of the river, with a population of 10,000, was notorious for centuries os the haunt of pirates, the “Sallee Rovers/' Early in August the situation at Rabat was reported to be alarming Europeans. The native authorities had formed a band of 550 volunteers to defend tho walla, but that number, it was said, would bo inadequate in tho event of a serious attack.

A few days ago is was reported that the Sultan had submitted to the ulema (men learned In the law) the letter sent to him by Mull Hofed inviting him to abdicdto. The ulema advised the Sultan to conduct a war against his brother without delay, since the latter’s cause is making headway. MORE SPANISH TROOPS. MADRID, September 10. Seven thousand Spanish troops have been ordered to be in readiness to proceed to Tangier. THE POLICING QUESTION. BERLIN, September 10. Germany reminds France that the creation of a European police at Moroccan ports is not provided for in the Algeciras treaty, and that the act is likely to provoke the hill men to attack the towns unless supported by an adequate military force. The first declaration of the Algeciras Agreement, completed last year, relates to the organisation of a police force of 2000 to 2500, which is to be recruited from among Moorish Mussulmans, commanded by Kaids, and distributed among the eight ports; Spanish and French instructors are to assist the Sultan in the organisation for five years, under the control of an InspectorGeneral selected from the Swiss army. The instructors and officers are to he Spanish at Tetuan and Laraohe, mixed at Tangier and Casablanca, and French at Rabat and the other ports. Last week it was reported that the Moorish Minister for War was unable to guarantee French and Spanish instructors from attacks by natives, and it was considered that the employment of white police would bo necessary.