SPANIARDS MAKE A LANDING

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12239, 10 September 1925, Page 5

SPANIARDS MAKE A LANDING

/ RIFF COAST BOMBARDED FROM LAND, SEA, AND AIR C KRIM RETIRES INLAND TRIBESMEN COUNTER-ATTACKING ON TWO FRONTS (Reuter’s Telegram.) (Received September 9, 7.30 p.m.) MADRID, September 9. General Primo de Rivera has wirelessed that troops commanded by General Saro landed at the peninsula of Morro Nuevo, on the western side of the Bay of Alhucemas, at noon. They established their position half an hour later, after a short bombardment, without great resistance. An earlier statement says: “The Riff coast is being bombarded from land, sea, and air. (Sydney "Sun” Cable.) The Riffs did not oppose the Spanish battalion landing under General Saro at Cebadilla, further westward than the scene of the debacle on Monday. <- ■ General Saro used “beetle” boats, similar to those the British employed at the Dardanelles in 1915. Later he occupied the village of Alhucemas. During the operation the French dropped two tons of bombs on Adjir, from where Abd-el-Krim has removed his .headquarters inland. ,

Map showing theatre of the French and Spanish operations against the Riff Tribes. Alhucemas is a small island fortress and prison set* tlement in the bay immediately to the north of Adjir.

SPANIARDS LOST HEAVILY IN MONDAY MORNING’S ATTACK The Paris “Journal’s** correspondent in Madrid says preparations for the Spanish landing at Alhuoemas began on Saturday evening. Spanish naval detachments, escorting troopships, left Ceuta and Melilla respectively. The detachment from Ceuta feinted a landing at Sovth Wadlau, which ia south of Tetuan, and then rushed at full speed to Alhucemas. The detachment from MeiilLa. feinted a landing at Sidirriss, and then joined the Ceuta detachment, which had been reinforced by French warships. The false landings were intended to mislead the Riffs regarding the real object of the attack. An intense bombardment of tho coast• was conducted on Sunday evening by French and Spanish warships, which were' supported by an air force, and on Monday morning the landing of the troops was attempted. It resulted only in costly losses, as the RiffJ wore prepared, and offered determined resistance. Dispatches from Tangier received in London mention serions Riff counter-operations on the western front, directed hy Abd-el-Krim'a brother. The enemy is vainly endeavouring to capture Ben Kaxrish, just south of Tetuan, while on the eastern front the enemy ia strongly counter-attacking on the Afrau front, east of Ajdir and Alhucemas. A telegram from Fez dwells on the persistent enemy pressure, especially on the western front. It declares that the Riffs failed in their, object, which was to break the Spanish lines, with the ultimate aim of diverting the forces destinea for the offensive. 1