GERMAN INTRIGUES IN MOROCCO.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 12821, 13 April 1916, Page 1

GERMAN INTRIGUES IN MOROCCO.

FAILURE OF THE 'HOLY AY Alt." Mr H. Warner Allen, -special correspondent- of the British Press with tinFrench armies, writes with reference to the position of affairs in Morocco that long before August, 1914, the Germans had made their preparations for the declaration of a Holy War in .Morocco and the overthrowing of the Freni'h Protectorate; ■ and the results obtained by German bribery ajml intrigues up to the end of .January, 19i6, lie describes in the following brief narrative, which is based on ofiicinl documents and other trustworthy information kindly placed at- his disposal. The- ideal at which the Germans were aiming was expressed by one of them in the following terms: "If there is war, we must arrange that not a single Frenchman leaves the Sliawia alive." For the accomplishment of this simple formula, with the general massacre of civilians, women, and children that it implied, the German plans had been carefully worked' out. Every pretender to the Throne of the Sherifian .Empire, e\*ery malcontent- chief, and every religious fanatic were to be provided with money and arms long before smuggled in for the purpose. German psychology, however, overlooked the fact tliat French rule by its justice and liumauity had gained the respect of the tribes, and whilst op«»my efforts succeeded in producing a ser-i-.-. of sporadic revolts, inevitable : n barbarous country under .European -tile during a general European war, i ive really threatened the position of France in Morocco. The French indcoJ have actually extended their re?-* in Mc»oc?o, :he agitation due (••--nr.i.i intrigues having, compelled Miom to bring within their territories tribes hitherto unsubdued. Thus in May the Brancs country, north of Taza, ,wns occupied; between April and August the French troops advanced into the Guigo without firing a shot, setting up a barrier between the rebel tribes aiul the suburbs of Fez. These are only two instances, and many others might be given.

Of all the many pretenders and malcontents who have from time immemorial infested the Sherifian Empire, the 'Germans had chosen out as their special protege Abdul Malek, grandson of the J2mir Abdul Kader. who fought so gallantly against the French in Algeria. He was to be the leader of the Holy War. On March' 10, 1915, Abdul Jlalek left Tangier for the mountains, but there lie promptly got into trouble with some of the local t'ibes. who held- him fast until July. Then, not without paying heavy ransom, he was released and reached the K-.f-ta country in the Fez district. There he announcod himself as the agent of Turkey, and promised to every, would-be rebel arms and ammunition and the support of Germany and Turkey/ Bui the Moors had discovered tjiat the power of Franco was still intact, jind they turned a deaf ear to his blandishments.

Last December he managed to collect a scanty force, and raided the borders of the Taza district, only to call down upon liimself a swift riposte from the French. On December 8 the French forces came into contact with Abdul Malek's harkn of about 300 horse and 1500 foot in the Mghraua country. The harka was rudely shaken, and most of the Moors composing it fled to their homes in dismay, nMIe the friendly tribes carried -ut -a f-w----cessfnl raid into the enemy's* cnitriry. On January 27 Colonel Simon c3jitnr»>.| his stronghold at Suk-01-Hnd with a considerable booty, and Abdnl Mak'K is now a fugitive in the Hiff mountains. '