THE WAR IN MOROCCO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19219, 9 July 1924, Page 7

THE WAR IN MOROCCO

SPANISH GARRISON BESIEGED. SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF WATER. Proa Association—By Talegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 7. The Daily Chronicle’s Morocco correspondent states that the RiSs besieged the Spanish garrison at River Lau, and heavy fighting extended over the week. Holio messages from the garrison report a serious shortage of water, because ot which the wounded are suffering terribly. Aeroplanes made vain endeavours to relieve the garrison by dropping ice. Tire Riffs are making determined effort to capture the gairison. The Spaniards admit heavy casualties, but they admit no fear of surrender. —A. and N.Z. Cable. REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE. MADRID, July 8. (Received July 8, at 10.5 p.m.) A communique says that the general situation in Morocco has improved. Strong reinforcements have arrived at Mclilla and Tetaun from Spain. The besieged position at Cobadarsa has been relieved, and the. enemy retreated in disorder, leaving many dead and wounded. The Spanish lost about 100.—Reuter. The Madrid correspondent of a London paper recently stated that General M eylcr, who was sent to Morocco to report on the position, expressed his indignation at all [hat he had seen in Mclilla, and declared to an audience of journalists that disorganisation had reached such an extreme that nobody knew what be was doing. Ho added that so haphazard was °the organisation of convoys that there was never any exact knowledge as to their composition, objective, or the number of troops detailed for their protection. Not concealing his sense of the hopelessness of the situation, he confessed that- he had not the patience to remain a moment longer in Mehlla. He preferred not to witness the gross blunders that were being committed, since he had no power- to counteract them.