MOROCCAN CAMPAIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19531, 14 July 1925, Page 7

MOROCCAN CAMPAIGN

FRANCO-SPANISH INTENTIONS. A I INAL PEACE OFFER. Pres* Association —By Telegraph Copyright. LONDON, July 12. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Express says: —“Though peace negotiar tions with Abd-el Krim will be opening in a few days, new troops are preparing to go to Morocco. It is mulrrsi' France and Spain are willing to recognise the independence of the Bill Republic, but only under the Sultan of Moroccos sovereignty. If the offer is refused an offensive will be launched against Shisawen. An aeroplane bombarded the Riffs at Amaisha. It scattered a conference of staff officers, killing several. A bomb blew tho head off the horse on which Abd-el Krim’s brother was riding.—Sydney Sun and A. and N.Z. Cables. POLITICAL CO-OPERATION. MADRID, July 12. The Franco-Spanish delegates to • the Moroccan conference have signed an agreement in regard to political co-operation in Morocco. —Reuter. GUN-RUNNING FOR RIFFS. PARIS, July 11. Two men were arrested on a charge of gun-running. It is alleged that they sent thousands of Mausers and tons of explosives for the Riffs.—Sydney Sun Cable. FRANCK AND THE RIFFS. Up to 1912 when Franco established her protectorate over all Morocco, except the strip along the Mediterranean coast forming the Spanish zone, the country possessed no national army, writes Lieutenant-colonel Gordon Casserly in the Daily Mail. Every tribe and village was supposed to send a certain proportion of men to servo the Sultan, but only those who could be reached and punished tor disobeying this law did so. The result was a fluctuating, untrained mob of unreliable fighting material, quicker to retreat than to advance. The French, for the pacifying of thoir zone, employee! at first their Algerian troops—white regiments of artillery, engineers, chasseurs d’Afrique, and Zouaves, and native corps of Spams and Tirailleurs. -But even in the stress of the Great War they raised some fine regiments of Moors, who are mostly of Berber origin and naturally warlike. ■ France s garrison in the protectorate Is normally about 60,000. In addition there are two groups of the colonial artillery, one squadron of Senegalese, Spahis, and three regiments of Senegaliso, The Sultan’s picturesque red-uniformed negro bodyguard is only for show. The whole strength of the- garrison is not available for movement to the northern frontier to meet the Riff menace, for, although the greater part of the country is perfectly peaceful and contented, some tribes of the Middle Atlas. Great Atlas, and the south still hold out and require watching. The success of the French in dealing with the inhabitants of their far laiger zone, both by arms and diplomacy, is in striking contrast to tho failure of the Spaniards. They have won over most of the fighting tribes to their side. _ And _ their greatest asset has been their Resident General, Murcchal Lyautoy, one of tho world’s greatest men.