MOROCCAN WAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 53

MOROCCAN WAR

DEFINITE PEACE MOVE. LONDON, May 24. ’Apparently a new peace move is being made in Morocco. Official quarters in Paris confirm the report that a member of the Red Cross Mission has arrived in Fez with a letter from Abd el Krim for M. Steeg, the French Resident. A French Council of Ministers will discuss the matter to-morrow. ABD EL KRIM SURRENDERS. PARIS, May 26. It is officially stated that Abd-el Krim has surrended. He will be taken to Taza. He put himself and his famliy under the protection of France. Abd-el Krim, before entering the French lines, sent back all the French and Spanish native prisoners. IMPOSING THE SULTAN’S AUTHORITY. LONDON, May 26. The Madrid correspondent of The Times states that the Government, in a message to the nation, says that the Moroccan operations must be continued relentlessly until the Sultan’s authority is imposed throughout the Riff territory. Success depends on a loyal agreement with France, whose co-operatiou is indispensable. SURRENDER OF KRIM. TANGIER, May 27. The surrender of Abd-el Krim was not surprising, as he was known to be in flighty if not in hiding, fearing assassination by his disappointed following. The French had captured the greater part of the Jebel Hamman mountain fastness, which was Abd-el Krim’s last sanctuary. His own tribe (the Beni Warriaghel) had submitted, and practically the whole Riff territory was in the hands of the Franco-Spanish forces. Only two tribes remain intact—the Ohomara and the Djebela. They are apparently unaware of Abd-el Krim’s collapse. RIFF RESISTANCE ENCOURAGED. LONDON, May 27. The Tangier correspondent of The Times reveals some striking secret history in connection with the Riff campaign. He suggests that Abd-el Krim’s correspondence with certain Europeans should be examined with a view to its publication. This, he declares, would disclose astonishing criminal documents to which much bloodshed and devastation were due. It would also possibly reveal the existence of mines in the Riff territory, bv which the cupidity of the Riffs was awakened, owing to foreigners seeking concessions. The correspondent declares that on the eve of the filial struggle Abd-el Krim appealed for foreign intervention through a confidential messenger. He recalls that Aod-el Krim twice previously sought Britain s intervention in the interests of peace, and adds: “Sources, which may soon be divulged, encouraged Abd-el Krim to maintain his fight against France and Npain, and in no circumstances to negotiate with those Powers who could be described as incapable of good faith and de sirous of obtaining a cessation cf hostilities for the purpose of entrappir~ f he Riffs.-- - y Regarding Abd-el Krim’s surrenuv.-*'' lie correspondent, says : “It changes the aspect of the Moroccan question by eliminating a single force under an effective head, resulting in repercussions throughout the Moslem world, because owing to his pretensions of religious leadership Krim attracted many restless Moslems.” JUBILATION IN SPAIN. MADRID, May 27. There is jubilation throughout the country at the termination of the 17 years’ Moroccan war, which lias cost Spain £600,000,C00 and 50,000 lives.