SPAIN IN MOROCCO

Southland Times, Issue 19292, 10 July 1924, Page 5

SPAIN IN MOROCCO

HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 7. The Morocco correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states that the Riffs besieged the Spanish garrison at River Lau, and heavy fighting extended over the week. Helio messages from the garrison report a serious shortage of water, because of which the wounded suffered terribly. Aeroplanes made vain endeavours to relieve the garrison by dropping ice. The Riffs are making determined efforts to capture the garrison. The Spaniards admit heavy casualties, but they admit no fear of surrender. General Weyler, who was sent to Morocco to report on the position, expressed his indignation at all that he had seen in Melilla, and declared to an audience of journalists that disorganisation had reached such an extreme that nobody knew what he was doing. He added that so haphazard was the organisation of convoys that there was never any exact knowledge of 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 Melilla. He preferred not to witness the gross blunders that were being committed, since he had no power to counteract them. Later. The garrison, when relieved, were without water for four days. The troops gave up their supply for the sake of the wounded. _______