TWO DAYS FIGHTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 112, 2 May 1908, Page 4

TWO DAYS FIGHTING

lIOW TWO " MIDDIES " SAVED A j FRENCH FOUCE. Paris. February Full details of the recent battles in Moroico are now available and show thai the French have very narrowly escaped two serion,, disasters, anil that even as it is I heir loss wa.- heavy. (icncral d'Armade's plan wi. lo envelop the rebellious M'llakra tribe, ami three columns started with I hi- object from ilillcreiit points, int-ndinv cll'e.-t a junction at Abdul Keiim. The column commanded by (leuei'al d'Arniade himself arrived at the rcinliv.mils safely after several severe conflict-, with the enemy, but neither'of the other columns had arrived. A camp was hastily formed af Abdnl Kerini, and son after a spahi came at a gallop into the ramp from Colonel Briilard, who commanded the second column, to say that, the column was being very hard pressed by the M'dakra warriors, and that, wearied out by the long inarch and eleven hours' consecutive fighting since midnight, was in need of reinforcements. General il'Amailc immediately detached a battalion of tirailleurs and a section of seventy-five gunst, and they arrived onlv just in time. Colonel' Brulard's column was lighting desperately, but was unable to keep oil the enemy, who came into close quarters. so that the legionaries of the sixteenth company had once to charge at the point of the bayonet. Urulard's section of seventy-live guns had no more ammunition and only the six quick-firing •uns from the Dessaix, mounted 011 native eaits and served by twelve .sailors under two midshipmen, were keeping back the Arabs. A fresh attack by a couple of thousand tribesmen, mostly on foot, was just lieing made when the reinforcements arrived and put the enemy to Might. Colonel Taupin's force of SOU men was alio unable to meet Clener.il d'Amnde. He was attacked by several thousands of the enemy and forecd to retreat, fighting every inch of th e way. The Matin's correspondent, at l«sa Blailea states that the last expedition nf flic French troops in Morocco lasted eighteen days, and the French losses totalled thirty-three killed and 1"U wounded.