THE SITUATION IN MOROCCO.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8994, 3 December 1907, Page 5

THE SITUATION IN MOROCCO.

DETAILS OF THE FIGHT AT MENASSEH. VIGOROUS AND WELL-SUS-TAINED ATTACK. REPULSED BY THE FRENCH WITH GREAT GALLANTRY. Received December 2, 10.52 D.m. MOROCCO, December 2. Details of the fight at Menasseh, between the French troops and the Moors, show that 3,500 of the Benis Hassen tribe at Agabal, Morocco, entered Algeria and attacked an elevated fort at Sidiaissa in the vicinity of BabeJassa, containing contingents of the different tribes, a portion of the foreign legion, a company of Tirailleurs, a section of the battery and mountain artillery and a squadron of Spahis. The attack was exceptionally vigorous and well sustained, but was repulsed with great gallantry. The whole of, the lines of the tribesmen in attempting' a flanking movement were mown down by guns posted on the height One hundred and thirty-six shells were fired. The Benis Hassen tribe returned to Agabal, but provisions and ammunition were rather short. A large number of the Attias tribe, on the Algerian side, joined the Benis Hassen tribe, but the arrival of French reinforcements reassured the order population.

REBELS TO BE STARVED TO SUBMISSION. CONCENTRATION OF FORCES. Received December 2, 11.18 p.m. MOROCCO, December 2. General Liantey proposes to drive the Benis Hassen tribe into the mountains and then surround and starve them into submission. He has been empowered to temporarily operate in the Moroccan territory in order to safeguard the Algerian frontier, but the occupation is restricted to Ujda. A large column is concentrating at Sididjennan, in Algeria, and will ultimately co-operate with Uie Ujda colu-nn. A third column w ; Il sweep along from Kissa to the sea.