THE MOROCCAN WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1925, Page 2

THE MOROCCAN WAR

[Australia A X.Z. Cable Association.] FRA.V U-SRANISI| REPORTS. LONDON, September 12. IT am e-S panish messages from Alornceo indicate a slow, but certain advanee. The easiialtie- are small. MADRID. .September 12. A eomnuniniic says that .Spanish troops reinforced the western front and continued operations and occupied positions affording advantageous starting points tor a further advance. The enemy has lost heavily in casualtie- amounting, in the Renihozmar sector '..near I'eiiian) alone, to live bund red. PARIS. September 12. Message- from i-e- • wile that so lar the position is iinaehaaged. The enemy ictuvd swiftly moling northward. Aireran report enemy concentrations on a number ol I routs, indicating the Rill- are recovering from the surprise attack. Counter French operations, liouvicr. will be continued today to ex tend the occupied area. RILES FALL RACK. PARIS. Sept. 12. .Marshal l.yautey lias departed on his return to Morocco, where he will cooperate with .Marshal Retain in the political exploitation of the military operations, which the latter are now directing. Advices from Fez state that a ferritic artillery preparation for twenty-one hours precluded a French attaik which was launched at two o'clock ill the morning hy the two wings of the French northern trout, extending beyond I'ciual on the one side and I'afralit on I lie other.

A French eonimuiiii|iie states: “Our attacks are developing satisfactorily. A number of posts have been occupied. The object of I,lie attack was the reocciiptition of outposts north of Gorglta. which had been abandoned earlier in tlie year. "The situation, at noon, was reported most favourable, tlie h reueh attaining all their objectives, and only encountering re-:-!:mcr at a lew points. “ The rebels, under an aeroplane and artillery attack, have retreated north of Uihaiic." LONDON. Kep. 12. The "Daily .Mail's’’ Paris correspondent sa.vs: "After a forty-five hours’ bombardment on a lorty-miles’ front, sixty of .Marshal Retin’s battalions have advanced another stage in a great- race against the coining rains. I nle-s they cross the river Overglui. driving hack the Rill's who are installed oil the northern bank within two or three weeks, the tracks and lords will have become swollen and impassable, ibis necessitating a suspeii,j,iu i| M . came.aign until the spring. The artillery eoneentrated on the Rifliau po-ls. and laid a barrage la'fore the advancing troops. Tanks cleared tli,. vallevs and roads, thus ensuring

fur the iufunlrv a free passage. 1 here ;I I V „uly occasional hitches in the French ’progress, due to obstinate ma- . bine gun posts. Four hours alter <la>break' the advance had gone well beyond i lie allotted objective. Hie French Hank reached Mount Mesmod, which dominates the country round Eeriml. The right think advanced up the Kahela Valley as far as Sker, takin ; the Astar heights in their stride.

Tlie " Daily News” Paris correspondent says; " Preceded by a hea\\ artillerv preparation, tit" Ereneh made a surprise advance in the valley ol the Lpper (Ain'tglia. marehing to Kiff'ane, and extending to file right for the piirpo-e .!' effect iug a junction with the -Spaniards at Alelliti. The Rill's offered a determined r sj-ianee. Sul,slant ia! i ci'if, reements have i : ,iideil at Alhiieeia; ■ and Mommuevn. Several coastal t • Tie- are ready to -iirreuder. A Spanish general lonrts Hint neighbour, eg villages hate hoisted the white Hag. MADRID. Kep. 12. Th,. French bai tleship Paris was { !|c!ow the waterline ami her wirc'css destroyed hy seven-iileh shells during ihe Rill' homliardnieiii. The Metz mil St r.islnirg were also damaged. Al.de! Kl im' a Council of M'nr have loci,lei io withdraw into the interior. ..pablinu a h tier resistance to lie offered.

The Rill's are strongly pressing at |\.man Nevertheless the situation is Ihe Spanish bombarded and destroy'd the village of llas-ena. Titov are concentrating on Alhtteemas for ihe unl oose ol marehing on Ajdil. The French lei'i Hank advance is intended h, culminate in an attack on Kheslnia n. in conjunction with the Spanish torei's advancing on the npposit (■ side.