MOORISH HEROISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 12 October 1907, Page 3

MOORISH HEROISM.

THE GREAT CAVALKY CHAIiGE AT CASABLANCA. A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.

A graphic account of the Arabs' thrilling -Balaclava' charge against the French at Casablanca has been telegraphed to the London papers by Renter's special U,12 r\ V th the ft ™* troops Led by .. ka.d who was robed from head to foot ,n rod, and who seemed to bear « eharmed Wl . the Arab ° «? . t0 "* »»sault across a bullet swent pUun, undaunted by a perfect haU Sf .hot and «heU from'the troops and from the warships. It was magnificent madnes?. Ultimately the discipline and -u----pertor weapons of the French troop, .told, and the Moor, had to retreat, but their behavior serves to remind the i world once more of the fanatical gillantry with which the followers of Mihommid are wont to fight, especially against the unbeliever. Says ilcuter** correspondent:—

At 10 o'clock this morning a vast horde of Arab horsemen surounded the town, threatening attack. «- A ik!! i,, « P " t U . our 8""* °P<-»ed fire on the Moors, who fired en cur camp from the surrounding hills, wounding one officer and several men. The attack was pressed home from all sides with superb courage, affording a magnificent spectacle and an -.bj-ct lesion of cavalry fighting against artil-

Under the tremendous artillery fire from the batteries and warships the Arabs boldly came on. Some fanatics led their horses in order to descend to low ground and approach nearer the Are, causing ali our men to take cover in the entrenchments, "it seemed as though the attack was only a demonstration, and General Drude launched one company of Tirailleurs to clear the hills. They advanced in extended wide formation, watched by the whole camp. led by a captain, sword in hand. 20 yards ahead, the men commenced to climb the hills. Out went another company of Tirailleurs, in closer formation, to support the first company, but they spread out in fan shape when they came under fire.

All was excitement in camp. The Moors lined the crest and opened an effective fire, which did not cheek the TiraUleure for a moment. Every gun was brought to bear on the crest, which the Moors abandoned.

The French line opened firs on the retreating enemy. General Drude sent out a battery of mountain guns to assist the infantry, also two companies of the Foreign Legion.who took the ground to the leii of the Tirailleurs. The mountain gnns reached the crest and opened fire with extraordinary rapidity on the Moore, who concentrated in large numbers near the sea shore, regardless of a tremendous fire from the cruiser Glorie. i

Sallied by a kaid, dressed completely in red, the Moors returned to the attack, riding boldly down on the infantry but the artillery, warships' and machine gun fire was too much for them; they broke in all directions, riderless horses and men on foot scurrying hither and thither to escape the hail of shrapneL THE KED KAID. The Bed Kaid, a heroic figure, stood boldly on the skyline, refusing to retire. left alone, he fired from horseback against the French infantry, who blazed away at him. Great shells tore up the pound all around, shrapnel burst in little white puffs overhead, but he bore a charmed life. Nothing could touch kirn. Finally, seeing that his men had gone, he rode slowly out of range, amid a, chorus of admiration for his pluck ou the part of the French. The attack seemed over, and, the horsemen having disappeared, the French infantry lay down to await developments. The ground over which the Arabs charged was covered with dismounted men, wounded horses, and dead-

Suddenly one white-clothed Arab advanced alone to within 500 yards of the French infantry, under the fire of every gun on the field, to remove a ■addle from a dead horse. Little puffs of smoke rose up all around him. He peached the horse, and two of his comrades rode forward to draw the French fire while he removed the saddle. Then all three retired safely under a perfect hail pf bullets, shrapnel, and common shell. It seemed incredible that so many shote should fail to kill one man.

The horsemen having gone, the fight seemed over, when suddenly tremendous cries arose from the camp. A great mass of Arab horsemen near the seashore came down the slope at a gallop. entered the valley, and swept towards. the infantry lying in the open, the Bed Kaid at their head.

Here was a sight seldom seen in war, and supposed to be impossible against modern weapons. Regardless of the fire, everyone in camp stood up on the trenches to watch the attack. In solid formation the Arabs rode boldly down on the French. Here was a target such as gunners pray for, but never get—masses of cavalry charging in close formation over open ground only 1500 yards away. Every gun on land and sea opened op. The ground around the charging cavalry resembled a volcano. But they came on, hardly losing a man or horse. Borne shells burst short, others too far, While some flew wide. The shrapnel ballets made the sand spurt like a hailstorm.

At length a great shell from the Glorie landed right in the centre of the Arabs. Many horsemen fell. Some got up again, while others lay dead. Others again staggered away, leaving their horses. Stilt the majority came on. At mat the infantry had their chance. They opened volley-firing, the mountain gnns on the crest and the mitrailleuses joining in. It seemed, however, as if nothing would stop the gallant cavalry, who trot within 400 yards of the Foreign Legion. AN INFERNAL FffiE. But they could go no further. For nearly two miles they had ridden under an infernal fire. The horses were spent, and many of them were without riders. They wavered. The Red Kaid came on alone. The hail of lead was more than his men could bear.

The solid mass broke up. Some rode back down the valley, others went straight up the hill, while some took cover Where they were. Again the Red Kaid turned, slowly riding for cover unharmed. The artillery plied the retiring cavalry with more nbrapnel, and the infantry moved forward to prevent a rally. The attack from the south was over.

Meanwhile, to the westward, against the broken ground, and ruined houses and gardens, the Moon made yet another onslaught. The guns were turned in that direction, and the trenches blazed with fire. Again the same tala of reckless heroism thrown away against modern weapons was repeated, with the same result. CTouds of horsemen rode on th* town. but the artillery, machine jruns. and infantry was more tlian even Mohammedan fanaticism could stand. "When will they tire of the stupid game!" said a French officer by my side, and a similar thought W&-, in everybody's mind.