AN OBSTINATE BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 319, 18 January 1908, Page 2

AN OBSTINATE BATTLE.

IN MOROCCO. SIXTEEN HOURS' DURATION. HEAVY LOSSJio INFLICTED. Received Jan. 17, 11.59 p.m. Morocco, January 17. General Damiidu, with lour battalions of infantry, three squadrons of cavalry, and a battel y of artillery, for sixteen hours fought an obstinate battle nt .Nettat Pass against Mulai Raehid's army, which was reinforced by tribes who participated in the last

massacre. Heavy losses were inflicted. Raehid's eanip beyond the pass wax destroyed and the followers scattered. They will be unable henceforth to keep the passage clear for Mulai Halid's advance on Genera! Dainado'* casualties are uligftt.

A Morocco oable of January 13 stated: ~-The deposition of Abdul Aziz (tke Sultan) and the proclamatioa ef Mulai Ilafid (the Pretender) at Fez is the outcollie of a Nationalist movement due to 4bdnl Aziz asking the Ulema ef Fez to sanction the keep of Christian troops In reasserting his authority. Rabat is in the hands of Abdul Aziz. Even there the population is hostile to him. General Damate (who recently succeeded General Drude in command of the French forces), is advancing towards Rabat to protect the Spanish mission and European residents. The Times Paris correspondent asserted on the same day that there was | a consensus of opinion that the action of Mulai Hafid in permitting a Holy War against all Europeans would impel the Powers to support Abdul-Aziz, who was a guarantee for Europe in tho execution of the Convention under the Act of Algeciras. Evidently the Pretender, despairing ol European help, and also Of Europe** neutrality, has invoiced religion, and has proclaimed a Holy War against the infidels who espouse the Sultan's cause. A Morocco cablegram of 10th December stated: "Mulai Hafid, the Pretender, appeals to the French not to interfere in the struggles for the throne between the Sultan (his half-brother) and blmae'.f' otherwise a Holy War against foreigner is inevitaole."