THE MOROCCAN REBELLION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 289, 26 April 1911, Page 5

THE MOROCCAN REBELLION

REINFORCEMENTS GOING FORWARD By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Paris, April 24. The Government has hastily despatched a flying column towards Fez. It is composed entirely of French and Algerian troops from the Shawis country, and will be followed by a Moroccan mehalla from the Shawis tribe, with French officers and French artillery.

Another force of 10,000 infantry and 2000 cavalry is concentrated at Casablanca to protect the communications.

THE LATEST FROM FEZ. Received 20, 12.5 a.m. Paris, April 25. Fez was safe on April 17. General Monier's column is traversing Rabat. A PROPOSED SUBDIVISION. Received 20. 12.5 a.m. Berlin, April 25. Pan-German organs urge negotiations with France, whereby the whole of the Atlantic seaboard would become German. WHAT OCCURRED IN 1910. The French Government continues to experience difficulty in obtaining respect for their engagement with Mulai Hafid. In January, M. Pichon concluded agreements on the subject of the Shawia, the Algiero-Moroccan frontier, and the loan which was to be raised in order to liquidate the obligations contracted by the Maghzen. These agreements were signed by the Moroccan envoys in Paris, and were transmitted to Fez for ratification. Mulai Hafid, however, was reluctant to sign them, and the Moorish Court made no secret of its annoynance with the French. On February 20 the French Government dispatched an ultimatum to the Sultan, requiring him to sign the agreements within 48 hours. Before the ultimatum arrived the Sultan intimated that he had sent to the chief of his Embassy in Paris a ratification of the agreements, It turned out, however, that the ratification was qualified by a number of reservations, and it was not until the French Consul at Fez intimated that, the 48 hours mentioned in the ultimatum having expired, he was about to take his departure, that Mulai Hafid gave way. As a result of the agreement a 5 per cent, loan for £3,250,000 was issued in France in May for the purpose of satisfying the creditors of the Moorish Government. A number of revolutionary movements were suppressed by the Moorish Government. Complaints of the Sultan's cruelties to his prisoners formed the subject of diplomatic remonstrances, which were met by Mulai Hafid with the protest that he had been grossly maligned.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS. On January 12, 1911, M. Pichon, then Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated:— The chief question which had engaged the attention of the French Government last year was the final regulation of the position of France in Morocco. Three agreements had been concluded with Mulai Hand and effect was now being given to them. The Shawia region had never been more tranquil than it had become under French military administration. Order had been established in the Algiero-Moroccan frontier district. The mining reglement which had been drawn up contemplated equality of treatment for the subjects of all the Powers, and indeed the various developments which French policy had in view would redound to the general advantage. Schools and hospitals had been founded. The policy of co-operating with the Mughzen which had been inaugurated was likely to prove the surest guarantee against fanatical outbreaks and against the necessity for oversea expeditions in which France had no desire to engage. The contraband traffic in arms on the Moroccan coast was being suppressed in accordance with the mandate of the Powers. France had no intention of surreptitiously seizing a fresh port like Agadir. She had promoted the Spanish agreement with Morocco, and she would continue to administer her trust in the spirit of existing treaties.

FRENCH DETACHMENT AMBUSHED. Wireless messages received at Tangier from Casablanca on January 18 stated that Captain Nancv, who, had left the Camp du Boucheron with twenty native cavalrymen and the fifth squadron of goumiers to arbitrate in a, dispute between the neighboring tribes of the Medaskra and Zner, was attacked on the evening of January 14 by a number of bandits who had laid an ambush for his column. The French force had five men killed, including Lieutenant Marchand and a quartermaster-sergeant, and six wounded. The neighboring tribes at once sent assistance to the French forces. The attack appears to be the work of an isolated robber band.

In February the "Imparcial" received a message from Casablanca, via Tangier, stating that fear of a fresh attack on the French position was entertained as the authors of the ambuscade on the Marchand force had assembled at the Kasbah of Merchouch. The message added that the whole of the Zaers district was much disturbed. Fez is the Holy City of the Moroccan Empire, and is one of the three residences of the Sultan. It was founded by Mulai Edris. the younger, about 703, and is surrounded by old walls, and has an ancient fort at each of its extremities, east and west, with three in ruins outside the walls. The city consists of two parts. Old Fez and New Fez (the latter containing only the palace and the Jewish quarter), and both are enclosed in walls. It is the seat of the once famous University of Morocco, and contains numerous schools. Fez is the leading commercial town of Morocco, and it has a large wholesale trade. The principal articles imported from Europe are raw and manufactured silk, cotton stuffs, cloths, papers, weapons, powder, tea, sugar, spices, etc.