FIGHTING IN MOROCCO.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9033, 26 February 1908, Page 5

FIGHTING IN MOROCCO.

CABLE lEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

FRENCH IN A TIGHT CORNER

A GALLANT CHARGE

Received February 25, 9 a.m. MOROCCO, February 24. The column of French troops who recently repelled with the bayonet seven attacks by Moors near Fadalla had exhausted their ammunition. The column was obliged to cut its way out, as the army of Mulai Hand, the Pretender, suddenly reinforced the enemy.

In this engagement the French lost two officers and several men, besides having twenty wounded. The difficulty of the French position in Morocco is dealt with by a writer in the "Siecle," and the article is described by the Paris correspondent of the London "Standard" as a fair one. The writer says: —"By forbidding ourselves in the Act of Algeciras the right of permanently occupying any spot of Moorish territory, we deprived ourselves thereby of the possibility of accomplishing any effective repression against tribes of whom we might have to complain. We can kill their men and take their camps, but as they- themselves are not rooted to the soil, nothing prevents them trom flying betore our troops just as far as it pleases us to pursue, and returning as soon as we have gone back. I read that General Drude has been instructed to take the camp of Mediuna, 30 kilometres from Casa Blanca. . .

Nothing will be easier than to carry out these instructions; but unless the occupation of Mediuna camp is prolonged indefinitely,what has happened with the Shawia will happen over again with Mediuna. As snon as we have started back for Casa Blanca bands of pillagers will begin attacking caravans over again. . . . If,

however, we were in no hurry to withdraw our troops after the submission of Mediuna we should find ourselves obliged to operate against some other more distant tribe for it is useless to blink at the fact that the whole of Morocco is hostile to us."