The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-23 00:00:00

SPAIN AND MOIL
V,
(From the Times' S U Special Corresp, •,a .
ALGESIRAS, a
While awaiting the departure of the steamer, I
seize a spare hour to send you a few additionarpar-
▪ ticulars respecting the affair of the 9th inst. As far
as they go I have reason to believe them authentic,
since they are derived from persons who were pre-
sent, and who have just arrived here. On the de-
clivitous and thickly wooded ground in rear of the
principal Spanish: redoubt, so often referred, to in
previous letters, the Moors established themselves
r before daybreak, forming an ambuscade, with
intention, it is supposed, of attacking the descu-
. bierti, or body of troops habituallysent out the first
. thing in the morning to reconnoitre in front of the
lines. They also surrounded the redoubt itself, and,
favoured by the darkness, got close up to it and
fired through the embrasures, killing some of"the
artillerymen. It was found very difficult to get
them out of the wood, and there was some hard
fighting, in which it is probable that they suffered
a good deal, and certain that the Spanish experi-
enced a loss of between 300 and 400 men killed and
wounded. There was fighting going on from day-
break till 2 p.m. The Moors displayed their usual
desperate valour, refusing quarter and giving none.
It is said that two prisoners were made, but were
killed as they were being taken to the rear,
whether by the cazadors or by some of the armed
galley slaves does not appear certain. At any rate,
they would have been the first prisoners made in this
war, fcr the Moors do not seek to save their lives
when once they see that escape is impossible. An
officer told me that in one of the previous actions
three of them were surrounded and had no chance
of getting away; they stood firm, waited the
approach of
,their enemies, deliberately aimed and
fired their espingardas, and then bent their heads to
receive 'the death-blow. They do all they can to
take away their dead, keeping up a heavy fire to
cover the 'removal of the bodies—Perhaps that their
loss may not be known, but more probably from
some religious principle. If yen saw the ground, on
which the recent fight took place you would under-
stand far better than from any explanation of mine
how unfavourable it is to the action of regular
troops, and how advantageous to lithe savages, un-
encumbered, and of first-rate skill in availing of
every sort of cover. The details of the contest now
going on remind one of episodes of the war with the
North American Indians in the last century, and of
some of the earlier and disastrous campaigns of the
Russians against the Cireassians. Well acquainted
with the ground, skilful in the use of their arms,
reckless of their lives, the Moors prove most for-
midable antagonists. They may lose more than
their antagonists. and it is very probable that they
do so, but they can better afford the loss. Hitherto
all the skirmishes and actions that have taken place
have terminated in favour of the Spaniards—that is
to say, they have driven back the enemy and main-
tained their positions; but what have they gained?
Absolutely nothing, and they have had, according
to their own account (which I have no reason to
believe otherwise than correct) upwards of 1,000
men put hors de combat. This is in 20 days. They
cannot, of course, afford to go on at this rate.
Three months of such victories would be very de-
structive, to say nothing of the effect upon the
morale of the soldier, who finds himself opposed to
an astute, desperate, and almost intangible foe. The
Spanish troops still display an excellent spirit, but
they will need more decided advantages to sustain
it in presence of the many hardships they have to
suffer. And, unfortunately, disease continues to
weaken them. Three or four days ago one corps
d'ar;nee was sending 70 toBo men per diem into hos-
pital. lam assured that the daily number of sick
from the whole army at present in Africa is now
about 200 per diem, which is the same proportion.,
Probably these aro not all cholera cases, but it is
certain that .the majority are, and we must reckon
as defaulters from the ranks, not only those who
die, but those who, being severely attacked, ulti-
mately recover. At least, the doctors here toll me
that a man who has had a bad attack of cholera is
rarely fit for duty much within three months. Of
course, constant reinforcements are necessary. Five
hundred men sail to-day from this place to Ceuta.
We must hope, however, that these barren skir-
mishes and this waste from disease will not long con-
tinue. A move is greatly wanted, but as yet there is
no sign of it. They arc working away at a road near
the coast in the direction of Tetuan, against which
place there is scarcely a doubt the first really seri-
ous attempt of the Spanish army .will bo directed.
The first Moorish cavalry that have been seen in
this war made their appearance on the 9th. They
were at a considerable distance, and were not en-
gaged. Indeed, the ground on which the affair took
place is most unfavourable to cavalry. As was to
be expected, the exaggerated reports yesterday
current in Gibraltar are hourly receiving contradic-
tion. Among other things, it was said that Gen.
Prim had cut off 2,000 Moors. There is every rea-
son to believe that Gen. Prim's division, although
it made a move towards the left, was not engaged.
A rumour of more fighting yesterday is also con-
tradicted, as well as the statement of the death of
Gen. O'Donnell's, nephew. I have met with seve-
ral officers, some sick, others wounded, returning--
to-Spain from Africa. Making all allowance for
the feeling of discouragement natural to their don-
dition,' it still is quite evident to me that the
army, at least, takes by no means the same san-
guine and cheerful view of the African war which
it was reported to do before the contest own=
menced. Deficiencies have been laid bare; want
of preparation exposed, which the majority had
not reckoned upon, or even dreamt of. It is
hoped that there will soon be an amendment. I hear
of active measures being taken. Large supplies
have been ordered—so large as to induce a belief
that the Spanish Government expects the war to be
of longer duration than was at first anticipated. A
number of bakers are being sent over to Africa, in
order that the bread may be made there, instead of
being sent from Spain. , I hear also that an hospi-
tal will shortly be in readiness beyond the Serallo,
an establishment greatly: needed, in order to obviate
the necessity of at once sending the wounded all
the way into Ceuta. Even when the bulk of the
army shall move away, it will be necessary to leave
a considerable force in the lines in front of Ceuta,
in order to cover our rear and keep communications
open. But I must close this letter, and hope to-
morrow to write to you from the camp.

According to the China Telegraph the contract
for the Falmouth and Gibraltar submarine cable has been
taken by Messrs. Glass, Elliot, and Co., of Leadenhall-
street. That for Rangoon and Singapore is not yet settled,
thatand itis k j. usxt imsaibgl ehtahaahtetehae
decidedGibra ltahryonGeovatan
mayra beeusted as forto
running a steamer from Alexandria to Candle for the pur-
pose of carrying telegrams.
SWALLOWING COINS.—On Wednesday last two
notorious pickpockets, named George Turner and Joseph
Edwards, were placed in the dock before the county magis-
trates, at Rochester, on a charge of having picked the
pocket of a female, named Mace, of a paper containing
four half-sovereigns and three sovereigns. Edwards was
also further charged with having, at the time of his appre-
hension, swallowed the whole of the money. The prisoners,
who were well known to the police at Chatham, were ob-
served to go into Globe-lane, where Edwards entered the
shop of a second-hand clothes dealer, named Mace, and
inquired the price of an article hanging up in the shop.
Mrs. Mace went to reach it down, when Edwards very
cleverly picked hor pocket of the above amount, which she
had deposited there only a minute or two before he entered
the shop. After examining the article asked for, Edwards
made some trifling excuse and left, immediately joining the
other prisoner outside. They were afterwards seen in com-
pany by Superintendent Everist, who, being aware of their
character, watched them for some time. A very short time
after Edwards had left the shop Mrs. Mace discovered that
her pocket had been picked, and suspecting Edwards, gave
notice to the police. Mr. Everist and another officer went in
pursuit of them, ultimately overtaking them at Rainham.
On being charged with the robbery both prisoners pro-
tested their innocence, and demanded to be searched,
which was done, Edwards all the while continually
moving up and down, "just the same," as Mr. Eve-
rist expressed it, "as if he had been hung on wires."
The result of the search did not lead to the discovery of
the money, but Mr. Everist observing a protuberance of
Edwards's cheat, touched it, when he distinctly heard the
rattle of gold. Edwards, however, denied having any money
in his Mouth, but the officer, on placing his fingers in it,
distinctly felt two or three sovereigns under tho tongue.
His efforts to get them out were fruitless, the prisoner swal-
lowing the whole of the money, and •severeLy biting the
officer's finger. Both prisoners said they were determined
not to be taken, and fought most furiensly; but Mr.
Everist soon settled the matter by putting the handcuffs on
them and taking them to the station-house. The money
was now produced before the magistrates.' The prisoner
Edwards seemed to have suffered severely since his extra-
ordinary ast of swallowing at one time seven pieces of geld
coin. Both prisoners were committed for trial.-IFotith-
-1 .Eastern Gazette.