The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-19
THE FRENCH IN ALGEaIA.

The following defence Of the cruel and unchris-
tianlke murder Of the 500 Arabs, appeared in the
.uoniieiu .Aigsrien of the 18th ult. AS that jour
this apology, as bad as it is, may be considered the
very best that he can make TO justify the outrage
for which the civilized world holds him accountable
ain order that the public may be able to appre-
cate that fatal event. il is necessary that they should
know how important it was, in political and hui
name point Of view 10 destroy the confidence which
the people Of the Dahra and other districts placed in
The groltoes Of Ouled Rha; all those tribes consd-
ering those abodes perfectly secure, proved them
selves, at all times, extremely unruly, Under the
Turks, they repeatedly refused to pay the taxes;
and when the cavalry Of the government presented
ITSELF the entire tribe sought refuge in the caves, and
could not be compelled to pay their quota Of the
tribute. Abd-el-Kader himself was treated in sim
liar manner by the Ibehas, in their two revolts
against him. He succeeded however, in reducing
them by means of his great moral influence, which
enabled him TO prevail upon the neghboring tribes
to blockade them and cut off their supplies; but such
an expedient would be inefficient in our hands. The
Arabs do not serve the Christians as they would
serve Add el-Kader. Colonel Pelissier, after a sue
cessful ghazia the territory of the Benz ZeDtes,
summoned the Ouled Rhlas to submit. A portion
of the tribe reluctantly acquiesced; but, the others
having declined doing so, the colonel was obliged to
attack them. Their warriors beaten in the field,
withdrew into those famous grottoes where they
had beforehand placed their wives, children cattle,
and furniture. Colonel Pelissier invested them not
however, without the loss of several Of his men.
When the investment was complete, he attempted
to persuade them to come out through the medium
of some Arabs who had repaired to his camp. The
latter were fired upon, and one of them was killed
Nevertheless, by dint of perseverance, the Ouled
Rhias were prevailed upon to open parley, which
lasted the whole day to effect. They always
AZ L.
will quit the caves and submit Colonel Pessier
repeatedly promised to respect their persons and
property, not to treat them prisoners of war, and
merely insisted the surrender of their arms.
From time to time they were told that an abundance
of fuel had been collected to warm them; but they
obstnatey refused to capituatc, and night was fast
approaching Was Col Pelissier to be deferred from
his purpose by their obstinacy' The soldiers and
chiefs would have loudly blamed him. The political
consequences of such determination would have
been FATAL for the confidence of the natives in the
curity of their grottoes would have increased Should
he attempt to carry them by forces This would have
been almost impossible; and, at all events, he would
have lost many men in that subterranean war--a
suit equally unsatisfactory for humanity. Should he
content himself to blockade them during Is days.
he would have lost most valuable time for the sub
mission of the Dahra, and could have afforded no
assistance to Colonel ST. Arnaud, who was also
operating in that district After consulting awhile,
he determined to to the extremity suggested to
him by the Governor General, in case of such
emergency. A number of Ggots were thrown
from above into the entrance Of the cave, which
were afterwards set on fire. At O'Clock in the
morning, Colonel Peissier, moved by pity, caused
the fire to be extinguished; but unfortunately, it
was too late--the catastrophe had occurred. This
cruel event, which afilics us all, and strikes our
imagination by its novelty in the annals of war, is
not, in reality, more barbarous than many other
practices in European warfare, which are not re-
nrov IF heir hain0 ed
sable evils. War, policy, and even humanity, re-
quire that recourse be had to all means, how
ever energetic they may be, to hasten its termination
as speedily as possible This is also serving the
interests of philanthropy; for wars protraced by
the use of feeble means, are the most ruinous and
the most destructive Of human life. Those neon
testabe principles admitted, ask if the siege
of the grottoes is more cruel than the hombarding
and furnishing of the entire population Of the strong
towns in Europe. tbs apprehended that the catas-
trophe Of the Ouled Rhia will fill the hearts of the
natives with deep hatred for us. The Arabs will
certainly feel hatred towards US that feeling has
always existed, and is likely to last much longer.
This event will not increase it much; hut it will
inspire them with sauary terror, which will be
equally favorable to the victor and the vanquished
The Arabs, now perceiviDg that they must submit
to the French yoke that they possess longer any
secure retreat will lay down their arms, and quietly
employ themselves in agricultural and commercial
pursuits, which will soon repair the evils Of war.
If, on the contrary, they had merely experienced
an easy repression, in accord with the inudiclous
ideas Of phianthropiss, they would be often tempt
ed to revolt, in order to recover their indepen-
dence, and those repeated instructions would be
attended for them with DISASTROUS consequences,
which would render their situation much more crue!
than it is at present, in consequence of the terrible
blow with which they have been visited. 1t has
inflicted upon them serious injury, it is true but
its effects are merely momentary.
"The interests of the victorious army, and of the
entire Of France have also their rights. II, by
forbeaance, suffer the spirit of revolt to endure,
we shall often he compelled to repress, and, conse-
quently, to sacrifice the lives of greater number Of
soldiers and more money, than if, from the onset,
we had made an example. To follow such course,
would not be serving the interests of humanity and
philanthropy. Energetic repressions produce the
same results in all countries, whether in ordinary
warfare, civil wars, or cmeuies 1t is preferable,
for the sake of society and humanity, to strike one
decisive blow, than to be obliged to strike ofien,'
NATIONAL INSTITUTE.