Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-10-04

rem in HANCOCK cOuney. II.
The France Algerienne, which Is GEN.
orally supposed 10 be in some measure un-
der the control Of Marshal Hngeaud, con-
tains the following formal reply to the ate
tacks Of the Paris Journals respecting the
massacre of the Dahra:
The attack on the grottees took place
under the following circumstances: It was
important at the time TO complete thacHkS
mission Of the Dahra, the SEASON.
vanced and the heat becoming ops
pressive. Colonels de St. A. az and
Pelssier had orders to make simultaneous
attacks on The mountainous district of
Ouarensenis. Their movements were to
be Col. de St. Arnaud was TO
attack on the east and Col. Pelissier on the
west. The latter, impeded in his march
by the Ouled Riahs, pursued them; they
entrenched themselves in their impenetra-
BILE grottoes, and refused to quit them until
the departure OF the blockading column
If the French had left, the Arabs would
have come out and saluted the rear guard
with a brisk fire of musketry. The Colo
mel could not, therefore, abandon the grot-
toes, and had no time to lose in regular
blockade, which might have been length
ened operation, as the Arabs in the cav.
ems were well provided with provisions,
and had plenty Of water from stream
which ran through. Our troops were get
ting short Of provisions, and, besides, had
to make an attack on another point on the
following day. Col. de st. ArBaud calcu-
lated ON their support, and the event proved
that it was very useful. To have attacked
the Ouled Riahs by entering the caverns
would have been equally destructive to
them, and have risked greater loss for
/, the French. The Colonel, moreover,
thought that by lighting the fsggots he
should compel the Arabs to come out, and
that he could thus capture them. He sew
eral times stopped the fire, but without eff
feet. He entered into an unsuccessful par
i ley with them for five hours, during which
one of his ENJOYS and several men were
killed. He then ordered the fires to be
kept up, and the Ouled Riahs persisted
Through their own obstinacy. Doubtless
4 had other circumstances not have inter.
fered. the Colonel would have made ar
honorable retreat, however dangerous i
might have been, rather than have had re.
course to such an extremity; and this j.
proved by the patience which he evinced
in negotiating. A blockade Of fortnight
was out of the question, for during thai
!. period his force would have been decim.
ated by fatigue, disease, and want Of FRO
visions; and the campaign must have beer
prolonged in order to have made up fol
that loss Of time. He was therefore com
PEELED by necessity TO act as he had done
and it is probable that, had he acted other.
wise, the mischief would have been great
err. 1t was also time to remove the ide;
Of the inviolability Of the grottoes, which
!, was proverbial amongst the Arabs, ane
the continuance Of which would have tend
ed to protract the war. Col. Pelisser, In
uus ~rs...~.., acreu as ne uugiu 10 nave
done, and as he was compelled to do: hi
merits the praise which we have bestowed
on him, and which we take this opportu-
nifty Of repeating"
The cultivation Of tobacco in Algeria is
extending rapidly. Important plantation.
of this plant have been made in the valley
Of the Mitidja; and in the Sahel and neigh.
boring villages there is an extent Of from
100000 to 100000 plants in the ground
At Bona there are about loo acres. The
whole crop Of the present year is expected
to yield 100000 MISREPRESENTATION
lnteligencer.