The New York herald., 1871-03-30
The seat Of War In Africa.

In view or the Importance OF the special English
despatch which we publish above we submit to the
readers OF the HERALD few interesting particulars
relative to the French possessions In Africa their
tent and OF defence, provided the French sol-
diers remain faithful to their allegiance and duty.
The French territory In Algeria Is divided into
three zones. The FIRST the Tell. is band Of about
fifty leagues In width, extending between the coast
and the great chain OF the Atlas Here 1t Is that the
French have installed villages, founded towns and
constructed roads and railways. In the Tell the
col0niss devote themselvesl to cuivating the soil
breeding cattle and prosecuting certain manufaci
turing enterprises which seem called to high de-
gree OF prosperity by OF the richness OF tho
supply and the low price Of the raw mate. ial.
Between the Tell ana the Sahara lies vast space.
scantily inhabited, called the region Of the high
plateaux. In 1t found the salt lakes and waters
which have no outlet. Beyond the ground inscn-
sby declines In the southern slope OF the chain to
subside into the region where no tree but the
palm ever grows, and where the traveller
fortunately finds at long distances some few
oases. This region il sort Of transition
formed by nature between two countries totally dis
simllar-the Tell and Sahara The former is ike
piece OF Southern Europe-green pastures, forests,
cultivated plains, several water courses frequent
storms, temperature elevated but very supportabe,
with the exception OF some summer days during
which the sirOcco blows from the Sou,h. In the
Sahara there IS nothing OF all this-no vegetation.
save In the under the shade OF the palms, q
torrid heat, an mplacable drought. This Is Africa,
properly 80 called.
The high plateaux, excepting In the province or
Constantine, form zone measuring about 100
leagues particularly In the province OF Oran where
its extent Is the greatest Thus we that between
the Algerian Sahara, where native ''malcontents',
ever make their appearance, and the French Tell
colonisis, there are 100 leagues TO traverse
the route being guarded by very strong line Of
posts-1lemcen, Mascara, Tiaret B0ghar and
Barna. French colonsts can. therefore,
devote themselves In peace to their abOr5; protect
ed against ncurslons in the south by garrisons
placed en- 6cietOn and also by third strategic line
comprising the three posts OF Geryvlle, LaRhouat
and Blskra. 4
These three Gases, which command and open the
entrance to the DESERT are provided with movable
army columns OF about zoe men each. ~
must occupy the SOUTH" That Is what the Romans
understood aud what the French have been dol
Ing. In default OF having taken this military
precaution the Spaniards and Turks could never
succeed In maintaining themselves firmly In Algeria.
The last incurslOn OF the .malcontent5,n who were
expelled from French territory some nve years ago,
proves the utility OF these movable garrsons OF the
The insurgents had collected all their forces
and single French column was found SUFFICIENT to
put them to complete rout.
The brilliant Colonel de S0nis, In q despatch adj
dressed to Marshal Mel, pronounced the warmest
eulOgum on the Chasscpot rne, on ls precision and
range; but remains to be f the Chassepot
extingufsh nationality In Africa after Its failure TO
do so In Germany. >. 4. s& ...,.,at