Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-11-09
THE MooRs WIN A BATTLE.
A Serious Engagement at Meliila In
Which tho Spanish Troops
Get worNted.

A bloody battle was fought at Fort Mclllla,
Morocco, on the 27th and 2sth.
In the face OF n terrible fire the Moors
charged recklessly forward until they man
aged to approach within twenty yards Of the
forts, driving tho Spaniards In the trenches
before them and cutting the telephone and
telegraph wires which had been erected In
order to keep up communication with the
outlylne forts and trenches.
Tho Moors again attacked at an opening,
driving the pickcts before them, whcrcupon
they advanced in force upon the right flank
as we'll us upon the rear Of tho forts, with the
intention Of cutting of the retreat of the
Spaniards. This move ment would undoubt-
edly have been successful had 1t not been for
the sklllful working Of the guns of the Span
ish wnrship Venacito. The guns on boarl
the venacito kept Pumping shells in front 81
the Moorish advance rs well rs droppirg
number in the midst OF them. The explosion
of the shells greatly terrified tho Moors and
drove them back when the fire Of the Infantry
seemed unable to do SO.
The spaniards retrcated inside the fort
and had all they could do to reach the inside
Of the fortl fications in safety. Meanwhile
the Moors pressed on, led by their chiefs and
holy men, seemingly utterly regardless of
danger, and succeeded in entering tho Span
ish trenches, capturing two modern field
pieces and supply Of ammunition.
Tho Moors, who had been steadily ad-
vancing in spite of the fire directed upon them
from guns md rifles, were unable to with
stand the attack of cold steel In the hands OF
the Spanish soldiers. They no sooner got
taste Of the bayonet than they began to re-
treat, and tho Spanards drove them out of
the trenches.
Tho spaniards directed their point Of at
tack against the body Of the Moors who had
captured the two guns from the trenches, and
who had been using them quite fairly well
against the forts and against the war ships.
Nothing seemed to stand before the charge
Of the Estremndurn regiment and the hattal-
ion Of soldiers undergoing punishment for
breaches Of military law. They pressed on
ward, bayoncting those of the Moors who
made any stand, and managed to recover the
two field pieces.
During the moment OF the panic which fol-
loved the death of General Magnlla, the
Koors succeeded In carrying OF his body, and
Il was this moro than anything else which
enabled the officers to rally their men and
make the charge that drove the Moors from
the trenches
During the rush onward by the Spaniards,
detachment of them pursued the Moors,
who were carrying away the generals body,
and, after adespernte hand to hand fight, sue
ceeded In recovering the body and eventually
eacorting 1t into MelIla.
General Ortega afterwards sent convoy
et provisions and ammunition TO Fort Cabrera
zais. where the Spanish troops had been fight
Ing, without food, for whole day.
No systematic pursuit of the Moors was at
tempted, owing to the insufficient force Of
soldiers at the fort, but 1t is understood that
General Ortega is making preparations to
take terrible vengeance for the death Of GEN
eral Magalla.