The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-30
Bstysen Spanlafds and a Body Of
NOOrs at Melilla.
SPANISH GENERAL is SLAIN.
4 Desperate Hand to Hand Struggle for
His Body--The Affair Creates n Pro-
found sensation-whoIe spanish Ter
ritory Invaded.


and about the trenches before Meiifta ant
which resulted In the death of Genera
Margalla has caused q profound sensation
here.
The engagement was commenced by
General Ortega, who, at the head OF re-en
forcements sent to Melilla. drove the
Moors from the trenches they had occu
pied In front OF the Spanish fortiication
The Moors fought desperately and with thu
greatest courage Many of the Spaniardi
were killed. and among them was the un
fortunate General Margalla, who only AZ
hours previously exposed his troops to
second defsat by sending mere handful
Of men 70 the onslaught Of tens OF thou
sands OF Moors.
The Spaniards were amazed at the
courage shown by tho Moors in face OF
terrible fire The Moors charged reck'
lessly forward until they managed to APP
proach within 20 yards of the forts, driv
ing the Spaniards in the trenches before
them aud cuttng the telephone and tele-
graph wires, wnich had been erected in
0r.ler TO keep UP communication with the
outiyins forts aud trenches. While the
Moors da hel forward. seemingly utterly
regarlli, OF the firs directed upon them
by The Spanards, they lost many men.
whole spanish Territory Invaded.
The Mo,rs have nowinvadei the whole
Spanish territory, making their advance
duriny darkness, at the same time max.
iny an nit OK upon Forts Cameles and
Cabser.z outside OF which forts The
Spaniir.is had parties of men at work
\ digging trenches. under the protection oil
: fre Juns OF the forts and or advance
pickcts of soldiers.
Tho Moors hegan the attack by opening
fire npon The pickeis and driving them in,
whefenp they advanced in force upor
the right hank as well rs upon the rear OF
the fosts with the intention OF cutting OF
the retreat of the SpaDiards.
TEis movements would undoubtedly
have been successfully accomplished ha6
y Il not bean the skillful manner IN
,iih the guns Of the Spanish warshir
,naaito were ,handl-d. The guns on
ssrd the warship kept Pumping shells
ia. fro t OF the Moorish advance. as well
rs drnpaing number in the midst Of the
4 advancing hordes Of Moors. The explo.
sion OF the shells seems tn have caused the
rreaicst CONSERVATION in their ranks, fol
Il drove them hack where the fire Of the
A infantry seemed unable to stay their
passage.
The Spaniards. In the face of this ad-
mirably planned attack, retreated inside
the forts and had all they could do tc
reach the inside of the Notifications In
safety. The Aioors in the meanwhile,
pressed forward and succeeded in enter
ing the Spanish trenches and capturing
two modern field pieces and a supply OF
ammunition.
Field Pioces Change Hands.
1t would seem that renegade foreigners
must be fighting In the ranks OF the
Moors, for the latter had no sooner cap
tured the two field pieces referred to than
they hauled them out of the trenches,
placed them in position and opened fire
upon the forts and upon the warships in
Z she bay.
Throughout Friday night and Saturday
morning the battle was kept up, and al
daybreak General Margalla decided that
I desperate effort must be made to rally the
Spanish troops and take the offensive, as
the Moors were sending for and receiving
re-enforcements from all sides. and II
looked as II they were preparing TO con.
centrate their forces and make an over.
Whelming rush upon the troops.
General Margalla, shortly after day
r break, had extra ammunition served out
60 his forces, aud in light marching order
they left the Notifications, with General
Margalla at their head. Hardly had the
troops left Fort Cabrerizas than the
Moors opened hot fire upon them. dur
1nR which the Spanish commander wa,
shot in the head, and died almost in
otantly.
Charged with Fixed Bayonets.
The Estramauura regiment and the
disciplinary battalion were called upon &c
Ak bsyonets and charge upon the swarms
Of Moors occupying the trenches in front
& of the forts. The Moors, who had been
4 recklessly advancing in spite OF the fire
7 directed upon them from guns and rifles
were unable TO withstand the attack OF
cold steel in the hands Of the Spanish
ooldiers. The Moors no sooner got taste
y of the bayonet than they began to retreat.
The Spaniards directed their point oi
!, attack against the body OF Moors who had
! oaptured the two guns from the trenches
4 md who had been using them fairly
z nRainst the forts and against the war.
ships Nothing seemed 90 stand before
Che charge OF the Estramadura regiment
y and the battalion II soldiers undergoing
3 nunishment for breaches OF military law.
+ They pressed forward. bayoneting those OF
Z. oks Moors who made any stand. and man
-1ged 90 recover the two heldpieces and
md them TO the rear.
During the moment OF panic which fol-
owed the death Of General Margalla the
goors succeeded In carrying Oft the body
X the Spanish commander. During the
1uoh onward Of the Spanish troops de.
nohmcnt Of them pursued the Moors
.bo were carrying away the generals
&ody, and. after desperate hand-to-hsnd
c1nfict with the tribesmen- Of the desert.
y - 6panisris succeeded in recovering the
>cdy Of their late commander and escorted
n into Melilla
General Ortogs Afterwards sent a con-
n q provisions and ammunition 20 Fort
11rerizas. where the Spanish troops had
4 ~ 6xhtipg. without food. for whole
~. No systematic pursuit of the Moors
= attempted. owing 70 the insufficient
- ef soldisD q Fort Csbrsrisss