The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-04
VENGEANCE ON MOORS
Spain Sends Troops to Kill the
Desert Warriors.
SAVAGE Battle At MELLllA.
Turkey Wants No Americas Missionaries
The rIsAtiss in south Amsr-
sea Suspended.

MApRip, Oct S-The councill Of min
listers held long sitting today 20 discuss
the Moorish question Il was decided
unanimously that the Moors must be
severely chastised for the attack on the
Spanish troops. The gunboat Cnerye has
been dispatched 10 Melllla- The ship Lee
Iaspi has also sailed with full troops
70 reiaforce the MeiliIa garrison. The
latest reports received of the battle say 100
Spaniards. or about one-third the force
engaged, are hors du combat.
MADRID, Oct 3-Further particulars OF
the fight between Moors and Spanish
troops, who were engaged in erecting
fort near Mellila. Morocco, show the fight
ing to have been of q most desperate
character. Three hundred Spanish troops
were attacked by 5000 Moors armed with
Winchester repeating rifles. The Spaniards
withstood their charges repeatedly, fight
ing with the utmost discipline and bravery
till their ammunition was nearly ex-
hausted. when they were forced 10 retreat,
and at the same time protect the laborers
at work on the fort. Again and again. on
the retreat TO Meliiia. the little body OF
troops seemed about 10 be overwhelmed
by the force of superior numbers and
fanatical bravery of the Moors. but FORM
ing back to back they fought off their pur-
suers. Finally, reinforced by a small
squadron of cavalry from Meilila the most
desperate fighting was continued up TO the
very walls of the MeiIiia fort. from the
ramparts of which a continuous fire
from rapid-hring guns wos poured
into the pursuing Moors. relieving
the stress upon the small body of retreat
ing Spaniards and allowing them finally
to get safely inside the fort. The suffering
of the Spanish troops throughout the day
of ttrc battle beneath the burning sun,
without food or water, was almost beyond
comprehension. The Spaniards tried as
much as possible to rescue the wounded
from the hands of the Arabs, but the
inferior number of Spanish troops pre-
vented them from saving many brave
soldiers. who, wounded, were killed I'M
mercifuliy by the charging Arabs. The
guns OF the fort were admirably handled.
Their fire wrought terrible havoc among
the Moors. but the number of Moorish
soldiers killed will probably never be
known, owing TO the fact that the Moors
managed to carry off their dead and dying.
The Spanish troops destroyed the Arab
villages on the heights, also a number of
tAOsHtNs aAd hOaoEst ukd I'LL thu
damage possible in many ways TO the
enemy. After the Moors retreated for
good from beneath the walls OF the fort 1t
was seen that eighteen Spaniards had
been killed, and thirty-fye more, in
Guiding two officers. wounded. The
Spanish troops at Mellila are now in an
unenviable position, surrounded by force
of Arabs which is being increased hourly,
and for the time very hard pressed.
mounted messenger sent to the coast
brought news of the battle, and large rein
forcements of troops have been ordered to
leave Malaga and Seville for the front. As
this dispatch was sent reiuforcements were
leaving Spain, and before many days have
passed the garrison at Meliila will be in
position TO take the offensive. At meet
ing of the cabinet today 1t was decided to
dispatch a diplomatic note to the sultan of
Morocco, whose authority, however, is
merely nominal over the desperate tribes
of Arabs and Moorish horsemen, to pro-
test against the action of the Moors and
insist upon redress. In addition Spanish
warships will be Immediately sent to Tan
gier to support the diplomatic note re-
ferred to-