Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-10-04
SLAIN BY THE MO0RS
Spanish Garrison at MshlIa Be-
siseed BY Natives
EIGHTEEN SOLDIERS klLlED
cssidsi h n p>nges sad sp~ns.h
oAsvcsaneat - ApB.rsie<t 10 fos
heinfo~pens<ats
EIGHTEEN SOLDIERS KlufD

MApsIn, Oct 3-The Spsnish gzrri-
scn a NeliIls. on the northern ooast of
Mefocco y besieged by thousands Of M
tives and ths situation 10 critical The
Spanish authorities recently decided 10
add 10 the strength of their Qualifications
al Aelilla. thu stats of the country aud
the acts of the natives. In their opinion.
vsrranting such course. The work Of
constructing additional Notifications
vss begun and pushed forwardas rapid
ly as posHible. Thisincsnsed the Moors.
and yesterday morning . force of more
than 6.oon natives made an attack upon
the Spsnish garrison that numbered all
told not more than 900 souls The
Spanish troops fought throughout the
day without relief being sent 70 them.
Eighteen spaniArsis Killed
During the battle eighteen Of the
Spaniards were killed and thirty Ave
wounded. including three officers. whose
injuries are serious The Spanish artil-
lery did great execution The guuners
at one time directed their fire upon a
mosque and almost completely destroyed
H. Other buildings in the range OF their
fire were also destroyed.
Tho attacking Moors are chiefly mem
bers OF the Riff tribe, who inhabit the
mountains in northern Morocco and
over whom the control Of the sultan 10
virtually nil
The Spanish government il hastening
with all possible speed its preparations
for the relief Of the beleaguered citadel.
Troops. cannon and ammunition are be-
ing dispatched from Seville and Malaga
A gun boat with orders TO bombard the
strongholds Of the ruffians Is already on
the way to the coast.
Bravery or the Troops.
Later dispatches from MeliIla says
that the Spanish officers and troops dis
which Ii one OF the Spanish penal settle
ments. is commanded by citadel. which
Is built on a rock After the Spanish
troops and their civilian allies were
forced by overwhelming numbers to re-
treat into the citadel the Moors at
tempted to take the place by assault
They swarmed up the roadways and
tried to scale the walls. The be-
leaguered men poured volley after
volley at them. but as the Moors did not
tight IN any regular order the lire was
not destructive.
The natives were armed with Reming-
ton rifles and fought with fanatical fury.
paying no attention to the showers OF
bullets aimed at them. They pursued
the retreating whites up to the walls OF
the citadel despite the deadly fire di-
rected at them from the fort A small
body OF Spanish cavalry proved OF the
utmost service. Toward the end OF the
day the Moors abandoned their guerrilla
mode OF warfare and formed themselves
into ranks. Then shouting their battle
cries they advanced upon the citadel
When they were within a short distance
OF the wall. the heavy main gate swung
open and out galloped the cavalrymen.
They dashed into tho ranks OF the ad-
vancing Moors their keen edged sabers
swinging right and left among the enc
my. who broke ranks and retreated The
Moors were ridden down and trampled
upon 10y the iron. .shod hoofs OF the
horses and number CT them met their
death in this manner.