Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-03
Assault On a Spanish Garrison in
Nor Deco.
LATTER OUFNUMBERED TEN TO One.
Spain to Send Troops to the
Rescue.
TRIBESMEN TO BE PUNISHED


and the acts of the natives. in their opin-
ion. warranting such a course. The work
OF constructing additional Notifications was
begun and pushed forward as rapidly as
possible. This incensed the Moors, and
yesterday morning a force of more than
5000 natives made an attack upon the Span
ish garrison that numbered. all told, not
more than 400 souls.
The Spanish troops fought throughout the
day without relief being sent to them. They
had no food. but this was a matter of small
consequence to them, as they knew that
death or slavery awaited them should they
fall into the hands of their enemies.
The Moors were constantly gaining fresh
accessions to their ranks, and the outlook
was becoming serious for the Spaniards.
when the white residents of the town.
without regard to nationality. offered to
assist them. A civilian corps was at once
organized. ard took part in the defense.
They were greatly outnumbered by the
Moors. however. and were finally compelled
to retire into the fortress. located on the
outskirts of the town. where they are still
besieged.
Extent of the Casualties.
During the battle eighteen of the Span
iards were killed and thirty-five wounded,
serious
The Spanish artillery did great execution.
The gunners at one time directed their fire
upon a mosque. and almost completely de-
stroyed IT. Other buildings in the range Of
their fire were also destroyed.
Northern Morocco has been greatly ex-
cited by the news of the attack upon the
Spaniards. and the fanaticism Of the inhab-
tants Is being aroused by Mohammedan de-
mands for revenge upon the 'fnf1dels' for
destroying the mosque. The situation Is
critical and further attacks upon the gar
rison and civilians are expected.
The people of Madrid are angrily excited
AT the news from Melilla- The populace
demand that the government at once send
a strong punitive expedition to that port.
The government has announced that 1t
will Immediately dispatch a warship to
and instant reparation for the outrages up
on the Spaniards.
A Force to- BE Sent From Madrid.
The cabinet Will meet today and it is
expected that orders will be issued for the
sending forthwith to Melilla of a strong
military force to punish the Mcors.
The attacking Moors are chiefly members
of the Riff tribes who inhabit the noun
tains in northern Morocco and over whom
the control of the sultan is virtually nil.
These natives have before attacked the
garrison at Melilla and it is thought moth
ing but the most exemplary punishment
will induce them TO leave the Spaniards
alone
To punish them, however, will require
the expenditure of large sums of money
and much time, upon the approach of a
superior military force they retreat into
their mouDta Businesses, from which 1t is
almost an impossibilty to dislodge them.
The sultan himself has sent numerous ex-
petitions against these tribesmen. but the
honors between them and the government
forces are. II anything, in favor Of the
mountaineers.
Bravery of the Spanish.
Later dispatches from Melila state that
the Spanish officers displayed the greatest
bravery. The town. which is one Of the
Spanish penal settlements, is commanded by
a citadel. which Is built on a ross After
the Spanish troops and their civilian allies
We're forced by overwhelming numbers 10
retreat into the citadel. the Moors atterEtt-
ed to take the place by assault They
swarmed up the roadways and tried in
every way to -cale the walls. The be-
leaguered garrison poured volley after VOL
ley into their ranks but as the Moors did
not fight in any regular order the fire was
not as destructive as it would otherwise
have been.
Gen. Marsallo. who was in command of
the garrison. especially distinguished him
self by his gaiiantry. Calling for voiun-
teerS, and nearly every man offered his ser
vices Gen. Marsalli placed himself at their
head and made sortie upon the Moors
The latter retreated, keeping up a heavy
fire upon the whites, until the Moors who
had been operating on the other side of the
citadel came to their assistance when the
defenders were driven back. These sorties
were repeated throughout the day, but the
Noors managed to eventually hold their po-
sition.
Before the retreat was made to the cita-
del troops were dispatched to escort to the
place of refuge the military laborers who
were employed in the work at Fort Quart
ach. They succeeded in getting them into
the citadel. but had hard fight to DO SO,
being attacked on all sides by the Moors.
Natives Fought With Fury.
The natives were armed with Remington
rifles and fought with frantical fury. pay
ing no attention to the showers of bullets
aimed at them. They pursued the retreat
ing whites up to the walls of the citadel.
despite the deadly fire directed at them
from the fort. A small body of Spanish
cavalry that was well drilled and well han
died proved of the utmost service.
Toward the end of the day the MoorS
abandoned their guerilla 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 cav
alry-men.
They dashed into the ranks of the adyanc-
ing Moors, their keen-edged sabers swing
ing right and left among the enemy. who
broke ranks and scattered as hastily as
possible. The Moors were ridden down and
trampled upon by the iron-shod hoofs of
the horses and a number met their deaths
in this manner.
The cavalry which were numerically weak
did not dare to pusue the enemy far from
the citidel They rested under the walls
and awaited the second coming of the
Moors. who though they had been tenn
porarily compelled to retreat were in no
way disheartened by the losses inflicted
upon them by the horsemen.
The cavalry made several charges. al
ways with the same result. The Moors
would retreat until the chase was aban-
doned. when they would again assume the
aggressive.
The NIoors knew that IL they would cap
ture the citadel ii would have to be by as
sault. as there was no chance of forcing
a surrender by siege. The place contains
large magazines and the food supply of
the whole convict settlement. Equally of
Importance is the water which is procured
from large rock ciSterns.
Noors Throw Away Their Lives.
Therefore. with the bravery characteristic
of the Riff tribes. they displayed 10 hesita-
ton whatever when their leaders called
upon them 10 face the deadly volleys pour
yaiv,.l lie of tI,a