Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-08-27
FRANCE IN SAHARA.
Warfare Being Pushed Against De-
faint and Ugly Natives.
Aggressive and WeIl-Armed Troops
of Algerian Government Soon
OverPOwer and Subdue
Oasis Inhabitants.

The French governor OF Algeria went
q few weeks ago, on mission to the lit
tie oasis Of Figuig, green spot on the
edge of the Sahara, belonging to Mo-
rocco, a few miles west of the Algerian
frontier. Being so near the Frenchpos-
sessions, France has for years exerted
some influence over Figuig.
The governor was therefore very
much astonished when he and his escort
reached the hills overlooking the oasis
to be received by the natives with a flu
sillade. He had not provided for this
kind, of reception and retired in good
order, but with his Official dignitYvery
much rufIled, says the New York Sun.
The Algerian government at once sent
$1,000 men by rail from Oran to punish
the natives who had thus insulted the
French flag.> The railroad took the
troops to within a short march of the
oasis and on Monday, June 8, it was at
tackled, the natives were put to flight,
and they were expected humbly to sue
for peace.
The oasis is very small and has only
about $4,000 Inhabitants. They have
had a great reputation for proves and
had held the belief that if it came to
blows they could whip the French. The
fact that France had not seized the oasis
contributed to their conviction that
France would not dare to attack 1t.
They have been undeceived.
TheSdispa+ches have been LITTLE. con-
fused with regard to the nomenclature
of this small district. There is no set
Element called Figuig, the name being
applied only to the oasis itself.
The largest of the nine settlements is
Zenasa, at the southwest corner, which
is the seat of the local government, and
the large mosque, now destroyed by
French guns, was a very conspicuous
object. It was upon Zenaga that those
guns were turned and, according to all
reports, the other settlements were not
molested.
The oasis occupies the worst possible
position for defense. It is entirely sur
rounded by hills, and as the natives had
not occupied any part of this wall which
looks down upon their verdant area they
were of course wholly at the mercy of
any aggressive and we'll armed troops
that might climb the hills.
These elevations completely enclose
the plain covered with date palms,
which lies fRom 900 to 1900 feet below
the hill crests. The -oasis is less than
three miles in length and not much over
a mile in width at its broadest part.
Scattered over this little space are about
100000 date palm trees which constitute
the wealth of the little community.
The business affairs of the oasis are
administered by the general assembly
of all the villages, which usually meets
only four times a year. The mosques
and schools are famous throughout the
northern Sahara and are freqpented by
students and the pious from far and
near.
AS the oasis lies close to the Algerian
frontier, it has for years served as a
refuge for rebels and deserteTs from the
French colony, and thus acquired pO-
litical Importance outUof all proportion
to its size and population. 1t is not very
likely that the French will annex the
oasis, for they are now currying favor
with the Moroccan government. They
are very eager to have influence in the
political affairs Of that country and to
build railroad through the great east
and west valley Of Morocco into Algeria.
They have, however, taught the ma
tves a lesson which the latter are not
likely soon to forget.