New-York tribune., 1903-06-09
MOORISH CITY IN RUINS.
FRENCH REDUCE FIGUIG
RombardmeRt Lasts Fire Hours
Sir Hundred Shells Fired.

,,.,i-ounif Algeria, June S.-The French ar
..nerv opened a preliminary fire at $50 o'clock
.,s morning on Figuig, the stronghold of the
h.fious Zenaga tribesmen who recently at
.,,oa and tried 10 ambush Governor General
7o,na,t and his escort, of whom thirteen were
.to,,slv injured. The eetual bombardment be-
-oo at 73o o'clock and lasted until IL m,
hen A great destruction Of houses had been
-o,eht. the mosque destroyed and, it is be-
,;exed. A great number of natives killed.
General O'Connor commands the punitive ex-
-s5;tion. consisting OF four thousand pnen of the
roreign Legion and a strong force of artillery,
,,,,ed with guns firing melinice shells. Gen
s-sl O'Connor's plan was to advance on Figuig
a. three columns and post his artillery COM
handing hills surrounding the rebels strong
held.
At $50 a. the French troops occupied Juive
z,,u and another eminence. The ramparts Of
.be town were then twelve hundred metres dis
.on- and like The houses. which We're half a
-,ne behind them, built of compressed earth.
From the hills the artillery made excellent prac-
.;,a the melnite shells making big breach in
,bA ramparts and destroying great number Of
,,onses. the inhabitants of which had fed at the
a-s, shots Finally the fire was concentrated
:, the mosque, and the edifce blown to
,,aoes The destruction of the mosque is ex-
n.eted to have a great moral effect
The Noors. concealed in the palm groves, re-
-,;a5 with artillery TO the French bombardment.
but without effect. At II o'clock the French
suns were Withdrawn TO Djennan-ed-Dar.
All the women and children left the town be-
eore the action The French fired a few shells
~ distant parts of the oasis, in order to I'M
nress the Moors with the power and range Of the
French guns. There was no loss on the French
civ hun
shells at the town. The Spahis (native cavalry
the Chasseurs d'AfriQue and the troops or 'he
Foreign Legion were posted during the bonn
bardnent at points surrounding the town. put
the infantry did not fire a single shot
At $50 this afternoon an envoy from the
arneer Of Figuig arrived at this place
Genera. .O-Connor has received congratulations
+c,, rhe commander or the Nineteenth Army
,7orns on the skill with which he conducted the
onsrar5ous. The French troops have returned
- their encampnlent. No decision has been
reached regarding future operations 1t is posi-
HE If the Figuig tribesmen do not come 10
terms other villages in the oasis VIII be DOM
bar5ed The expedition viii rest tomorrow
General O-Conncr has issued general order
oo,erat,,,atfng the troops or the manner in
which they acquitted themselves to-day
The bulk of the population of Figuig is ex-
rected to be friendly TO the French, as nel9hooI-
ing tribes are assisting in the operations OF lhe
punitive expedition
France has formally notified the powers thaI
s1,e has no intention Of taking Moroccan terri
tory and win only punish the Arab prlgahds
who were responsible for the recent aIldch 0i'
- ,s.Cr+ Of Governor General Jonrart-
General O'Connor was instructed 10 slNe IN: tle
women and children of Figuis an oppoFlu >
"a leave the town before t->e iompat9lneilL i :.
-tss eef..t 10 the women and children was hllIeo
while carrying the message