Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-15
SITUATION N MOROCCO
Letter From the welliyers
Written at Fee the Day
Before Christmas
MOORISH FORCES ARE ROUTED

the Missionaries-Mooli Mohammed
the Sultan's Brother, Popular Be-
cause Of His Hatred Of Foreigners.
Sioux City, Jan. 15.-In a letter writ
ten the day before Christmas. from Fee
the Rev. James p. Welliver tells of con-
ditions in the Moroccan revolution to
that date. The letter reached Sioux
City yesterday. indicating that mails
have thus far not been greatly delayed.
The letter predicts almost exactly what
has since taken place so far as meager
reports have shown. Mr.. Welliver and
the missionaries are reported now to
have been taken away from Fee, and
the opinion seems to be that they will
come to no harm, tho they are certain
to suffer hardships. The letter fol-
lows:
Fee. Morocco, Dec. "a, 1902-Elimi-
mating the unbelievable rumors which
are always abundant when anything
has really happened, the best Informal
ton we are able to obtain points to the
utter rout OF all the Moorish forces
which have been operating against the
rebels of the Ghiata and neighboring
tribes. The gate leading in that direc-
ton from the city has been closed since
morning, except to admit soldiers and
conscript troops from the defeated
army who had fled for their lives, trav-
eled all night. and are entering the
city constantly, many of them wounded,
and all thoroughly worn out Our
most reliable informers state that the
commanders have all come in, but re-
greet that the early departure of the
mails prevent the confederation of that
report, which / should like. 1t is stated
that all the baggage, ammunition, cam
non and general equipment has been
captured. Many of the sultan's troops
are said to have been taken alive. who
will probably not hesitate to serve un-
der their new master. The fleeing SOL
diers are said to have been set upon by
the tribe of Hyaina, which has been
hitherto loyal to the sultan, and killed
or plundered.
The significance of this defeat is
much greater under the present circum-
stances than a tribal uprising in ordi-
nary times. 1t Is well known that there
has been Shereefian pretender to the
throne of Morocco for some time, gath
ering the forces Of these tribes east
of Fec. The Ghiata is a tribe which
has never been conquered, SO far as liv-
ing Moors recall or have any tradition
Their neighbors are equally fierce, but
have not the remarkable defensive Sit
uation Of the Ghiatas. 1t is most
strongly rumored again that the pre-
tender is really the brother of the sui
tan, and that he has been seen and rec
ognized by the soldiers. Official state
ments to the contrary do not claim
special credence. Mooli Mohammed is
the most popular man in Morocco to-
day, because Of his reputed hatred for
foreigners, against whom feeling is now
strong, and whoever the leader OF the
rebellion, he is commonly supposed TO
be preparing for holy war on the for
eigners in Morocco.
The sultan is in Fee, with all his
forces, and the next step is watched
with interest. Whether this city may
be besieged no one can at present say.
But in any case there must be suffering
among the poor. because OF the scarcity
Of food which must result unless the
government speedily takes the matter
In hand and proves able to cope with IT.
Today we ate our dinner cold, as 1T had
been fortunately cooked yesterday, 9th
erwise we would have had to eat 1t raw,
suppose. The fuel of Fee comes from
this disturbed districts. Prices have
been going up for months here. and
with the army to feed, the fact that out
of what has entered the city the better
classes have long been hiding away
grain, fuel, ETC., and the fact that a
country like this with neither roads nor
railways lives from hand to mouth at
best, prices had reached approximately
100 per cent advance in articles mostly
consumed by the poor over two years
ago, when things were in normal con-
dition. Add to this the fact that the
supply from without will be more than
ever limited, even if there is no siege
brought against the city, and the rest
can be imagined. But in case of a siege
this city, whose population Is estimated
at 10000, and not too high at that, can
hold out but few days at best.
The food problem is the vital one, in
the matter Of throwing out a large force
against the rebels. To one familiar
with the situation it would seem as II
the sultan could not feed an army in the
midst of the rebellious tribes for many
DAYS. The territory to be drawn upon
for supplies could not exceed a few
miles in extent, and beasts of burden
sufficient to carry food from any dis
lance, aside from the immense expense,
would be almost or quite unobtainable.
We have few old boxes we can use
for fuel for a while. and after that am
.,ra i 6on,t know what we will burn.