New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-05
MAY FINISH MOROCCO.
The Perdicaris Kidnapping Seems
Frances Opportunity.

With a formidable American feet lying OF Tan
gter and the State Department actively working for
the release of the American citizen. Ion Perdicaris,
whose kidnapping by the Morocco trtbesmen some
what resembles the recent adventure OF Miss Ellen
Stone among the Macedonian insurgents, the IN
cident IS rapidly assuming important international
significance. or the state OF anarchy existing IN
Morocco and the menace that it constitutes 10 the
citizens Of every civilized nation dwelling there. the
few details about the actual kidnapping that are
beginning 10 leak out from unofficial sources FUR
nish a good index
The scene of Mr. Perdica-s's kidnapping was
Just beyond the walls OF Tangier. within sight OF
the European coast. Here, the side OF noun
tain he had built a beautiful villa and IN this.
Aidoun. or Place OF tho Ntghtngales as Ae
named f. he only recently entertained Princess
Louise OF Schleswig- Holstein and party which
included the American Consul General. Samuel r
Gummere.
Years Of residence In this villa had brought a
sense Of security. in the present times OF
tribal disorder. But the evening Of May Is Mrs.
Perdicars was startled by cries from the ser
. wants quarters She imagined nothing more serl-
Gus than trouble among the domestics, but as the
cries grew louder, Mr.. Perdicaris and his stePson
Cromwell Oliver Varley. rushed to the scene o. me
disturbance and burst into the servants quarters.
where they were confronted by band or armed
Moors VINO we're binding man servant. IheTe
7os a fr.er struggle between the household and
the intrliders in which the women endeavored 10
aid their husbands. but were knocked GOWN ana
a second later Raisuu, the brtgand chief sounded
= signal whistle and ike the magic call Of Rod
erick Dhu, it brought IN a band OF supporters
who had been surrounding the house In another
rnouenr the Moors had bound NJ Perdicarls and
MI Marley, and, mounting their prisoners on
horses made of in the darkness.
The English housekeeper AT the first disturbance
baA rushed to the telephone, 80 close are AFRICA
o,6 r,,rone IN this region OF telephones and ban
dts and announced 10 the terrified CentraI mat
the house had been attacked by roope's- As She
was in ploring the operator to inform the american
Consul Raisuu hurled her TO the floor and smashed
The +elephone. The message, however reached
Consul General Gunmere. and. accompanied by
guards he hastened TO the scene Long netore ne
arrived however. the band had ned CARRYING theH
-riso,ers into the mountain region INTO winch Iley
boast no Christian ever penetrated save as a
captive or slave. Here well treated oul I'M Cd
enei with death II their ransom is not PAID Inc
prisoners are confined under guard.
But while the Moorish government remains pow
er!ess and inactive the Emperor almost cIose
prisoner In his palace fearing the attack or MS
h.1,so,s chiefs other forces are at work which
NAV result in important political consequences
The assurance received by the STATE AePdI 'iie'''
that France would use its good Offices 10 secure
inc release of the prisoners Is believed oy many
=. erocss+ the long expected assertion Of French
a,zeraintv oyer Morocco. That the kidnapping OF
an American citizen should result IN the eXuncuon
Of the independence OF a country that excepting
Abvssinia claims the distinction Of being the only
farTf rETvT
=, 19,,roneaps would be an odd coincidence
Although immediate interest attaches 10 the Iale
- Mr. Perdicaris the action Of France made prob
all. nv, the recent Anglo-French convention Which,
8, ,hc words Of the British traveller. Waiter b.
r5a~rfs writing from Tangier, makes possible the
,--,,-,+tor ization of Morocco by France opens up
On Interesting field OF conjecture That the trench
,,,i5 regard the American representation 10 them
=. ,.a-,,ene IN the affair as tacit recognition OF
=. - French compact is not strange. That ac-
- r. the French government should result IS
lat,1a IN the extreme. and this situation nat
Ill directs interest toward the North African
-, tba+ the French call Africa Minor
= overall hundred miles the eastern frontier
- ,Toooo for the most part unmarked. acJoins
=. - AIgeria the most prosperous or the French
to +be home Of more than four hundred and
-. +,o,sand French citizens. and the station
:" -, stxtv thousand French troops. including
che famous Foreign Legion" Moreover tor the
-. 81, years the French have been dispatching
vnaditons down into the desert south OF tHe A'IaS
Mountains and of Morocco. and occupying the GASES
o. the caravan routes formerly subject 10 the
rmneror of Morocco. Igli t1suis ana All oaIdIl
,,,a all been seized in this fashion
Is,+ the real base OF any operation from Algeria
atrst Morocco lies IN the strategic railroad run
Dsrg along the whole frontier from the Meoiter-
-arean 70 the desert, ana sending or branches at
,n,nortaut points toward Morocco. Along this line
are qrlen,cen and Sid Bel Abbes. hourishing Euro
Dean cities with barracks and magazines fully
eou,pped for the expedition into Morocco so long
the dream of the French-Afrfcan soldier supple
rcnt.ng this purely strategical railroad Is the mo