Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23
FRANCE, SPAIN And RAISULI.

Raisuli who is distinguished I'm many
ways, and with others, by having his name
spelled as variously as that
Much IN ~~of the prophet Mohammed. Is
Evidence. again very much in view as
chief actor, perhaps. Ia the
FrancO-Spanish intervention in Morocco.
Raisuli threatened on the 18th instant that
he would oppose the Franco-Spanish fleet,
and the last dispatches announce that he
has actually established a Gordon of guards
along the bay shore of Tangier. The diplo-
matte corps has protested and demanded
that the sultan shall cause Raisuli to de-
part, but the former bandit chief now
pacha. is formidable obstacle in the path
of the prospective police.
NJ Regnault minister of France to Mo-
rocco. when interviewed recently by the
correspondent of the Temps, said:
AT the present moment tie authority of
the makhzen does not exist. 1t is impotent
and has totally abdicated in favor of Raisuli.
and Raisuli, now a functionary retains the
methods of the brigand. The day when on
his demand he was named Caid of the Fahs
that is. chief of the plain around Tangier.
where Europeans hold large properties. it
was hoped the makhzen would control him.
Raisuli. on the contrary. recognizes no mas
ter. | declare that if tomorrow Raisuli
should decide to take Tangier the makhzen
could not prevent him. ! repeat, the makh-
zen does not exist in fact
/ The declaration of the French minister
IS all the more grave. inaSmuch neither
the police organization nor the bank has
been completed. nor can be within three
months. Small wonder, then, if in this inter-
val Raisuli may inaugurate a rebellion os-
tensibly for his own account and possibly
for the makhZen. or others who may be be-
hind the sultan. At the present moment
the European residents at Tangier are liv
ing in dread lest Raisul seize some one
of them. wealthy merchant. perhaps, and
thus hold up the fleet by this hostage. The
Perdicaris coup succeeded admiraDiy; it
may be tried again.
Raisuli formerly inhabited Zinat; he re-
sides now at Arzila. where he is the recog-
niZed master of the Fahs col
Ra1sul1s lection of turbulent outlaws
Power. from the Djebala and the Riff,
descended from the scum of the
followers of former dynasties. Over these
Raisuli exercises entire authority. He has
established hosts along the routes to Fee,
levies contributions at will. and his mill
tary camps are points of refuge for the de-
sorting soldiers of the makhzen. whose
arms and ammunition command good COM
pensation. AT the gates of Tangier he has
planted a representativ whom he has dig
nified by the title Of khalifa.
Within year RaSui has increased his
authority and prestige while diminishing
that of the Ain-Dalia and the Barbya. He
gained over the tribes of Saleh and Benz
Arons. and having accomplished that he
undertook the affair at Arzila.
Among the followers of Raisul bandit,
was a certain notable Ould Berrian, who,
having assassnated the pacha of the prov
ince, had been driven away by the makhZen.
n,,JI Of
establishing himself in his village and. hav-
ing made confidant of Raisuli. the latter
feigned sympathy. One day Guild Berrian
with forty followers attacked Arzia, killed
the caid. expelled the pacha and installed
himself in his place. Si-Torres heard of the
affair and referred it to Raisuli. Ould Ber-
rian in the meantime, his head turned by
success, declared himself Independent and
sole caid of Arzila. The populate how
ever. were unwilling. revolted and imprl-
soned the over-ambitious Ould. Ratsuli, as
may be imagined, had prepared the net into
which his quondam friend had fallen He
caused himself to be acclaimed as liberaor
at ArZila and sent Ould Berrian with his
forty thieves captives to Si-Torres.
The notables addressed the makhzen. at
the dictation of Rasulf. demanding promo
out waiting the response of the makhzen
assumed the functions Of Pacha of Arziia-
Rasuli is chief of the religious chriian
brotherhood of Oulad Rissoun, of which
Si-Torres is member. The
Distin guished latter is old and fanatical
Ancestry. and hates the Christian
cordially. Raisuli. besides.
is descended in direct line from the Sultan
Edrissides Gs9-919) and already he is con-
sidered in the maghreb pretender to the
sultanate of Muley Abd-el-Aziz.
Raisuli has shown that he is worthy
descendant of the Barbarossas. the famous
pirate chiefs Of the BarbarX states and is
destined, perhaps, to perpetuate his name
in that relation in Moroccan history.
Morocco first Phoenician colony. passed
successfully under the rule of Romans,
Vandals, Byzanttnes. Visigoths. and finally
Araus who founded from 6Si the dynasties
of Ommiades. Almoravides, Almohedes
Mirmides and Edrisses. from which latter
Raisui is sprung. Portugal, Spain and
France have invaded Morocco and from the
date of the concessions known as the capft-
uIations obtained by France from the Turks
in 1884. have followed the treaties and
relations down to the present.
Tanger, whose history is ancient and
legendary is an important port. the only
one of Morocco in which vessels of war
may anchor sheltered from the west and
southwest winds.
Sir Richard Burton wrote in the intro
duction of his friend, DR.. Leareds BOOK,
Morocco and the Moors:
The time is coming wheen France and
SPAIN the most interested in the matter.
will by perpetual pressure get the better of
some softer-headed caliph of our loved
Mohammed authorized by Allahs Will and
the steam whistle on the Tangier-Fez
railroad shall destroy not only feudalism.
but fanaticism and privacy, lethargy and
independence. Nor will the European oc-
cupant, after the danger and damage of de-
feating a nation of 'fous furieuX-furlous
fools or fanatics-brave to desperation, find
great difficulty in securing his conquests.
The invader has only to follow the frontier
policy of ancient Rome. ably initiated by the
modern Brton. He will buy Moroccans to
fight Moroccans pay them literally officer
them ably and arm them effectively. Wild
races always and everywhere prove how
greatly gold down weighs patriotism You
can always rule the Moslem by telling him
the truth, by dealing with him honestly and
by respecting his women and his religion"
The Gazette de Cologne is cited by the
Temps of December as saying that The
French and Spanish ambas-
Identical sailors have been placed in
Notes. the hands of the secretary of
state, Won Tscherschky,
Identical notes on the combined action Of
France and Spain in Moroccan waters The
Gazette learns that the substance of the