The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-10-23
SHARP CITING
IN NORTHERN
AFRICA
French Troopers Trapped by
Cunning Arabs
.ENCIRcLED BY THE MOORS
Timely Arrival OF General Rescues
Small Force OF Algerian Cavalry
From Annihiiation.

CASABLANCA, Morocco, Oct. 23--
The timely arrival of General Drude
with strong re-enforcements alone saw
ed Colonel de Fretay's reconnoitering
column from annihlation at the hands
of the Moorish tribesmen near Tad
dert.
The troops, which were sent out to
search for the body of Frenchman
named Kuntzer, who wandered from
the camp and was murdered, consisted
of detachment of cavalry. two com
panies of infantry and II section of n
rapid fire gun battery. On arriving ut
Alvarez n group of sixty Moorish
horsemen was seen ON top Of II mound.
Colonel de Fretay ordered squad of
irregular Algerian cavalry to give
chase, aud a hot pursuit was kept up
for about three miles, when suddenly
the bills beyond were. seen to be
swarming with h0rsemen.
The Algerian troopers. realizing that
they had fallen into II trap. retired
slowly. Colonel de Fretay, when he
reached his advance force. occupied Il
position with the infantry and spahis
in reserve behind the walls Of some
marabouts' tombs, deploying force of
chasseurs dAfrique and Algerian ir-
regulars To the northeast. The M0Ors,
who were con .2n,. ing REINFORCED.
then began circllng movement with
the object Of turning the French posi-
ton, but were momentarily checked
by the sustained fire OF the infantry
and hail of bullets from the rapid
fire guns.
Nevertheless the situation was grow
ing critical, fully 5000 white clad
Moorish warriors threatening TO over
whelm Colonel de tretay's column,
when General Drude, who arrived up
on the Moorish flank unpercelved, With
two companies Of infantry, two bat
teries of field guns and another sec
ton of the rapid fire gun battery. open.
ed on the enemy with all his guns.
The Moors were taken completely 10y
surprise, and, taking advantage of the
confusion into which the natives We're
| thrown. General Drude quickly mass
ed and launched his cavalry in flu
rious and brilliant charge into the
thick of the Moors resulting in fierce
hand 10 hand fighting. the French
troopers and Algerian irregulars sa-
hnrinp al oh "a
Moors were unable TO withstand the
impetuosity of the attack and broke
and fed.
The French losses, which We're all
sustained during the charge, were
Captain lhler. killed while leading his
squadron .Iardy. a private of the chas-
seurs dAfrique who was wounded
and carried by his antic horse into
the thick OF the enemy, by whom he
was decapitated and horribly mutllat-
ed. and another chasseur d'AfriQue,
who was killed in the hand To hand
lighting. Jardy's headless body sub
sequently was recovered and brought
back to the camp. one of the French
troopers sabered Mulai Rachid's stand
ard bearer and captured green flag.
representative of the prophet. Over
sixty M0ors were left dead on the
field. the majority being killed 10y sa-
Der cuts.
During the height Of the combat the
French cruiser Gloirc changed her
anchorage and dropped shells among
the Moors.
After the French charge General
Drude formed his troops into two hol-
low squares and moved eastward to-
ward his camp, under the cover of
artillery. The Moors several times
reformed and charged. but never came
closer than about 1000 yards.
General Drude took back to camn
the bodies of nine Moors. which were
exposed in front of the mosque at Cas-
ablanca for the purpose of disproving
the reports spread among the natives
that the French bullets Were powerless
to Kill the followers of Islam.
The Moors participating In the at
tack were two of Mulai Haiid's armies
united under Mulai Rachid..
In addition to the officer and two
men killed and nine who were wound
ed the French lost nineteen horses kill.