The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-09-13
MOROCCO LOOMS
BIG TO FRANCE
Restoration Of Order Proves Great
or Problem Than Was Expected.
SULTANs IN CONFLICT
Both Have Many Soldiers and Battle is
-Franco-Spanish Army
of $4,000 is Needed.

According to dispatches from Tan.
gier. events in Morocco are marching
on with great rapidly Saturday both
the sultans, Abbel Aziz and Mulai
Tahg were reported to be leaving the
rival capitals, Fez and Morocco City,
at the head OF armies which had been
levied IN hot haste and with which
may be decided within q fortnight the
destiny of the Moroccan monarchy.
The immediate objective Of these
forces is the ancient city Of Rabat,
on the Atlantic side, the prior pos
session of which great center of west
ern Isams, national life probably
would have an important, il not
decisive bearing upon the struggle for
supremacy Half way between Fee
and Morocco City, Rabat is the nat
ural frontier port dividing northern
end southern Morocco
Both sultans are sons of the same
father, and they are daily issuing pas
sionate appeals TO the patriotism and
religious enthusiasm OF the nation,
each denouncing his rival as being
worse than an infdel, a traitor to
islam In the meanwhile the powers
have not yet decided whether to rec
ognlze Mulai IIahg, his correct name,
as sultan of the south, seemingly
awaiting the result of the appeal to
civil war.
The general impression in Tangier
g. that France and Spain have resolv-
cd upon the immediate occupation OF
ell the Moroccan seaports, which has
caused CONSERVATION, for 1t is feared
BY those who best know the charac-
ter Of the Moors that any extension
pf the Intervention Of France and
Spain will infallibly provoke further
massacres of Christians and Jews. In
other words, situation has devel-
oped which never was contemplated
at the time Of the Algeciras conven-
ton. and II appears that serious events
will follow.
A Paris special says. The French
nation has suddenly come to the real
azation that Morocco looms up bigger
every day. In Paris the situation is
now the main subject OF discussion by
the people, who feel that momentous
events in which France is bound to
play leading role are inevitable.
The question is. VIII France be
compelled, in order to crush the hos
bile Moorish tribes and insure the
safety Of Casa Blanca, to dispatch
an imposing expoditonary army into
the interior? For 1t is generally ac-
eepted that General Drude, with his
force of seven thousand men, is power
less to make a punitive trip into an
unknown country and against the en-
Omy which number now over 10000
men, and whose forces are reported
90 be constantly growing.
Moreover, even if the French army
moved against the Moors Casa Blanca
could not be left without strong gar
rIson. as otherwise 1t would be seized
BY the Moors.
Another serious feature of the situa-
tion is that the time is approaching
when the warships will be unable to
safely land on the Moroccan coast, ow.
ing to severe gales and heavy seas,
The Madrid correspondent OF the
Echo de Paris says It Is reported in
military circles that France has pro
posed to Spain to send Franco
Spanish army of $4,000 men to occupy
the Moroccan ports. and to 80 as far
as Fez, IL necessary.
The correspondent at Madrid of The
Matin says it is believed Spain will
decide to send 5000 infantry and 500
cavalry to occupy Tangier and estab-
lish a police force there,