The sun., 1907-08-20
FRENCH REPEL KABYLE HORDE
PJCTU RESQUE FIGHT UNDER
WALLS or CASABLANCA.



Iso,h sides Arabs Lack Ammuni,I"B.
iSp,cioi CaHe DespGiches 10 TINE SuE.
LONDON. Aug. ia despatch to the
Evening Nrrs from CasablsDca says that
the expected attack On the French forces
by the Arabs took place yesterday. II was
futile and was easily repulsed. but al
though the attack was unorganized IL
was carried out with desperate and splendid
bravery.
The bodies or Arab horsemep charged
repeatedly in the face of a concentrated
fire Of Magazine rifles and artillery.
IL is believed that the Arabs have ex-
hausted their ammunition and therefore
II is expected thai the attack will not be-
renewed.
From "A military point of view II wss n
small affair, but il was brilliant and pict-
uresque The attackers were kabyles
who are among the bravest of the Moorish
tribes II was obvious throughout that
they were short of ammunition.
IT, as they apparently hoped. they could
have ma de il a cavalry fight at close quarters
the French loss would have been great.
With a rapid. fea rless dash the tribesmen
delivered their attack over wide area
They reached within sOO yards OF the French
trench&s but the concentrated magazine
rife and artillery fire Of the French, sup
plemented by "a continual shell fire from
the cruiser (iaIlee made their attack hope
less from the outset
Once only did the Moors gel in an effective
blow. Gen. Drude. the French commander
had sent fifty Algerian spahis cavalry
IN make flank attack on one OF the Moor
ish positions. The Kabyles however, had
2oO mounted men concealed, and when the
spahis were half "A mile from the camp
these suddenly fell upon the French
troopers, delivering a sIashing attack.
Many of the spahis and their horses
were wounded One man Il head was swept
OF by single blow One officer was
wounded The spahis had 20 retire. but
they did 80 fighting. Gen. Drlde sent i5O
. Of their comrades TO aid them.
These charged the Moors, who fled
The spahis then pursued but another
horde OF Kabyle cavalry came up and dashed
among the pursuers.
IL was "A stif melee, IN which the com
batants for time were 40 mingled that il
was difficult for the French commander
TO see what was happening, II ended by
tne SDhnls HOlly puip'tth NY wv
Moors To the outskirts Of the town.
There the French. taking advantage
Of the broken ground. halted and re-
formed. while the Kabyles fed under n
rain OF shells. Throughout the operations
the French showed great steadinese.
The infantry carried out their move
ments like machines. but their shooting was
poor and sometimes execrably bad. Ire
mendous voleys we're often almost com
pletely wasted and although II in asserted
that the Moorish loss was heavy il is doubt
ful whether their casualties were really
very great
The French brought into action one Of
their new field artillery guns Of 76 milli
metres cahbre, II is their latest model
and was never before used in warfare. 1t
proved accurate and effective. scattering
the Moorish horsemen in great style.
More artillery has been landed. and in
view Of the Moors' evident shortage Of
ammunition it, cannot he supposed that
the French can now be seriously MANAGED
however great the numbers that are brought
against them.
At the same time their force seems quite
insufficient to make any advance inland
The Spaniards did not cooperate in the
fight. IL in said that the Spanish com
mander ia acting under his Govern ment' 3
instructions and is doing his utmost to
avoid being involved in any question Of
damage to property. for which the French
ere accepting the responsibility.
The absence of the Spaniards from Sun
days fight is the subject of much chaff
among the French troops. While the fight
was on the notes OF Spanish bugle within
the town reached the trenches.
-Ha the Spaniards' dinner il ready"
exclaimed a French wag and all within
hearing exploded with laughter.
LONDON, Aug. ~. The Casablsnca cor
respondent Of the Telegraph represents
Gen. Drude az being disgrintled because
he ID not allowed to make a decisive march
against the Moors. The latter believe
the French are unable TO advance and
think themselves victorious.
Every evening there are isolated attacks
on the French positions. some OF the troops
being killed or wounded The number
says the correspondent be greater than
ia battle we're fought on open ground.
According to the correspondent the
Spanish commander offered to help Gen.
DrIde in Sundays fight. Gen. Drude
thanked him. but informed him that his
services we're not needed. The Spaniartls.
how ever, advanced toward the firing line.
supported by the guns Of the Spanish
gunboats