The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-14

, about the battle of Figuig, named after an oasis about eight miles from here, where 1t took place. Fignig is one of the richest settlements of western Morocco. It has about million date trees and it's people have always been noted for their prosperity and trade. They are also Ia nous as haters of Christians, and until lately it was death to enter their oases About three years ago, when the rail- road had not yet reached this point, the governors general of Algeria made an ex- petition from the end of the road at Duverier to Ben Ounif. and started thence on an expedition to Figuig. He was accompanied by a detachment of Spahis, the hravest of these African sol diers, and three companies of the for eign legion, under the command of Gen eral O'Conner. It was then well known that any Christian who went into Figuig did so at the risk of his life; and one of the Arab officials of the town warned the governors general that he had better keep out. He did not heed the warning. and the result was a fight which lasted five hours, after which the French re- treated.
 This battle was with rifles on both sides, and the Moors thought they were equal to anything the French could bring forth. A day or so later the for eign legion and three squadrons of cav airy appeared, their force altogether numbering forty-1ve hundred. They brought with them a number of noun tain guns and other cannon, and placing these more than @ mile away they open ed fire upon the oasis and it's villages with melinte shells. The result as- founded the natives Their mud brick houses were blown to atoms, and the minarets of their mosque cut into
 The Moors had never heard or seen anything like this, and they soon came almost on their knees to beg the French to desist. Since then the railroad has been extended to Beni Ounif, and within two years thriving settlement has grown up here right at the gate to the pass Figuig is now safe for Q traveller, if he is accompanied by French soldiers, and the French are even building a wagon road to that place.
 Army of Camel Police.
 The French Sahara alone is altogether more than half as large as the whole United States It extends from the Lib van desert to Morocco. and as far south as tho Soudan. The French have made this whole region peaceful, and it is now possible to travel almost anywhere through 1t. They have troops stationed at every large oasis and have camel sol- diers securing the country and helio- graphing the least sign of disturbance. These camel police are natives mounted on meharis-beasts which can go 100 miles day after day without tiring. Many of the camel police are Tuaregs, who find 1t pays better to be employed by the French than to rob the caravans them selves as they did in the past; others are Targhis, from a warlike tribe in the east ern part of the Algerian Sahara. These troops patrol the country all the way from Tripoli to Morocco. They act as scouts for the French officers, and are ready to fight bravely in time of trouble. large number of them are now watch ing the pass here. They go about at wide distances apart and bring in re- ports of the conditions existing all along the desert frontier.
 The French have established a sort of mail service for the Sahara. The Arab postmen carry mail bags on these fast meharis Every military station is thus served and In some places, such as Co.,