New-York tribune., 1907-08-20
NooRs DRIVEN BACK

rsssb1anca Morocco, Aug. 1S.-A large force
., Noors suddenly descended on the FTench
,-,n early this morning, but was driven on
90 sharp conflict The tribesrnen advanced
:. within eight hundred yards Of the city wheh
General Drude sent against them. under cover OF
,,s gins Of the warships. detachment OF hlty
.rse-san Spahis (Arab horsemen In the french
serrice)
e,-v 10 advance for half mile unraolested'
--rsn they suddenly ambuscaded them. and In
-r115 charge got right among the Spahis. The
- of one Spahi was cut off ar one sweep or &
,s Moorish sword The French officer in COM
-,o,5 Of the Spahis and several Of his men Were
,-ounsed. but the officer rallied his force anu
e1owlv retired. fighting, until large pooy Oh
cnah,s from the towns reinforced their COM
rades and routed the Moors.
Tho fighting covered front Of about sixteen
miles and lasted from to II a. N The French
-,se6 field and machine guns with oeaoIy eHect
IN repeling the attack Of the Moors ana shelis
g., the cruiser Gloire also did efficient service
The Spahis and sharpshooters each ios' o''o
man ,-iTed and had several wounded. inciuoins
Captain Coud OF the SPANS <a"Ou'
horses were killed.
Tho @7re+ alarm was sounded az sunrise, Wheh
ss11o-,inr groups Of Mocrs were observed on
General Trude's western flank French sharp-
shooters and light cavalry were Immediately
d;snarobed 10 the front, followed by detach-
-nent Of Spahis. At 8 o'clock the engagement
began with steady volleys from the frehcii'
after which the Spahis, supported by the guns
Of the cruiser Gloire, soon cleared the oeacI VI
the enemy. In the mean time the French ar
tillerv had been exploding shrapnel shells among
bodies Of horserzlen further south Toward IL
o'clock the Noors broke and scattered IN ali ol-
Eca-a a-aazr
At General Drude's headquarters the attack
~as regarded. rs a reconnaissance as the MAIN
body Of the hostile tribesnen remained con-
casTad behind 2 ridge From The terrace Of the
French consulate red dolmans. worn by the
regular Moroccan troops. were distinctly ols-
cerned among the Moorish horsemen- 1t was not
certain. however. whether they were regulars or
deserters who had retained their uniforms.
From the military point Of view the engage
-aent was small affair, but nevertheless II was
an exhibition Of much Individual bravery.
Bodies Of horsemen charged repeatedly IN the
face Of magazine, rife and Maxim fire.
One of the striking pictures Of the fight was
an old Arab. apparently q Caid. who was mount
ed on a black horse and carried red flag He
headed a long line Of horsemen In fierce down
.dn charge. When the horsemen. halted by the
~athering fire. turned and galloped back this cid
nan stopped. looked quietly at the French posi-
lson and then with the utmost sangfroid' ne
slowly and coolly retired
The French troops showed magnificent dash
throughout the fighting. The fifty Spahis who
were sent out 20 reconnoitre were attacked by
two thousand horsemen, who sought TO sur
round them There was a sharp melee. and
the Spahis cut their way out General Drude
brought I'D reinforcements rapidly, and the
Arabs becare panic stricken and fled The
Spahis were greatly cheered they rode back
into camp one Of them carrying the body OF the
man who lost his life over Ills saddle.
The Spanish commander offered 10 bring up
his troops tust as the Arabs were retiring. Cen
eTal Drude thanked him and declined on the
ground that help was unnecessary, as the action
was
The Arabs have now retreated to consider
able distance from the camp. but renewal OF
the attack is expected shortly.
Paris. Aug. 20-In dispatch from Casablanca
On the fighting Sunday correspondent OF
the Figaro telegraphs:
The enemy was il the act Of making fast
turning movement 20 attack the camp on the
flank. when the reconnaissance Of the SpahiE
discovered the ulanpuvre- Instead or retiring
the Spahis charged For a few moments they
were in grave danger. reinforcements could
not reach them quickly, and the cruiser Gloirs
was forced TO cease shelling for fear OF hit
ting them It was a 40 nillimeter gun, just
landed from the transport Shamrock that routed
the Arabs Al the same time the Spahis were