Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-08
MOROCCO A PROBLEM
UP TO FRANCE AND SPAIN TO
CARRY OUT ALGEcIRAs TASK.
Special Csblegram to The Star.

n.
Special Cablegram to The Star.
TANGIER. September THE tangle Of
conflicting reports from the Interior re-
fleets very fairly the hopeless chaos into
which the country has drifted. The truth
seems To be that the interior is in such a
wild state of anarchy that genuine news
does not reach the coast towns freely or
quickly. The numerous fierce tribes who
divide Morocco between them into "A num-
Der Of almost independent communities are
swayed. not merely by fanatic hatred Of
all foreigners. but also by many private
feuds and grievances. of which foreigners
on the coast know little or nothing Il IS
clear that this tribal anarchy, which con-
stttutes the real difficulty in Morocco, Will
only be ended by strong hand.
France. which has achieved wonders In
making Algeria peaceful ana prosperous
country, seems destined to do the work.
But the time for this has not yet come,
since international suspectibilities forbid
it. All that is possible at the present mo-
ment is to establish order on the ports and
to teach the inland tribes. II necessary by
sharp lessons. such as they have received at
Casa Blanca, that they mast respect the
new state of things. IT Is idle to expect
who are themselves impotent The powers
must protect their own interests. If France
and Spain will now carry out the task as
signed to them at Algecras Of supplying an
efficient police for the coast towns. the i'm
mediate dangers of the situation will be
averted. 1t is impossible to understand
why this obviously necessary measure has
been delayed SO long.
Sensitive to Holy War Call.
The Jehad or holy war, is still a living
fact among the Moors. and to its call
Mohammedans all the world over are in
some sort sensitive. France has in hand a
business to which no nation can be mat
tentiye. Millions of men and commerce
worth untold millions are vitality concerned.
The storm has been long gathering. Since
his accession In 1894 the sultan. like all his
predecessors has had the slightest hold on
his subjects. and has ruled. SO far as he
has ruled, with an empty eNchequer
The firing by Moorish tribesmen first on
the French and later on the Spanish troops
landed to keep order made necessary i'm
mediate bombardment with all its terrible
sequel. But the French guns have neither
forced a definite policy nor settled the i'm
mediate crisis. did the bomba rdment OF
Alexandria by the British. Casa Blanca Is
but one OF the eight treaty ports which
France and Spain undertook to police a
result Of the Anglo French agreement and
the Algeciras conference. Now. behind all
these ports and on the mountains that
yeasty with new ferment. The police pro-
lection at first meditated. and not yet for
mulated, is proved altogether insufficient.
Kad Macean is still prisoner; the sui
tan is helpless: the tribes begin to mass
around Casa Blanca. and from the base
OF their hills can organize descents on
which coast towns they please. These
beautiful spots. which share in some meas
ure the fine climate of the Incompatible
islands off the coast. are largely peopled
with wealthy Europeans and colonies OF
Jew traders. From Tangier the European
residents are flying helter-skelter on any
sort of vessel that will take them; and the
Jews colonies. which have not once or
twice paid their toll to Moorish fury, are
paralyZed wttii fear.
Have Great Responsibility. .s..
With France and Spain great RESPONSE
bility rests. In which 1t is hoped they viii
have the backing of Europe and America.
There Is of course. no question of conquest
or permanent occupation of any large ex-
tent of Moorish territory The act of Alge-
ciras still officially rules the policy of
France in the country. But public opinion
is gradually and steadily asserting ITSELF
against method of half-measures. and the
French government in spite of diplomatic
statements. will have to increase. though
no doubt with all cautiousness. the scope OF
its operations In Morocco. 1t seems certain
now that reinforcemehts must be dispatch-
ed to Casa Blanca without delay The gen.
eral view is that the question OF policy Is
a plain dilemma. Either the trbesmen
around Casa Blanca still threatening 1t are
to be scattered and definitely cowed the
scope of French operations Ia to be con-
fined to the town only.
In the former event, Gen. Drude must be
able to pursue the enemy at least fifty or
sixty miles with success. For that he needs
strong reinforccmrnss In men and guns.
For the latter he iS IL is slIf-
ficiently we'll Off. That Is to say. he Is
now strong enough to hold his camp against
assailants without re!nforcements, but he
is not strong enough to deal any decisive
blow at any useful distance from his head
quarters.
The question, therefore. is upon which OF
the two courses the government will decide.
II the latter, will the game prove to DO
worth the candle? Unrest increases among
the various tribes inlf nd. The chief enc
mics of the French are the Benz Mzab and
the Benz Mdraca. The Mediounas who
plundered Casa Blanca. have fallen out
with other tribes. having wanted to keep
their booty to themselves. They were at
tackled, and in their turn, despolied. Inter-
nal warfare among the tribes seems the
best card In the French hand.
Tribesmen's Enormous Loss.
1t Is evident that the tribesmen have
suffered enormous losses. while infiicting
little damage on their antagonists. Yet
their courage does not appear to have been
dampened by these sharp lessons. Fresh
gatherings of tribe5men reported to
have taken place within a few miles Of
Casa Blanca; reinforcements are said to be
fastening thther from all parts of the hill
country, and other attacks are to be ex-
pected unless large French force arrives
almost Immediately.
Some idea of the atrocities committed by
the tribeSmen while Trey were looting Casa
Blanca can be gathered from the following
cases. Eight young children of Jewish
family were deliberately murdered, one after
the other In the presence of their mother.
Another Jewish woman, who has reached
Tangier and is being looked after by Eng
lish missionaries. saw her two sons killed
by tribesmen, who then carried off her
three young daughters.
A Spanish baker found, after quiet
had been restored. roasted in his own oven.
These facts are typical of @hundred others.