Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-23
MOORS ROUTED
BY INFERIOR
NUMBERS
FRENCHMEN TURN AMBUSH
INTO BRILLIANT VICTORY
Wild Desert HorSemen Scat
tered and Slain by Intrepid
Soldiers Under General Dru-
de- Deadly Work of Sabers,

I by Morning journal Special LEASED Wire
Casa Blanca. oct. 20. via Tangier,
oct 22.-The timely arrival of Gem
eral Drude with reinforcements, alone
saved Colonel De Fretay's reconnoi-
tering column from annihilation yes
terday near Taddert. The troops,
which were sent out TO search for the
body Of a Frenchman named Krunt-
.er, who had wandered from the
camp and was murdered, consisted of
1 detachment Of cavalry, two cbmpa-
nies Of infantry aud section of a
rapid fire gun battery. on arriving
at Alvarez, a group of sixty Moorish
soldiers was seen on top Of a mound,
Colonel De Fretay ordered squad
II Algerian cavalry to give chase. and
hot pursuit was kept up for about
three miles, when suddenly the hills
beyond We're seen to be swarming
With horsemen. The Algerian troops.
realizing that they had fallen into a
trap, retired slowly. Colonel De FIRE.
tay when he reached his. advance
force, occupied a position with the
infantry and spahs in reserve behind
The walls Of MarabOut tombs, deploy-
ng a force of Chasseurs a Antique and
Algerian irregulars to the northeast
The Moors, who were constantly be-
ing reinforced. then began a circling
movement with the object of turning
the French position but were mo-
mentarily checked by the sustained
fire Of the infantry and a hail Of bull
let's from the rapid fire guns. Never
theless the situation was growing crit
ical. Fully five thousand white-clad
Moorish warriors threatened to over
whelm Colonel De Fratay's column
when General Drude, who arrived
flnpn Moorish ftaDlr
with two companies Of infantry. two
batteries of field guns and another
section of the rapid fire gun battery
opened on the enemy with all his
guns. The Moors were taken COM
oletely by surprise. and, taking ad-
vantage of he confusion into which
the natives were thrown, General
Drude quickly massed and launched
his cavalry into a furious charge into
the thlck Of the Moors. resulting in
fierce hand-to-hand fighting the
French troopers and Algerian irregu-
lars sabering the enemy right and
left
The Moors were unable to with
stand the impetuosity of the attack,
and broke and fled. The French losses,
which We're al sustained during the
charge, We're Captain Ihler. killed
while leading his squadron. Jardy, a
ried by his frantic horse into the
thick Of the enemy by whom he was
decapitated and horribly mutilated,
and another private. who was Killed IN
the hand-to-hand fighting Jardy's
headless body subsequently was re-
covered and brought back to the
camp. One Of the French troopers sa-
bered Mulai Rachid's standard bearer
and captured green flag. represent
alive of the prophet. over sixty
Moors We're left dead on the field, the
being killed by sabers.
During the height Of the combat the
French cruiser Gloiere changed her
anchorage and dropped shells among
the Moors. After the French charge
General Drude formed his troops into
two hollow squares and moved east |
ward toward his camp under the Gov
ar Of the artillery. The Moors sew
aral times reformed and charged, but |
never came closer than about one |
thousand yards.
General Drude took back TO camp |
The bodies of nine Moors, which were |
exposed In Casa Blanca for the pur- |
pose OF disprOving the reports spread |
among the natives that the French |
bullets were pOwerless TO kill the fol- |
overs of Islam.
The Moors participating i'm the at |
ack were two OF Mulai Hafigs ar |
nies united under Mulai Rachid.
In addition to the officer and two ]
men killed and nine who were wound /
ID, the French lost nineteen horses /
killed and seventeen wounded
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