Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-24
Kaid Bolton, English Officer,
Leaves SuItan's Army.
OPPOSED TO BARBARITY
Instances Given of Cruelties Prac-
ticed Upon the Moors.
RULER EVIDENCES APPROVAL
Head Takings, Tortures and Mutt
lations-France to Take Posses
sion of Morocco.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence Of The Star
LONDON. September IA. 1909.
Kaid Bolton. the English officer who
was appointed commander of the Moor
ish troops by Mulai Hafid sixteen months
ago. has resigned his post. owing to
the atrocities practiced by the sultan on
his prisoners. and is now in London.
Mulai Hafid was most unwilling to lose
the services Of an officer who has been
brilliantly successful throughout the
fighting that has taken place in Morocco
during the last twelve months. and Of
fered him in writing an extended con-
tract and increased emoluments.
Kaid Bolton is a sun-tanned soldierly-
looking man Of barely twenty-seven
years, spare. square-shouldered. with the
keen, steady eye and resolute mouth and
chin of the experienced fighting man.
Young as he is. he has seen as much ac-
tive service as generally falls to the lot OF
the mddle-aged soldier. and his recent
campaign against Blu Hamara, the rog-
him or pretender. has left him in iron
hard condition.
Il was sorry for many reasons" he
said Ito leave the Sultan'S service. But
1 think no self-respecting Englishman
could pretend to ignore the very kind of
barbarity that England herself has al
ways been foremost in putting down all
the world over. and as my representa-
tons in the matter were ignored / judged
it best to resign as soon as I decently
could.
Awaited End of Rebellion.
II would not leave the sultan's service
until the rebellion was put down and he
was established on the throne again. but
having seen the campaign through from
first to last. 1 cannot. think, be charged
with having neglected my duty or with
going back on the terms of my contract.
And 1 must say that the sultan has al
ways been exceedingly good to me. both
in personal matters and in respect of
should be given free hand In all field
operations. and was most cordial in his
appreciation of my successes.
ION my way through Fee received the
sultan's thanks in public. His majesty
placed his hand on my head and said.
May God be ever with you
Il should like to say, at this point,
said kaid Bolton. that in all these ex-
petitions my troops behaved beautifully.
There was no head-taking, no footing.
no complaints of any kind from the
villagers. 1 don't claim the credit for
that, though. Kaid Sir Harry Maclean
spent thirty years of hard work on the
Moorish army. and that is the fruit of it.
lied against the roghi and utterly routed
his troops. Blu Hamara himself was
taken and sent to Fee in cage
Beginning of Atrocities.
1T was at this point. and In the
skirmishes Of this last expedition, that
the tortures, head takings and mutila-
tions began. 1 sent protests in vain,
and when tried to see the sultan per-
to grant an audience. He sent instead.
when 1 threatened to resign, his offer Of
an extended contract and larger pay.
But that was not what l wanted. ]
simply could not stand the treatment Of
the prisoners. On the last official parade
which l attended in Fee ninety-three
human heads were held up before the
sultan on the ends of rifles. Later in
the same day twenty of the Roghis Off
GERS had their right hands cut off at the
wrist
1.-The hands were taken to Mulai Haf1d
on tray as a proof that his orders had
been carried out.
Remarkable Courage Shown.
by the way, as an instance Of the
you Of one incident I saw at these mutt
lations. After the hand of prisoner
had been severed the stump was thrust
of further torture, but simply to stop the
bleeding. Well, 1 never heard so much
as whimper from a single one Of those
twenty men. That in itself was hardi-
hood enough, but that Is not all.
lone prisoner, having stretched out his
right arm and suffered the mutilation.
walked over to the caldron Of oil, which
was placed on a fire. The man had q
cigarette between his lips, and while tho
stump of his arm was plunged in the
I~{I I. 1pa1xy or nd
lighted his cigarette at the flames.
Later on 800 more heads were brought
in. 1 tried to see the sultan again. but
in vain. 1t was no good protesting to
probably with perfect truth. that If they
dared to say word against the sultan's
orders they would lose their own heads.
Next day. therefore: 1 left Fee with
out seeing the sultan"
When asked what he thought the in
tentions of the French with regard to
Morocco were. Kaid Bolton said that
there was no room to doubt Frances
intention to take complete possession of
Morocco.
And how does the sultan regard the
attitude of the French?' the kaid was
asked.
illustrated by an Incident.
well. can't answer for the sultan's
private opinion" was the reply. but
Will tell you a perfectly true STORY anu
you can infer what you like.
"A Spanish dentist employed by the
sultan brought his wife with him to Fee
and the lady was invited by Mulai Haf1d
to visit the sutan's own ladies in the
harem. She went, accompanied by her
husband, who interpreted for her. and
after her visit the sultan, the dentist and
his wife went into the music room of the
palace and the lady played on the piano
to his majesty.
"Mulai Hafid listened while she played
several airs and presently the following
dialogue took place:
'Sultan-I like that piece. What is 1t
called!
..Dentst-'That is 1.-The March of
Cadiz," your majesty. 1t was written to
commemorate the driving out of the
French from SPAIN
Sultan (surprised)-'What! were the
French ever in Spain?'
"'Dentist-'Yes your majesty
"Sultan-How many Of them?
"Dentist-'About 100000
"Sultan-'Two hundred thousand! And
you drove them out?'
"Dentist-'Yes. your majesty, every one
There was a slight pause and then
the sultan said quietly. Just play 1t
again.