Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08

Snsin NE we're informed recently by the
correspondent OF the
so1,d.rs.r, TEMPS of Paris, who was
sent to Madrid to learn
AnenectiVe. something of the party
known as solidarists. The correspo"ue"
reported that there was great discoh.ei'
in the country and that "solidarism was
the effort of all patriotic Spaniards to &C
complish reform without resort 10 VIC
lence. What relation was there, II any
between solidarism and the present out
break. the mutiny of troops and the revo-
luton In revolutionary Barcelona? There
is no question, solidarism is PACING Ell
fort at reform The actual outbreak was
violent and anarchistic.
The Spanish situation assumed more
serious aspect because of that govern
ment's policy to play the ostrich under
the censorship of news. which has had
the effect Of making things appear
great deal worse than they were.
Dispatches Of the Sd instant report al
announcement by the minister OF the inte-
rior at Madrid to the effect that order
and tranquility reign throughout Spain.
except in certain isolated localities of
Catalonia The general strike at Madrid
and Bilbao announced for the I'd failed.
and communication with the outside
world had been restored. A dispatch
from San Sebastian reports authoritative
the result of socialist plot to coincide
with the general strike throughout Spain
scheduled for August ,.
The conflict between the Spanish forces
and the kabyles of the Riff commenced
July Is, and continued
Moroccan night and day with fury
until the morning OF the
So"nAcI' 21st. The battle was
series Of determined attacks against
the positions occupied by Gen. Marina,
about ten kilometers from Melilla. The
struggle was extremely hard on the ex-
IRENE right flank, and the Spaniards
were obliged to execute several bayonet
charges in order to repel the assailants.
AT the same time the Rifians attempted
a turning movement in order to cut on
magazine of provisions and munitions IN
stalled near the line Of the railway In the
rear of the Spanish lines and isolate them
from Melilla- They succeeded In reach
ing the second railway station, which
constitutes one Of the echelons of COM
munication Of Gen. Marinas camp with
Meilla, but their effort at enlightenment
failed on account of the heroic resistance
artillery fire directed against them from
the camp Of the Hippodrome, situated
two kilometers from Melilla under Gen.
Del Real. commanding the reserves. A
friendly tribe at Melilla lent its support
to the Spanish forces.
Toward o'clock am. Of the 21st the
Rifflans were routed and the battle
ceased. 1t was then possible to send to
Gen. Marina a convoy of munitions, es-
corted by three companies of infantry
nd n n3OorS tn take care OF
the dead and wounded.
A dispatch from Tangier declared that
Ell Guebbas. the sultans representative
there. had received instructions from
cation against Spain's military operations
In the Riff But on the advice Of the diff
ferent Legations Ell Guebbas refrained
from executing his instructions.
Barcelona, the cradle of socialism and
anarchism, seized the opportunity Of the
defeat of the Spanish
Cradle Of troops at Melilla to tamper
with the morale of the re-
servists when about to be
embarked as reinforcements to the Riff,
the wives, mothers and sisters of the
young soldiers proving effective assist
ants to the anti-militarists on that occa-
sion. Ih
According to dispatch dated from
Madrid, but doubtless sent from London,
Gen. Marina had demanded forty thou
against the Kaby1es in revolt. The
country is exceedingly difhcult to defend,
on account of its billy character anording
easy cover to the enemy.
The disanection of the Spanish troops
as reported must be ascribed largely to
fbo fo cf that Sna in has colonial army.
and she can only send against the Moroc-
cans her metropolitan troops, principally
composed of young soldiers from twenty
to twentythree years OF age. The dis.
patches announced that the parents of
these soldiers protested against their be-
ing sent to Morocco, and the soldiers
themselves were disposed to second this
protest, and hence the mutiny Of a regi-
ment of infantry at Barcelona.
1t should be recalled that according to
the Franco-Spanish understanding rela-
tive to Morocco all the country from
Tangier to Moulouia Is included in the
Spanish sphere of influence. East of
Moulouia on the Mediterranean and south
Of Sebou on the Atlantic lies the sphere
OF French influence. The separate and
distinct interests Of France and Spain
do not conflict. It is nevertheless true
that the Spanish disaster at Melilla may
this reason as a matter of precaution the
French are Strengthening their frontier
lines.
A curious feature Of the Instruction in
Barcelona is reported to be the part
taken by the women in the
Militant acts of violence. They are
represented as having pelt-
which, ed the civil guards with
stones and as having led the disturbance
which ended in the furious fighting with
the troops and police.
The government at Madrid Is alert to
apprehend Alexandra Leroux, the ac-
knowledged chief of the insurgent work
men. 1seroux Is known to be en- route
from Brazil to take part in the Spanish
outbreak. The collapse OF the revolution
Will doubtless cause him to direct his
energies elsewhere. I>eroux is the Herve
of Spain. member of the cortez In
1908. he broke with his party because
1t affiliated with the solidarists. Leroux
like Herve, has no sympathy with pacific
measures. but Is athirst for blood-Iettinr
The Marquis del NUM-. Spanish ambas-
sador to France, Is cited as having de-
clared that he has most reassurine news
from Catalonia and Melilla. He insisted
that only 200 men had been killed and
500 wounded In the fighting in Morocco
and that the rebellion In Catalonia had
been completely overcome. The ambas
sador denied the existence of the alleged
text OF a secret Hispano-Franco treaty Of
1904, which was published in Germany
and under the conditions of which Eronca