New-York tribune., 1909-08-25
SPAIN'S ARMY in PERIL
an TRANSPORT SERVICE.
y,n Erposed to Disease-MoOrs
lctiue-Weyler's Piefcs.

,. Aue. a3-ConditiOns IN the army OF
> ~. 6,,e thousand men sent over 20 Africa by
"a advance against the Moors are caus-
sl"-.4s 4sosDread discomfort owing 20 the lack
Ns .,,.r transport for water and supplies. as
.s Cor strategical reasons any advance is
W." ss,rle for fortnight or more. The COM
i"'l s,,r generals seem in no hurry 20 move
p,.-sl Marina hopes 20 assume the offensive
,,,,r Ten days OF a fortnight IL is evident
-, no feels keenly the responsibility resting
- MIN knowing that far more depends on
-. next movement than the actual success or
-, Il the fairly simple military operations
against ihs Moors.
IN, everts of the next few weeks here may
,..,se the fate Of the dynasty. A reverse might
-. fatal. and General Marina is wisely leav-
. nothing 10 chance. When he moves he Will
=. ., the head Of a force so strong that the
..rs can,,ot by any possible means win a vic
-, in the open. The policy Of the Riffs, there
-, Mill De 10 attack the ever-lengthening line
n communications.
,,srla and the railway have been converted
,u,o ,eritable fortress. and II would require
:, army with siege train and modern ord
.,oe 10 capture these points. Everything now
,.-,s on the construction of the canal &c Mar
A,,s II this fails the Spaniards' task will be
,-,roessuraby harOer, a. all the supplies must
:, brought by land subject 10 attacks by the
,,oors Since the earthquake OF 1894 closed the
,,,, 10 the sea the water at Marchica has
,,sporsted and rcceded BY reopening the
,hsnnel the Spaniards hope 20 raise II 20 the
.,-roer level making il navigsble for trans
ro-rs. and possibly converting il into good
t,,hor the only one worthy OF the nanna along
she coast of Morocco. where all the materials
end ores 10 and from the mines may be shipped.
-be success of this enterprise would enable
General Marina TO feed the entire arm- by way
Of the sea.
hitherto caution seems 20 have been carried 20
.,csss MANY feel that little more dash 10 the
enterprise would have been advisable. The
-,eroorv ~ Pinto's reverse appears 10 have sunk
ssen in-o the generals mind. determining him 20
avoid encounters in the mountains This alone
,sn account for the extraordinary latitude al
lowed the Moorish snipers which proves trying
!, the morale Of the young soldiers. The fact
that no attempt is permitted 10 dislodge the
enemy has resulted in more daring tactics on
,be part of the Moors each day, which might be
checked II the Spaniards sent out a few sharp
shooters 10 meet the tribesmen at their own
game. and levened all the villages and planta-
lions along the railway which provide covers
tor snipers. There is strange fear OF some
,rsn like that into which General Pinto fell
spain has made every effort quickly 20 con-
centrste this army but her soldiers are now
oooped up in unhealthy camps, and IL they do
not move soon they may be decimated by dis
ease The soldiers are discontented al the de-
Law. officers and soldiers alike detest the coun-
rrv and are anxious 20 return home.
When the campaign does begin II will be on
g large scale II is predicted that the Moors
viii make a hard fight before surrendering.
Madrid. Aug. 24-Onlciai advioes received
here from Pefon de la Gomera. on the coast Of
Morocco, say that the Moors fired all day yes
tsrday on the Spanish garrison. When the
,ansport Almirante Lobo arrived az Pefon to-
DAY and began 90 discharge her stores. a hail
q bullets fell on the fort and in the harbor
There were no Spanish casualties.
Sixteen thousand additional soldiers are ready
Tor service in Morocco. and Will be sent either
70 Melilla or Ceuta, where they are most needed
Premier Maura, In an interview to-day, said
That the ENJOYS Of the Sultan OF Morocco 20 the
Riffs would not he allowed 20 go 20 their des-
tnation unless they were conducted by Span
!ards. II the Sultan failed 10 establish order
IN the RIM region the Spanish programme would
be carried out 10 the letter
General Weyler. the former Governor General
q Cuba. said to-day that he would like TO go
10 Melilla and take command Of the Spanish
expedition. but that he was willing 20 await the
cali OF his country. He said he was sure that
he Spanish army would win.
The Cortes probably Will open on October i
and General Weyler will then have something 10
nay on both the Catalonian and Moroccan sit
uatons A policy OF foresight" he AIDED to-
cay would have avoided the Cstalonian trou-
be"