Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-19
STRONGHOLD OF MELILLA
Where SpanlardS Make Stand Against
the MOOrS.
been BATTLE GROUND FOR CENTURIES
Figures in History as a Metropolis Of
the Ancient Phonicians-Spain Has
Held It Since the Reconquest of

the Ancient Phonicians-Spain Has
Held It Since the Reconquest of
Grenada.
Melilla, fortress stronghold of Spain
on the Mediterranean coast of MorOc-
co, which dispatches state was placed
under siege by Moorish rebels follow
ing their defeat of Spanish troops in
land from the port, is the subject OF
the following bulletin issued from the
Washington, d. c., headquarters Of
the National Geographic society.
"Melila is sort of Spanish Cal
ais" says the bulletin. 1T lies about
fifty miles across the Mediterranean
from Almeria, the nearest city OF the
Spanish mainland. just as Calais lies
across from Dover. And as Calais
was cherished by it's English conque-
rors largely for reasons Of sentiment
and as an index to prestige. so Mclil-
In has been cherished by the Span
iardS.
This was the first bit of African
soil taken by Spain. Hardly had the
Moors been expelled from their 700
year domination of the lberian penln-
sular by the reawakened Spaniards
when the latter carried the fight into
the enemy's country and captured Me-
lila in 1896. 1t has remained III Span
ish han:!:. ever since. sometimes al
most alorc among Spanish Moroccan
possessions.
Before it became Spanish territory
Melilla had long history. 1t was one
of the outposts of the Phoenicians
twelve centuries before Christ, when
the Mediterranean was their CONNER
cial pond and when the Pillars of Her
cules were regarded rs the outer gates
of the world. Seven hundred years
later it was the Rusaddir of the Car
thagenians, and later an outpost of
the Romans. During the later life OF
the Western Roman Empire, the place,
prophetically, was governed from
Spain. Later it was successfully in
the hands Of the Vandals, the Eastern
Romans and the Visigoths. In 6S2 ii
was captured by the Arabs.
Under Spain Meilla was for long
time a penal colony, but the town has
not served in that capacity for nearly
generation. Until near the begin
ming of the present ceptury Melilla
and few similarly situated strong
holds on the Mediterranean coast rep
resented the extent of Spain's iniiu-
ence i'm Morocco. The back country
was confessedly beyond her control,
the haunt of the turbulent tribes OF the
Riff mountains which rise few miles
south Of the shore line. Since 1912
when an agreement was signed by
France and Spain marking out their
spheres of influence in Morocco, the
Spanish Zone was extended entirely
across northern Morocco from Alge-
ria to the Atlantic, with an average
depth of 60 miles. From this zone,
however, the city of Tangier and AN
area Of. about 40 square miles in its
vicinity, were eliminated and placed
under an international commission.
Good Positiqn to Stand Siege.
Even since the Franco Spanish un-
: -derstanding Spain has done little to
consolidate her zone. The first cf-
ra... oo-c;Jnr,Ila cnn1a unrn
made in the fall of 1920, when the sa-
cred Moslem city of Sheshaun, in the
interior, was captured. 1t was believ-
cd that this victory had struck blow
at Moorish resistance.
"Melilla has rather a good strategic
position for resisting n siege. The old
city, surrounded by a wall. caps the
summit of a rocky headland which is
almost square. The narrow peninsu-
la which connects it with the main
+ land is fortified by n chain of forts.
On hills near the base of the peninsu-
la are other Notifications. The inner
harbor accommodates small craft,
while large vessels may anchor safely
in the roadstead outside. Supplies and
reinforcements can be landed from
Spain with little difficulty so long as
the tableland and it's peninsula are
retained in Spanish hands,
Since 1893 new town has been
built on lower ground close To the
harbor. The population, then less
than 10000, is now estimated To he be-
tween 10000 and $4,000. In recent
years the city has become an import
ant port of entry to the entire Riftian
region.
"Twice in the recent centuries Me-
lila has been subjected to severe
sieges by the Moors-in 1774 and 1893.
On both occasions it has withsto0d the
attacks.