Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-09-28
CHERISni MELILLk
FOR THE PRESTIGE
Spanish Sentimental About
Old Moorish City.

Melilla, fortress-stronghold of
Spain on the Mediterranean coast
OF Morocco, which dispatches state
was placed under siege by Moorish
rebels following their defeat Of Span.
ish troops inland from the port. is
the subject of the following bulletin
issued nom the Washington, ID G,
headquarters OF the Ndsion"l Geo
graphic Society.
"Melilla is sort OF Spanish Cas
lais," says the bulletin. II lies
about fifty miles across the Mediter
ragean from Almoria, the nearest
ciiy of the Spanish mainland, Just
as Calaia lies across from Dover.
And as Calais wae. -rhs&lsnoi by it's
English conquerors largely for rea-
sens OF sentiment and as an index
to prestige, so Mellla has been cher
ished by the Spaniards.
Followed Moors From Spain.
"This was the first bit Of African
soil taken by Spain. Hardly had
the Moors been expelled from their
200 year domination of the lberian
peninsula by the reawakened Span
iards when the latter carried the
fight into the enemys country and
captured MAlilla IN 1886 1t has re-
manned in Spanish hands ever since,
sometimes almost alone among Span
ish Moroccan possessions.
Before 1t became Spanish terri
+ tory Melilla twelve centuries before
4 Christ, when the Mediterranean was
their commercial pond and when the
Pillars of Hercules were regarded
as the outer gates Of the world. Sew
en- hundred years later 1t was the
! Rusaddir of the Earthagenians, and
later an outpost - the Romans. Dur
ing the later life OF the Western
Roman Empire. the place. prophet
cally. was governed from Spain.
Later it was successfully In the
hands Of the Vandals. the Eastern
.Umans and the Visigoths. In $685. it
was captured by the Arabs.
"under Spain Melilla was for u
long time penal colony, but the
town has not served in that capac.
ity for nearly "A generation. Until
near the beginning Of the present
century Melila and few similarly
situated strongholds on the Medi
terranean coast represented the ex
tent Of SPANS influence in Morocco
The back country was confessedll
beyond her control, the haunt o
the turbulent tribes Of the Rif
mountains which rise a few miles
south OF the shore line. Since 1911.
when an agreement was signed b.
France and Spain marking out thei
, spheres OF Influence In Morocco tn
Spanish Zone has extended entirel
across northern Morocco from Alger
ia to the Atlantic with an average
depth of about go miles From thi
zone, however, the city OF Tangie
and an area OF about 40 squar,
lies in its vicinity, were elminat
ed and placed under an internationa
commission.
Good Position to Stand Siege.
! Even since the Franco Spanish un
derstanding Spain has done little t
consolidate her zone. The first eff
forts on considerable scale were
made in the fall of 1920 when the
sacred Moslem city OF Sheshaun, II
The interior, was captured. 1t was
believed that this victory had strucI
q blow at Moorish resistance
"Melilla has rather a good star
tegic position for resisting a siege
The old city, surrounded by wall
caps the summit of rocky head
land which Is almost square. The
narrow peninsula which connects II
with the mainland is fortified by a
chain Of forts. On hills near the
base Of the peninsula are other for
tifcations. The inner harbor accom-
modates. small craft while large yes
sells may anchor safely in the road
stead outside. Supplies and rein
forcements can be landed from
Spain with little difficulty so long
as the tableland and its peninsula
are rtained in Spanish hands.
Since 1893 a new town has been
built on lower ground close to the