New Britain herald., 1921-08-26
SPANISH TROOPS AT l MOROCCO DEFEATED
Did Pirate Coast Scene Of Recent
 Battles

Madrid. Aug 2e (By Associated Press)-That part of Morocco called he spanish zone, where Spain's troops nave just suffered disastrous reverses Rt the hands of the Moors, with the oss Of thousands of men and thou eands of square miles of territory is part ot the notorious Barbary Coast whose pirates preyed cn European commerce for many years and carried Europeans into slavery.
 In the present generation it has been made famous by the operations of the Chieftain Mulai Ahmed er-Rai- sul, who captured and held for ran- some Ion Perdicaris, an American Eltizen, in 1905. This was in the ad- ministration of President Roosevelt and evoked from Secretary Hay the historic phrase demanding 'Perdica ris alive or Raisuli dead!'' It resulted in the almost immediate release of Perdi- caris. .'r ..,'-
 The rest of the world knows com paratiIely little about Morocco des- bite the fact that it has been the ground or intermittent fighting for cenurles. II occupies the extreme northwestern part of Africa, having an area estimated at about 300 900 square miles and population of B. 0o0,0o to 10000, 900. Its people con- krib1ted to the armies which once in- vaded Spain and conquered Granada.
 The country is an absolute mon hrchy with a sultan or caliph as it's head. The present occupant of that position is Mulai eI- Mehdi but his con- rol over the shereefs, or nobles has been Tor many years only nominal. vi, E~IIrn ,nyotc aJ Negotiated with the sultans in an at- empt to pacify the Moors but these nave only resulted in outbrtaks by numerous leaders such as Raisun, who have committed outrages which again brought the Moorish question before he European cabinets.
 Three races inhabit Morocco, the original Berbers, or bountaineers, who Eonquerered Spain on three different occasions; the mixed race of Ara bs ind Rerbers, known as Moors, both bf which races are generally Moham- nedans; and the colonies of Jews which inhabit the coast cities and con- rol the majority of the country's ommerce.
 The Spanish zone, where the fight ng is now in progress is a narrow trip of land along the northwestern oast fronting on the Mediterranean ca It is about 200 miles long, east nd west. with an average breadth, orth and south, of about so miles nd extends from Algeria, under con- ro1 of the French, to the Atlantic cean on the west. It does not, how ver include the extreme northwest m tip of land on which is located the ity of Tangier. The French nomin- 1ly control the territory further south. |panieh troops have fought the Moors pr centuries but it was only in 1912 hat the northern littoral of Morocco ras assigned to Spain under the terms the Franco-Spanish treaty signed the.t year. Since then Spain has cen engaged at intervals in sporadic ttempts to maintain her authority kith varying success and failure.
 Both the French and Spanish gov- fnments decided in January, 1920, to ake military demonstrations in heir respective zones for the purpose preparing the way to more order government. The French zone was bon pacified The Spanish territory hieh is administered by General annaso Berenguer, as high commls- oner, was not so submissive span h troops at first made their base on he Atlantic CO2SL Ol Anol oCSo dI l-Arish, also known as Laraiche. rom there they penetrated well into he interior and captured number
 Moorish strongholds, including the b-calIed secret city of Sheshawan. or some time little activity has been ported in that western district of orocco.
 The Spaniards, however, sent an- her expedition under the command General Silvestre, who established base at Melilla, midway on a pro- ontory which extends from the east tn end of the Spanish zone north ard into the Mediterr anean. From hat point, General Silvestre's troop: Eternpted to penetrate southward into he interior Early successes were eported, but last spring the Spaniard! ncountered strong native troops anc ostiIe tribesmen, estimated to mum er 20. 900 and said to be we'll armed nd equipped with artillery.
 The present reverses of the Span h forces had their beginning early June when six companies of aux1l ny or native troops mutinied, killed heir Spanish officers and then joined he. rebels Since then the Spaniard ave suffered several other disaster: nd have been thrown pack upon NH Ia General Silvestre was either illed or committed suicide while en eavoring to maintain one of the out osts. The Moors in that section art eaded by Abd- d-el-Krin who is abou years old was educated in Franc nd Spain and is an accomplished nuufst His aim is said to be t' yilize Morocco in accordance Wltf uropean ideals but without loslns he essentials of Moorish culture. H. Fas once a judge of a native cour Melilla and loyal to Spain. Dur
 1 tho world War he became activel,