Evening star., 1924-09-02
REBELS OPEN FIGHT
CLOSE TO TANC|ERS
International Complications
/, Feared if Tribesmen
Attack City.
BY WILLIAM f. NASH.

BY Radio to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
TANGIERS, September 2.-Diplo-
matte representatives here are seri-
ously alarmed at the news of an out
break and skirmishing with Spanish
troops within 20 miles of Tangiers, on
the road to Tetuan.
Several tribes, which are nominally
subject to Raisuli, the native chief
who was tried in Spain for rebellion,
have thrown in their lot with Abdel-
krin. If they so desire, they can
march on Tangiers and cause row
of first rate Importance. this being an
International city, ruled by diplo-
matte council, of which the charge
d 'affaires of the United States now is
president With him will fall the
taHk OF defending the city if the
MoorS come.
The international gendarmerie num-
hers 1000. half being French and half
Spanish. Meanwhile matters are GO
ing from bad to worse in Spain's Mo-
roccan war in general. This year
camp, which started in July and is
still continuing, has resulted in moth
ing but checks. A Spanish protec-
torate, save only the cities of Ceuta,
Tetuan and Melilla, is being envis-
aged as the local conclusion IL the
government at Madrid and elite Span
ish public opinion can put over the
move" in the face of hostile Span
ish army.
Spanish Losses Heavy.
Since the beginning of July, Spain
fas lost several thousand killed and
wounded-900 in a single action. The
initiative remains almost constantly
in the hands of the Moors. 1t APP
pears to be the basis of present infor-
nation that the military government
of Primo Rivera has proved as help
less toward solving the muddle as
any of its civilian predecessors.
With d modern army of 10000
men. including infantry. artillery
cavalry and aviation, aided by war
ships and well equipped supply trains
il is trying to subdue a mountainous
strip of territory some two hundred
miles long by forty miles wide in the
face of d we'll organized Moorish
horde of o.000 irregulars.
Complications Feared.
There are two fronts, the east anc
west, centering, respectively. about
Mellila and Tetuan and no commu-
nication save by sea. Fighting oc-
ours either between small bodies OF
from ten to fifty me n lntrencned IN
block houses or between flying col
umns of five to six hundred Spaniards
and strong tribal aggregations OF
MoorS.
The latter. led by Abdelkrin, have
forced back the Spaniards on the
west front to line from Tau south
to Tetuan. The weak post of this
line is the city of Nauen. or Cheuta
which is holy to the Moors. 1t is oc.
cupied by large Spanish garrison
which is cut off from bases of sup.
ply. This city periodically has to be
revictualed and rewatered at the cost
of great efforts.
What seems to handicap Spanish
progress most is the lack OF roads
Save between Tetuan and other large
cities, not cart track exists any
where. This added to graft and in
competency and the extremely dim
cult topography, apparently is one o.
the main causes Of the Spanish fiasco
If evacuation comes, it is likely to stll
I'D a revolution at home, the fall ol
Primo Rivera, international compii'
cations abroad for Spain. by tempting
France to send soldiers into the XIII
thereby embroiling herself with Great
Britain. Italy and other jealous ma
tions.
tCoryright, 1924, by the Chicago Daily News