Evening star., 1925-07-19
PETA|N IN MOROCCO
TO SIT ON LyAUTEy
Government Hopes to Force
Resignation of Marshal 1t
Fears to Recall.
BY WILLIAM BIRD.

BY Radio to The Star,
PARIS, July 1S.-Reluctance of the
French government to deal summarily
with Marshal Lyautey, with whom it
disagrees about the conduct of the
Moroccan war, prompted the sending
of Field Marshal Petain to Africa.
While the official communique says
Marshal Petain will confer with
Marshal Lyautey, his real mission as
whispered in informed quarters is 'to
put Lyautey in his place."
Marshal Lyautey has been military
governor of Morocco since several
years before the World War and his
fervent admirers have dubbed him
peace -bringer." He has, indeed had
tremendous apparent success in keep
ing Morocco quiet and he therefore
enjoys the highest esteem in France,
having been made a member of the
Academy of Immortals as we'll as
minister of war during the war
But his success was based more on
the mailed fist than on the velvet
glove. His theory was that the only
way to. keep native populations from
breaking out was to stifie. every in
cipient restlessness by prompt, firm
action.
<AS an IiSllIlldil illSnI express II,
this system is good as long as'it works.
In time like the present when. de-
spite every apparent effort, trouble has
broken out all along the line, it is
bad. France now needs the loyalty of
the so-called loyal tribes and they,
having seen Lyautey's iron heel
methods successfully challenged, are
not disposed to submit to them
Furthermore, past harshnesses are
recalled and the Morroccans are
tempted to regard the present more
as the occasion for personal vengeance
against Lyautey than as a rebellion
against France.
Premier Painleve, however, appears
fearful of antagonizing Marshal
Lyautey's many friends and admirers
among the influential classes here
Previous Seneralissemos sent to
Morocco have been of inferior rank,
so they could not override the mar
Shal, but Petain as marshal and chief
of staff has the entire military au-
thority.
Hope for Resignation.
What it is hoped for is that Mar
shal Petain, as military chief will.
without compromising the political
authorities, force Lyautey into d
subordinate role, or better. induce
nm 10 resign. lnen the SONernm ent
could appoint a governor who might
inspire confidence among the natives
who are still loyal to France.
The French are making much of
the American cola boration repre-
sented by former members of the
Lafayette escadrille who are going to
organize the Sultan's aviator corps.
The chief of the corps, Col. Charles
Sweeney, is we'll known in Paris
sporting and club circles, having
lived here since the war He has a
record of adventure. having partici-
pated in many wars and filibusters
as a volunteer-chiefy the Balkans
and Central America. He is going
into the Moroccan war largely for the
sake OF adventure.
Being under the Sultan's flag in
stead Of the Frehch flag is a mere
technical formality, as the French
law permitting foreigners to enlist in
The army was repealed after the
great war. Although the American
participation is without great i'm
portance except as a symbol, the
French hope to create the impression
among the natives that America is
cooperating against them. Sweeney
at least does not pose as a hero and
does not attempt to make the matter
seem too serious. When asked today
What rank will the sheriff give you?'
replied, "Oh, we don't know-deputy
sheriff probably
Copyright, 1929