Evening star., 1925-05-24
FRENCH IN FINISH
FIGHT WITH RIFFS
Plan to Pursue Add ell Krim
Across Mountains With
Help of Spanish.

by Cable to The Star and New York World
PARIS. May "a finish fight
with Abdel Krim has been decided on
by the French government. This
plan has been assured of Spanish
support and of passiveness by the
British. Louis Malvy, former min
lister Of the ipterior. now is on his
way back from Madrid, where he
obtained consent of King Alfonso and
OF Premier Primo de Rivera to pur-
sEe the Riffians over the mountains
into Spanish Morocco until Abdel
krim's power is broken
Yesterday, when questioned by re-
porters, Premier Painleve admitted
that Malvy had been negotiating with
the Spanish government on the
Morocco situation. The premier
added
Il hope there will be an agreement
on military and diplomatic questions.
] leave you to think what you like,
but l cannot say more
Resistance Desperate
Gen. Dechambrun has scored inn
portant successes over the Riffians in
the Ain Aloha region, relieving con-
sestion in that sector and through
out the Upper Quresha district. The
iChNil are tlcOuIl6TlIlS desperate
resistance. but the objective of the
right wing was reached and the left
column advanced to Monlay Ain
Jenah, compelling the enemy to re-
treat.
The French losses were very small,
but the Riffians suffered heavily.
Marshall Lyautey congratulated Gen.
Dechambrun. Artillery and airplanes
play an important part in the French
advance
The French governments position
is that Abdel krim, by invading
French Morocco, declared war on
France and that there now is state
OF war between France and Abdel
Krim. The government has agreed
that once it has cleaned up Abdel
krim it's forces will be withdrawn,
leaving Spain as master in her own
zone.
The French feel that with Abdel
krim out of the way it will be pos
sible successfully to police the Riff.
Premier Painleve has been pushed to
vigorous action in the matter by two
considerations, first, the obstinacy of
the Riff offensive and the growing
number of Harkas masSing in the
Spanish zone ready to- push into
eastern. Morocco, which now is sub
ject to the same infiltration as the
Quersha line at the end of April.
PainIeve Has Problem.
Secondly, the campaign coming
from a large part of the French So
cialists has swelled the strength of
the Communists. Painleve, who is
threatened with overthrow next Mon
day by Socialists in the chamber on
account of the Morocco situation and
the failure of Minister of Finance
CaillauX to make a capital levy and
the failure to suppress the Vatican
embassy. wants to face them with a
situation which they cannot dodge.
With war in Morocco now on large
scale and with the announced inten-
ton to destroy Add el krim, the So
cialists must either keep silent or
overthrow the government with full
knowledge of the consequences that
would result.
Morocco, in a way, is becoming a
turning point in European politics. 1t
is developing into a fight to maintain
European colonial systems and pro-
tectorates to which Communists and
to lesser degree, Socialists, are op-
posed. If France breaks Add Ell Krim
1t will at the same time automatically
maintain colonial imperialism, and the
result would be as useful to Great
Britain as to France. This is why
England plans an attitude of benevo-
lent neutrality in the Morocco affair,
although French troops in action must
inevitably skirt the Mediterranean.
something the British previously have
always tried to stop.
Aims at Colony.
If Add ell Krim wins-if the French
Socialists force out the Painleve gov
ernment and negotiate with Add el
Krim, ending in at least ceding the
rich Ouergha Valley to Add ell krim-
that would be considered in govern
ment circles as a triumph for the anti
colonialistS and success for the
policy of Moscow of breaking down
existing colonial systems.
AS the Socialists have been talk
ing of putting former Premier Her
riot back into power with Socialist
participation, he took occasion to state
his position on Morocco at the Rhine
General Council, stating he backed
Marshal Lyautey, approved Lyautey's
preparations and that France did moth
ing more than check the attack. AS
the Painleve government has made
1t clear that it is behind Lyautey and
military command in Morocco, this
assures support in France for the
offensive Lyautey is preparing in the
Spanish zone into Add el Krim's own
camp on the part Of every one except
the Communists and some of the
Socialists.
Copyright. 1e25J