Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1907 — TROUBLE IN MOROCCO [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TROUBLE IN MOROCCO

TWENTY THOUSAND TRIBESMEN PERIL CASABLANCA. Massacre of All European. In Moor* & __J.lt Seaport Threatened —French Crnl.er Unshed to Port to Avensre Murder by Fanatics. Grave news was received at Tangier from Casablanca, the seaport where tribesmen murdered Frenab, Italian and SfJanish workmen. When the message was sent the town was completely surrounded by 20.000 fanatical tnffltesmen and the Europeans remaining In the town were in serious,danger, as the Moors were refusing to allow them to take refuge on board the foreign ships in the harbor. The message added that Effropeans Tn Gasablancn aT* field ns hostages by the natives, who are expecting a bombardment toy French warships. Mohammed El Torres, Moorish minister of foreign affairs, notified foreign representatives here that the Kabyle and other tribes are in a state of unrest and warned Europeans not to quit the towns, mentioning especially Rabat. It Is reported that the natives of Saffel are preparing to emulate those of Casablanca. There are many rumors of an Impending holy war and a general massacre of all Christians in Morocco, but there is no confirmation of these alarmist stories. The basha of Casablanca will answer with his head to the French government for the general security of the

city. This is the ultimatum conveyed by the French cruiser Galilee, which was rushed to the port to avenge the murder of citizens by the fanatics. Derails of the Massacre. From Dr. Merle's report it appears that on Monday chiefs erf the Kabyle tribesmen entered the town and demanded of the pasha (governor) the immediate stoppage of the harbor works, to which the tribesmen are opposed 'because they are the enterprise of Christians, and because they say Che wortts encroach on tribal lands. The governor replied that ihe could not stop the work, as it was being carried on with the consent of the Sultan. The chiefs then declared the Sultan no longer existed, as he had obeyed the Christians. The governor, in order to gain time, asked the chiefs to return Tuesday morning. As they did not return at the appointed hour, it was thought their threats had been exaggerated. In the course of the morning, however, several mounted tribesmen appeared and rode about the streets preaching a 'holy war and bidding all Mussulmans to leave the town, as all the tribes were earning to exterminate the Jewg and Christians. At 1 p. m. a locomotive, used in the harbor works, left the harbor for a quarry 1,000 yards away. After it passed the Arabs broke up the track a short distance from the harbor. A European who came up was attacked and stoned and his body was then hacked to pieces. Another European who happened to be passing met tbo same fate. When the locomotive returned, the driver found the passage blocked by obstacles on the track. A crowd surrounded him and he was killed and his body cut to pieces. The French consul went to the pasha and demanded the assistance of soldiers to recover the bodies. The pasha replied he had no cartridges, but when the consul insisted he furnished an escort for Dr. Merle and a number of other Frenchmen, who left town. At sight of the bodies of six Europeans lying in a heap the Frenchmen could not restrain their anger. Whereupon the Moorish soldiers who formed their escort threatened to shoot them. The Frenchmen fled, pursued by a crowd, but succeeded in escaping. The consul then assembled all the French residents at the consulate and begged I>r. Merle to go to Tangier and ask that the French cruiser Galilei be sent immediately. A workman at the harbor who tried to escape the mob by swimming was followed into the water, by horsemen and killed. Two Europeans on horseback were attacked and one shot Tile harbor works were set on fire and the bodies of those murdered were burned. To Send Wa rail Ipa and Troopa. A well-known diplomat in an interview stated that Italy and Spain would send warships to Spanish Morocco, and that a composite force of French, Italian and Spanish troops would be landed at Casablanca to restore order In co-operation with the Sultnu’i forces. All the signatories of tho AJ* gee Iras convention will be Informed as to the step* which It le deemed necessary to take to exact aatiafaction.

SULTAN OF MOROCCO.