In the Riff*

Spanish operations against the Riffs became notably spectacular when several Spanish battalions made a dash in motor trucks southeastward from Ajdir, covered some 20 miles across the plain, and established themselves at Syan on the east Moroccan front. Thus they linked up with their allies the French forces, which have advanced into that region from Kifane, and apparently the Spanish thrust came as a complete surprise to both French and Riffians. If the move is consolidated into a strong series of military positions, it may well forestill the possibility of French forces attempting to operate in the so-called Spanish zone."

Spaniards, upon taking stock of Abd-el-Krim's former general headquarters at Ajdir, became aware that the Riffian war lord had furnished himself with many of the commonplaces of European existence. A French-made telephone was discovered, in good working order, and was promptly connected up with the Spanish base at Morro Nuevo. In a room filled with maps and various documents were neat-filed clippings from Spanish, French and German newspapers. At Abd-el-Krim's residence, a short distance away, was found an extensive library containing numerous works on international law. And a hospital of two rooms fitted up with modern surgical instruments had also been at the disposal of Abd-el-Krim.

Reports from Fez indicate that on retiring from Ajdir before the Spanish advance, Abd-el-Krim fled to the all but inaccessible Beni Arous Mountains, the most rugged of the Atlas Range. There, with his brother, Sidi Muhammed, and some tens of thousands of faithful tribesmen, he is reported to be resting and attempting to engineer more tribal alliances against the French and Spanish.

At Tangier, it was reported that Sidi Muhammed Zeziane, Foreign Minister in Abd-el-Krim's Government, was bound to the muzzle of a cannon and blown to atoms by Riffians who believed that he had betrayed them.

*See Page 2, LETTERS, for a letter of protest over the manner in which TIME has handled Riff stories to date.