In Morocco

A visit by airplane to Morocco of Premier Paul Painleve, who is also Minister of War, and who was accompanied by M. Laurent Eynac, Under Secretary for Air, and General Jacquemont, chief of the Premier's military staff, overshadowed to a great extent the war news from the Riffian front (TIME, May 11, et seq.). Several Riffian attacks, one along a 60-mile front, were reported, but seem to have been relatively abortive in their effects. A certain amount of concern was felt by the French over the continued infiltrations of Riffian "missionaries" who, behind the French lines, preach a jehad (holy war) against the infidels (French) to the various Moroccan tribes.

Premier Painleve, who later declared himself thrilled by the "wonderful air journey," left Paris for Toulouse by train. There he took a military airplane, was flown to Barcelona, from Barcelona to Alicante and Malaga, thence, skirting Tangier, by the sea route to Rabat en the Moroccan coast.

At Rabat, the Premier was met by Marshal Lyautey, French President General. Sultan Mulai Yusef, for whom the French exercise a protectorate and who is nominally the autocrat of all Morocco, granted an interview to M. Painleve. Through interpreters, the Sultan said : "You have my salutations. Your visit gladdens me. It means that France has interested herself in Morocco with all her heart."

Premier Painleve replied: "I am happy to present my respects to Your Majesty. You may count on the entire loyalty and energy of France.

From Rabat, the Premier went to Fez, which is immediately south of the Werglia Valley (held by the French). And from Fez, the Premier paid a series of visits to the front line, decorated many soldiers, saw with his own eyes actual conditions and had the campaign and all its difficulties explained by the commanding generals.

The object of the Premier's visit was to gain first-hand information in order that he could defend the conduct of the war, particularly as regards fresh credits and more troops which are likely to be demanded, against the attacks of the Socialists. Before leaving Morocco for Paris, he therefore caused the following statement to be published :

"The fighting in Morocco is taking place on a sweep of territory with effectives far inferior to those at our disposal during the Great War. Therefore, we are compelled to make use of modern armaments, keeping always in mind the difficulties of transportation.

"We are actually trying out a new type of war machine which we must organize the personnel. No pains are being spared to enable troops to achieve maximum results with minimum loss. But we must not forget we are still in a period of adaptation. Reinforcements which are arriving fast are relieving the units hard-pressed since the beginning.

"Those in Paris who are saying France does not want to fight are not helping the cause of peace. I say that now, and I will say it again in the Chamber when I return. The Government is prepared to accept responsibilities in that direction. We are in an epoch when peace must be based on respect for treaties. Wherever a treaty is violated, the edifice of peace crumbles. Bearing that in mind, we can talk peace first after a frank understanding with Spain relative to sovereignty of the Sultan and second, after evacuation by Abdel-Krim of the territories under French protection."