Spanish Troops in Difficult Position and Forced to Assume Defensive London, July 3.
Disquicting reports are trickling through from Reuter's correspon dent in Madrid. They show that the Spanish forces are engaged in heavy fighting against Riff tribesmen Morocco. Communiqués acknowledge that vight officers, including two native officers, have been wounded, some of them seriously, and that 100 soldiers, mostly natives, have bet Killed oF wounded, 'A Spanish military aeroplane was brought down at 'Tetuan, and a Captain and a Lieutenant' mortally wounded.
'A Spanish column has reached Tazan Soland with supplies. It reports that falling back is difficult as the enemy are firing from both sides of the Bujaren river. The casualty ies are not yet known, 'A communique adds that numbers of Riffs have established themselves firmly and have cut the Spanish communications at two places. A strong detachment will be sent to dislodge them and prevent the isola~ tion of the Spanish positions, but the Spaniards may first have to ime the defensive before follow-if up attacks with counter-offensives.
The seriousness of the situation is indicated by the fact that the Premio, Gon. Prime de Rivera.
visit the front next week—
Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.