French Fear Moors Killed Hostages.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 29, 1912:
Great Anxiety Over Fate of Prisoners at Marakesh — Attempt at Ransom Fails.
INDIGNATION TOWARD SPAIN
Report That She Has Been Supplying Arms to the Moorish Pretender-France Making an Inquiry.
    PARIS, Aug. 23.— Public anxiety is intensified over the fate of the French officers held as hostages by the Moors at Marakesh. Emissaries have been dispatched to Marakesh by the French Commander, but have obtained no information.
    Gen. Lyautey, the French President-Governor, reported to the Foreign office to-day that the volunteers who had undertaken the dangerous duty had returned from El Hiba's headquarters. They in vain tried to effect a ransom and could not ascertain the fate of the prisoners.
    The French column, commanded by Col. Mangin, has full liberty of action to proceed to the succor of the hostages if such a step should be thought advisable. The French troops, however, are too occupied to do anything of that kind, as they have their hands full in blocking the progress of the Moorish Pretender's forces toward Fez and Mazagan.
    Profound indignation has been aroused throughout France by the report that the Spaniards gave assistance to El Hiba, whom, it is alleged, they supplied with arms. The French Government has demanded official reports on the subject from its representatives in Morocco, and if the allegations should be confirmed, an energetic protest will be made and a demand for the cessation of the traffic will be lodged at Madrid.