The Spaniards have suffered a. defeat before Melilla in Morocco,
which was probably more severe than their journals allow. On Friday week, General Margallo, commanding there, made a desperate attempt to relieve the exterior forts, which had been attacked by many thousands of Moors and Berbers from the hills. He failed, and threw himself into one of the forts, on emerging whence next day he was killed. The losses in officers and men are concealed ; but it seems certain that one regiment, or part of a regiment, fought its way back to town with splendid bravery, but a loss of many wounded. The news has created the greatest excite- ment throughout Spain ; no less than 20,000 men have been warned for service, and it is reported that Marshal Martinez Campos will be appointed to the command. It is asserted that the Sultan will be held responsible, though the wild tribes of the Riff are almost independent, and that Spain will take the opportunity to enlarge her territory on the coast. The Liberal papers in Spain affirm that England opposes this course, and are furious, a state of things of which French Anglophobists are taking advantage. There is no evidence whatever that Lord Rosebery is interfering, except possibly with a little iced advice.
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