The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 1, 1925, Page 12

\ Banker Morgan Wars on the Riffs in Africa By B. BORISOFF. AS the United States declared war on the Moroccans? No, there has been no official declaration of war. However, how could we interpret the action of a squadron of volunteer Am- erican aviators, holding high ranks in the American aviation service who have offered ‘their services, to the French government to assist in the military offensive against the Riffians? How will the Riffians interpret the action of this squadron when it will proceed to bombard their troops, to burn the villages of the natives and to kill innocent civilians, their wives and children? Surely, they will in- terpret that as a declaration of war, since it becomes apparent that this squadron is acting with the consent and under the silent approval of the American government. PHAT this is actually taking place is becoming apparent from the fol- lowing report which we read in the Chicago Daily News edition of July 15: “Paris: Premier Painleve last night gave his consent to the forma- tion of a new Lafayette-American air squadron to proceed at once to the Moroccan battlefields. This squadron is being organized by Colonel Charles Sweeney and thus far the following veterans, who saw service in the French and American armies during the world war, have asked to join: Maj. Grey of Chi- cago, who commanded an American flying group in 1918 and won four- teen victories; Captain Wm. Rogers of Pittsburgh, formerly. of the Lae fayette squadron; Maj. Baer, assist- ant chief of the Peruvian air servy- ice and a member of the New York air police reserve force; Paul Rock- well, formerly a correspondent of the Daily News in Parts; Maj. Pol- lock, who helped organize the New York air police; Commander Park- er, who won eight victories while in the Lafayette squadron; Col. Ker- ey ho saw service in the United + Beye 3 , Honduran and Greek armies and organized the New York air police reserve. : “The members of the new unit will have French airplanes and will reach Morocco about July 22, in time to take part in the big French offensive against Abd-el-Krim.” B fern the high ranked American officers will take an active pari in the subjugation of Moroccans by the French troops, they will do so un- doubtedly with the consent and silent approval of the American government. To be sure we do not want to imply that there has been an official ex- change of notes between the French and the American governments on the subject. Such would be unnecessary, and even embarrassing. But can any threaten to capture. Riffians Halt Heralded French Drive one conceive that thése “volunteers,” these war veterans who were brought up in military discipline, should act without being sure that their action finds the approval of their superiors of the American army officials, of the American diplomatic representatives in France and of the American govern- ment itself? The government at the White House is thus responsible for the blood of the Moroccans to be shed by these aviators and for other crimes which they commit. unless it takes immedi- ate steps to recall them. HE American workers would like to know in the name of what cause this French-American |. war against the Riffians is being organ- ized, and already the French and Am- erican imperialists are giving a suit- able moral explanation. Here it is, as we hear it from the lips of the com- mander-in-chief of French armies in Morocco: . “I can hardly express my feelings in appreciation and gratitude for | the magnificent generosity of those Americans who, in an hour when they consider France is again in dif- ficulty, have again abandoned their personal interests and offered their help. It is not only the fact that the French air force will be increased by so many valorous elements that rejoices all Frenchmen; we appre- ciate far more the desire of the Am- ericans to aid France in a diffcult moment. “The American people have al ways been on the side of justice, and this offer ‘of new service to France is a sign of their belief that our war in Morocco is a battle for civilization and justice, “We are not after territorial con- quest. We want the Riffan moun- taineers to live peacefully in their own country. We will give them every facility for trade with the people in our protectorate. But when they try to impose their will on territories that do not belong to them, they force us to take meas- ures which will cost them deart 4 “No ‘doubt ‘tie “P¥énth “will “have to pay the price for victory, but we shall prove to the Riffians that they cannot disregard the rights of French with impunity.” = French general appears to be overcome by emotion. He is hard- ly able to speak. Indeed, is it not a suitable occasion for such an emotion- al outburst? For again the “noble Americans” come to the rescue of “France” in a difficult mement. And again, as in 1914, this is by no means a war of aggression but a war for “civilization and justice.” “The French government,” the general as- sures us, “is not the invader of Mor- occan territory, but the Moroccans themselves, attempt to force their will on the territories which do not belong The predicted drive of the French on the Moroccans, which has received tons of publicty in the capitalist press, has not materialized. No. 1 shows where the Riffians are massing troops for another attack. The French are already falling back around Quezzan, which the Riffians No. 2—The Moroccans are still pressing the French back near Taza, and the city is surrounded by the natives. No, 3—The menace to Fez, the capital of Morocco, is still acute, the Riffians being in the country south of Taza. The Riffians have captured several French posts in the past few days. to them.” So speaks the French general, @ master liar in the employ of the French imperialists. He lauds the “heroic” act of the American volun- teers as if it were inspired by the en- tire American nation. To quote again his own words: “The American peo- ple have always been on the side of justice and this offer of new service to France is a sign of their belief that our war in Morocco is a.battle for civilization and justice.” _— general is lying. The great toiling masses of America refuse to be deceived this time. They do not believe that the invasion of French imperialism in Morocco against the heroic and brave people, fighting val- iantly for their independence, can be explained as a war for “civilization and justice.” The American workers understand that not civilization and justice are endangered by the Moroc- cans, but that the French imperialist rule in Africa is in deadly danger to be overthrown. The American work- ers do not approve the “heroic” act of the officer-volunteers, nor are they responsible for the silent support giv- en this act by the American govern- ment. In their conception these high ranked officer-aviators are not heroes but simply hired assassins and mvr- derers which should be tried for the destruction and murder they will in- flict upon the totally innocent popula- tion of Morocco. It is quite clear that these volunteer aviators were bought by the promise of still higher titles, and altho at the present time it is said they receive only one frane a day, it is quite clear that a much’ greater reward is awaiting them in the future. But what prompts the American government to allow the organization of American detachments for war against the natives of Morocco? Here, too, the explanation is to be found, not in the fleld of idealism, but in the field of imperialist self interest. What would happen with the loans of mil- lions of dollars by the House of Mor: gan and Company to the bankrupt French imperialist government if France were to lose her African col- onies? What would happen with the payment of war loans of France con- cluded in America? HE interests of French and Ameri- can imperialism are interlocked. They demand the subjection of Moroc- cans. The interests of workers are dif- ferent. It is in their interest not that the French and American imperialism become strengthened, but, on the con- trary, that the exploited colonial peo- ple win over their imperialist oppres- sors. That ig the reason why the Ameri- can workers must demand that the American. government should cease making war against the peaceful na- tive population of Morocco; that this government should recall its volun- teer aviators from Morocco and that it should compensate the Moroccans for the destruction of life and prop- erty which was caused by the Ameri- can flyers in their war for “civiliza- tion,” The Workers (Communist) Party of America, the defender and champion of the exploited colonial people should be the first to act. It must tear off the mask from American imperialism; the party should demand an explana- tion why the government permits its officer-aviators to carry on war against the peaceful population of Morocco and why it assists the French imperi- alists to suppress this population. Our party should organize the working masses for a protest and _ struggle against the murderous acts of our “own” imperialism. Along the Bowery eee I" is hight. : On the street of the poor the crowds walk up and down. . . Up and down endlessly. Outside of the “Holy Heart Mission” many unemployed are waiting to get their supper and lodging for the night. There are young, old, white, colored. Not far from the mission a big crowd has gathered. It is an old man stretched out on the pavement. His face is ashen white, his eyes droop- ing and perspiration is running from his brow. The crowd stands motionless and none stir to render any assistance to the poor unfortunate. Every now and then the old man opens his eyes coughing chokingly, a whiteish foam coming out of his mouth. Then for a while he remains quiet, not moving at all. | pire ringing bells announce the arrival of the ambulance. The ambulance physician quickly steps out of the wagon, scrutinizes the face of the prostrate individual and with an air of determination pronounces: —Hunger. . . —He fainted from hunger. The man is placed in the ambulance. The automobile drives speedily to the hospital. He may die when they ar- rive. Who can tell? By this time the people are admit- ted to the “ Holy Heart Mission,” and the crowd continues to walk up and down the Bowery as if nothing had happened. 7> ¢ ¢ “NEN wanted”, . . . On the employment office win- dows the above is written. There is plenty of work, the wages are good, and there is need of men. “The Ontario railroad is looking for men at seventy cents per hour, the work is easy, board, food, etc.” Questioningly I enter the employ- ment office, ~—What kind of work have you got for me? —Good job. —Is there a strike here? I asked. —Oh, no! God forbid we% Wout never hire scabs . | . By this time about twenty men came into the office, mostly in over- alls, workers, with unshaven faces. It is easily perceptible that they are long without employment. : — train leaves at six at night, says the proprietor of the employment office. All write their name on a sheet of paper; at last they have work .. . They are kept waiting for the train's leaving and a tall husky looking fel- low guides them to the station. : > * *# I read in the Times the next morn- ing: Four thousand men strike on the Ontario railroad. Bloody fight be- tween strikers and scabs. Six dead, many wounded. On the window of the employment office I still read the sign: “Help wanted” .... * * * OMEONE screamed! The passers by stop for a moment wondering what has happened. In front of “Fairy Land” cabaret many gather to find out about the excitement ... A man is struggling with a young girl. —Give it back to me! he said. —Nothing ‘doing! A policeman seen on the corner, stalks heavily towards the scene of the quarrel. He is a burly Irishman as tall as an electric pole. —Whot the hell ar’ yez doing? hol- lers the policeman, Now the struggling ceases, the man’s flush highly flushed with little streams of blood trickling down his forehead. The girl shoots nasty looks at the man, What happened? asked the police- man, - —She stole my money, the man re- plies angrily. —-He’s a liar! the woman retorts, —You did, you g——- w——! And the man is about to jump at the woman, The husky bluejacket grabs both and leads them to the police station... l—y K—n, i sts i ee