Spanish Protectorate in Morocco 1912-1956

Formed under a treaty between France and Spain dated 27 November 1912 formalising the Spanish sphere of influence into a protectorate. This protectorate included two areas, a northern strip on the Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar and a southerm area around Cape Juby bordering the Spanish Sahara. The northern strip was handed over to Morocco on 7 April 1956. Morocco was just independent and no longer a French protectorate. After the short Ifni War ceded Spain the southern area under the Treaty of Angra de Cintra on 1 April 1958 to Morocco. 

Spanish galleys transporting military to Ceuta according to the Dutch newspaper Oprechte Haerlemsche courant dated 19 November 1697

An item dated Ceuta [Spanish Morocco]20th reported that some days earlier 1.500 soldiers were disembarked by the Spanish galleys. From Cadiz and Malaga were victuals and ammunition in large quantities transported. Ceuta was at that moment sieged by the Moorish.

Spanish Legion waiting for transport at Southampton according to the Dutch newspaper Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated 19 August 1921cu

An item reported that Spain was recruiting at London volunteers for the Spanish Legion (1) which served in Morocco. In Southampton was a Spanish transport waiting to bring the new soldiers to their destination. All volunteers were to be former soldiers and according to rumours signed already a large number unemployed former soldiers who got 25 pound sterling paid at once if they signed for five years and a daily payment of 3 hilling and 9 pence.

Note
1. The Spanish king Alfonso XIII signed on 28 January 1920 a decree to create the Spanish Foreign Legion which is nowadays still existing. Despite the name it were in majority native Spaniards or men coming from the former Spanish American colony Cuba. In the protectorate Spanish Morocco was a rebellion of the Rif or Berbers going lead by their leader Abdel Krim to establish an independent Republic of the Rif. Not after France supported Spain ended the war in 1926 with a defeat for the Rif.

Spanish torpedo boat Bustamente landed volunteers and stores on the island Penon off the Spanish Moroccan coast according to the Dutch newspaper De Maasbode dated 18 April 1922

An item dated Madrid, Spain 15th reported that officially was stated that the Spanish torpedo boat Bustamente landed volunteers and stores on the island Penon off the Spanish Moroccan coast without any problems.(1)

Note
1.Probably as a result of the so-called Rif War between 1920-1927 in which Spain and later also France were involved and which ended with the dissolution of the Berber Republic of the Rif on 27 May 1926. 

The loss of the Spanish gunboat General Concha according to the Dutch newspaper Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad dated 13 June 1913

An item dated Paris 12 June reported that the day before the Spanish gunboat General Concha (2) dating from 1883 and of 525 tons was stranded near Albucemas, Spanish Morocco and was considered as lost. Her crew and guns were rescued.(2)

Notes
1. Of the General Concha-class launched on 28 December 1883 at Ferrol. With a displacement of 515 tons and as dimensions 48,76 x 7,92 x 3,41 metres or 160’x 26’x 11’2”. The two shaft compound reciprocating engine supplied 600 ihp allowing a speed of 11 knots and she had a coal bunker capacity of 80 tons. The crew numbered 98 men and an armament of 3-4.7” guns and 2-3 machineguns.
2. The edition dated 2 July reported that the survivors of the Concha arrived on board of the gunboat Recalde at Albucemas. They were handed over by friendly Kabyles.