In Morocco

A dark-bearded portly man, whose flowing garments billowed opulently, wandered through the gaudy Spring Fair at Fez last week, buying here a mechanical piano, there a thoroughbred stallion, a typewriter, jeweled sandals. . . .

He was the Sultan, Mulai Yusef, a big indolent man, who is supported by the French and Spanish as the puppet sovereign of Morocco. Venerable Moroccans were scandalized by his appearance at the fair en foot. Traditionally he should have arrived either on horseback or upon a portable throne, and heavily guarded in any case. Instead he dismissed his strapping Negro bodyguard at the gate of the fair and entered "practically unattended" -- accompanied by only 32 Caids, four Pashas, two French Generals, and the French Resident General in Morocco, Jules Steeg.

War. While the Sultan stolidly watched an exhibition of Arabian trick riding at the fair, the Franco-Spanish war against Abd-El-Krim, who also claims to be Sultan of Morocco, continued less than 50 miles away.

Events of the week: 1) The Spaniards claimed to have captured the important Riffian city of Cafras, the village of Buhalema.

2) After a heavy bombardment, the French advanced to new positions north of Ouezzan and along the Taza front. Meanwhile French airplanes bombed Tarquist, Krim's onetime stronghold. 3) The Spanish fleet continued to steam up and down the Riffian coast, pot-shotted.