European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 16, 1958, Darmstadt, Hesse                                It i11i i i the King travels from Palace to mosque in horse drawn coach. Veiled women urbane men patiently await King along the route. The stars and str Pes col Feste Waits for the famed Black guard troops to pass in review. Col acl Rien Feste inspects troops in Barracks Cou Yard before forming escort for the King. By Paul Spiers staff writer Friday is a Many Splendore thing at _ the Royal Palace in Rabat Morocco. His majesty Mohammed a King of moroc co goes to the Ahl fas mosque in Pompano circumstance. Preceding this pageantry is a ceremony i hat few american visitors have seen the review of the Royal guard. The review is open to the Public and begins at 11 am. About 1700, King Moulay Ismail a Strong King recruited an army of negroes know Nas aids. Which had been brought to Morocco in the previous Century by the Saadi an sultans after their Conquest of Timbuktu. At this time. The Black guard became the unit s popular name. Moulay Ismail built a Complex of More than 70 fortifications at strategic Points. They were garrisoned by the keen disciplined negro guards. The army numbered 15.000 at one time. A military school was established near what is now the us air Force base at Sidi Slimane. The name a guardsman is proud to be called Boukhari is due to the Admira Tion of Moulay Ismail for Abou Abdallah Mohammed Al Boukhari a commentator on moslem theology. Guardsmen had to sweat on Boukhari s Book their Fidelity to the King when they entered the service. In 1727, at the time of Moulay Ismail s death the  s chiefs were politically influential. Afti.-i1 his death the guard s role in the Ira Jutry s policies  the i Lov a French Rule 190c-5c,the guard Ashy lastly a decorative group with no actual a military training. French officers  in 1912. The guard of an military training this year with  of the Royal armed forces. Now nun Bering 800 men it is split into three co Iii Anies infantry lancers and miscellaneous troops including Drivers and musicians. At least painters 50 per cent of t p men Are descended from., ,. The negroes hrs it into the guards about 250 years ago. J the present King s View is that the guard shall Coleel a segments of Morocco s population. Commander of the guard since 19515 Iscol Adrien Feste one of five French officers. There Palace officials s in a state ofis re six moroccan officers. A that the Royal guard transition from French to moroccan  a native of Buda Algeria the 49-year old Feste began ibis military career in 1930 at St. Cyr the West Point of France. He served in Nort Lif Africa during world War ii and was Liaison officer to the . Army. A trim handsome and Gallant mannered gentlemen Feste wears a Blue Garrison Cap red tunic White shirt Black tie pow Der Blue breeches Mirror shiny boots and Silver spurs. Festle said that the guardsman uniform is red because it. Was designed about 1870 by a briton named Mclean. He was thinking of the uniform of the British guardsman and you la notice there Are six buttons on the Back just like the British guard Feste said. At 11 am Feste mounts his Black horse harmattan shakes hands with his Honor guard of three horsemen me Lazem assist ant. Khalifah Captain and Caid Lieuten ant. The guardsmen dressed in red White and Blue Caps red uniform White gloves White webbing White putters and Blac boots snap to attention. The lancers Are astride dapple Gray Brown and Black arabian horses. Horse tails Are affixed to the lancers pennants. Feste inspects the guard. Then the colors Are raised and the guardsmen present arms while the to the Flat reverberates in the Barracks Square. The troops March out of the courtyard. Only Feste and his Honor guard remain in the Square. The dismounted band led by a six foot King Mohammed v enters Palace Gate mounted on a Black horse after his return from mosque. Six drum major swagger into the court Yard. The drum major flings the Baton with Superb dexterity and Assurance. The Baita a moroccan flute with a Neur nug pipe Quality is prominent in the band. Next the band stops in the Square and the infantry marches past. Then the band Falls into step behind the infantry and marches out of the Square. Trumpets sound a fanfare and the mounted band trots past Feste. In the first rank is a Kettle drummer a drum on each flank of his horse. He directs his horse entirely by leg and foot pressures. Then the lancers Clatter across the Square. The Parade ends at 11 25 am and the guard moves to stations along the Quarter mile route Between the Palace an mosque. One of the five duties prescribed forever moslem is that he must Pray five times daily facing toward Mecca and must say Friday prayers Noonday in the mosque. Inside the Palace servants ready the horse drawn coach for the King. The coach was a present of Queen Victoria to the King s Grandfather. The horses hooves repainted Gold. Fifteen members of the King s personals a photos by Merle Hunter band which plays Only inside the Palace await his exit from the Palace building. They will play while he s in the courtyard. Outside the Palace the chant of the Koran being recited from the mosque is broadcast via loudspeakers to the waiting crowd. Several thousand moroccans patiently stand sit and squat along the route. At 12 45 pm the Palace Gate opens an the stale coach appears. The line of March forms and includes guard band guard in Fantry guard lancers Mog Mazenis Palace retainers in White Robes Palace officials and seven horses with red cloths covering the saddles. On his return from the mosque the King rides a horse Back to the Palace. At. 1 20 pm the King emerges from the mosque and selects a Black horse although his favorite is reported to be a palamino. The sounds of clattering , clapping and you you fill the place grounds. A retainer on horseback holds a parasol above the King s head. The King re enters the Palace at 1 2g pm followed by a re Tainer carrying his yellow prayer Cushion and the youngest Prince driving a spoils car. The guard returns to the Barracks Square the Flag is lowered and the cer Emony ends. Sunday november 16, 1958 the stars and stripes Page 13