THE REAL STATE OF AFFAIRS IN TONQUIN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3857, 27 November 1883, Page 4

THE REAL STATE OF AFFAIRS IN TONQUIN.

A private letter received in Marseilles, published by the Daily Noavs, says:—"A private letter that I havo just received from Tonquin, written by a person avlio can see behind the .scenes, gives me interesting details, Avhich unfortunately aro not tho same as the official news upon the situation in that country and Cochin China. It is understood less there than in France that a special mission is confided to tho General. The truth is that there is a serious dissent between the three chiefs actually iv Tonquin. It is also a fact that many mistakes have been already made since the commencement of tho expedition, and that there has been no time to rectify them. My correspondent also says that heavy orders for provisions have been given at Hong Kong, and that food sent outfromFrance has been Avastcd on account of tho want of warehouses. Another grave fact ia that steam launches Avere bought Avhich proved useless for the expedition, not being suitable for the service required of them. These orders havo been given directly through the agency of a private firm, Avithout the assistance of the Ministry of Marine. Naturally the bargains were concluded at a great disadvantage to the buyer, Avho had no right to transact business of this kind. ' Tho Avaste in all distant expeditions,' says my correspondent, ' has been enormous. I also hoar on good authority that thcCivil Commissary-General has left at Hong Kong 15,000fr. for provisions, the total sum of this account equalling 75,000fr. As another wasteful piece of expenditure the Commissary-General hired a Messagerios Maritimes steamer, Avhen he hud at his disposal the mcn-of-Avar Triomphante and Drac, which could have taken him to Saigon. It can Avcll bo understood that Avith sucliAvastc the credit of 5,000,000fr voted for this expedition has been quickly exhausted. Those surrounding M. Harmand are all great spendthrifts. There is, nevertheless, a man here Avho by tho unanimous testimony of all is a man of great value—viz., Admiral Courbet, and it is really unfortunate that he was not at the head of the expedition from the beginning. There will ho some difficult work to be done iioav if avo attempt to drive out the Black Flags, and Avith them tho Chinese Avho assist them. Unfortunately avo aro iv Avant of troops. We must, if avo Avant to sco the end of the campaign, take Sontay and Bac Niuali, and go on to the Chinese frontier. As long as that is not done the Black Flags Avill be masters of the Red River. But, as Aye should count upon receiving' a serious resistance—for our adversaries arc avcll armed and fight well—it is necessary to be able to command more resources than avo now havo. Even in Cochin China the Government seem jiot to have understood what tho role of their representatives should be. They havo placed at Saigon a young prefet Avho Avas employed in 1870 in a financial department at Algiers at a salary of GOfr per month. This official would be perhaps good enough at the head of a department in France, but he is incapable of fulfilling tho duties of the post ho now holds. They say truly that there is no moro government hero, aud that the Government govern themselves. Before, avo had at Saigon a marine officer Avith tho grade of a post captain. The presence of this officer was very useful for men-of-Avar captains Avho happened to bo at Saigon ; for they knew from Avhom they could ask for information and receive orders. To-day everything is changed. Every officer is free to do as he Avishes. There is at Saigon an officer called the Captain of tho Port, whose authority, by reason of his inferior rank, is almost nil."