THE FRANCO CHINESE WAR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1186, 21 November 1884, Page 3

THE FRANCO CHINESE WAR.

A riot occurred in Hongkong on October 25, and seveial per.-ona were killed I'y (he police firing on the mob. The Chinese Government have forhid Bo any trade in fbeaims between Chinese arid Europeans. The general opinion is that the arbitrary regulate ns of Cbin< se officials are rapidly ii.crea--ing an anti-English feeling among the Natives.

Tne French colonel. Drnnister, in an engagement on October 8 carried the heigh s commanding the fastness of Chtn Chin. The sea f -ices were numerous, and the French artillery at ewed the ground with corpses. According to Donhister’s r port 31)00 were killed, including the Chinese chief coinmam er. Chinese troops continue to pour into l anion, and great uneasiness i- felt in Paris on this account. The Cibinet is divided as to what mea sures ought to be adopted to provide rei»foro meats. General Campensn, Minister of War, declines to mobilise a corps darme* without the authority of the Cmnnber.

Fuller advises Irom China received in Paris give particulars of the defeat of the French at Tamsui on the loth inst. The Chinese General sent some of his soldiers disg ,ised as coolies, to offer to a sist the French at their work of building the forts. Meanwhile the rest of the Chinese a.d Hers firmed an ambush near at hand. Presently a signal previously agreed on. yas given, whereupon the supposed coolies and soldiers in ambush made a su iden attack npon the French, and hmms I them in on all sides. The French were overwhelmed, and rushed into the sea m the wildest confusion. Admiral Learies admits 106 of bis men were killed. He offered a leward of 6 10l for each corpse restored. The loss of the French flag was great'y deplored, Lespes endeavoured to recover it from the Chinese by

10 fering'tifim two new flags in rxoasnge, vat they j ■ t.. j: -. i . l)e K ale hag not asked for reinforcement* for, r,u (niD: If thuy «re needed they will bo i r nfr on thearmy in i frica. He Lmle ,t »ys be French to ces in Tonquin ate aulildent to msiuuia a defensive a tutu ie, but he cannot undertake offensive operations, ‘ * Figaro’ sayt that (hj i truth is that the troops am hemmed in on the Delta under the protection of gunboats, and are obliged to limit their operations to repelling the attacks of the enemy. Reports are current that the Chinese are pushing their advance into Touq'uin, and are about to besiege Hnnghow. The remainder of the Chinese troops before C hee Hon have been withdrawn. The Chinese there have abandoned their entrenchments.

France declines England’s overtures to mediate. The British man-of-war R nobler has been ordered to Chinese waters in November. .