SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2563, 21 November 1884, Page 2

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

• -•-•-•> THE SITUATION IN CHINA. A rbt occurred in Hong Kong, on October 24th, and several persons were killed by the police firing on the mob. The Chinese Government has forbidden any txnde in firearms between Chinese and Europeans. The general opinion is that the arbitrary regulations of the Chinese officials are rapidly increasing an anti English feeliDg among the natives.

The French Colonel Douniter in an engagement on Bth October, carried the heights commanding the fortress of Chen Chin. The sea forces were employed, and the French artillery strewed the gronud with corpses. Three thoupersous were killed, according to Donniter's reports, including the Chinese Chief Commander.

Chinese troops continue to pour into Canton, and great uneasiness is felt in Paris on this account. The Cabinet is divided as to what measures should be adopted to provide l-einforcements. General Campenon, Minister of War, declines to mobolise a corps de armee. Fuller advices from China, received in Paris on October 23rd, give particulars of the defeat of the French at Tamsui on the loth inst. Ling Ming Schnai, the Chinese General, sent some of his soldiers disguised as coolies to offer to assist the French at their work of building forts. Meanwhile the rest of the Chinese soldiers formed an ambush near at hand. Presently a signal previously agreed on was given, whereupon the supposed coolies and soldiers in ambush made a sudden attack upon the French, and hemmed them in on all sides. The French were overwhelmed, and rushed into the sea in the wildest coufusion. Admiral Lesseps admits that 106 of his men were killed. He offered a reward of 6dol. for each corpse restored. The loss of the French flag was greatly deplored, and Lesseps endeavoured to recover it from the Chinese by offering them two new flags in exchange, but they refused.

De Lisle has not asked for reinforcements for Tonquin ; if they are needed they will be drawn from the army in Africa, without mobilising a corps de armee. De Lisle says the French forces in Tonquin are sufficient to maintain a defensive attitude, but he cannot undertake any offensive operations. Figaro says the truth is, the troops are hemmed in on the Delta under the protection of the gunboats, and are obliged to limit their operations to repelling the attacks of the enemy. Reports are curreut that the Chinese are pushing their advance into Tonquin, and are about to besiege Hunghow. The remainder of the Chinese troops before Chee Hoa have been withdrawn, and the Chinese there have abandoned their entrenchment. France declines England's overtures to mediate. The British mau-of-wor Rambler has been ordered to proceed to Chinese waters in November. THE SOUDAN. A despatch from Cairo, dated October 16th, says provisions are extremely scarce throughout the whole country from Berber to Khartoum, and from the River Nile to the Red Sea littoral. A native who arrived at Wady-Haifa from El Obeid by way cf Merowe, reports that no steamer had been wrecked, but a dahabieh, the crew of which was murdered within a day's march of a friendly territory. The same native reports that El Mahdi's troops occupy the heights along the hills north of Khartoum, and have thrown broken telegraph wires across the river. Special despatches from Cairo of the same date say the Canadian boatmen are unruly, and refuse to obey their officers. AMERICA. David C. Anderson, a veterau actor, who in 1854, with Edwin Booth and Laura Keen, visited Australia, died lately in New York, aged 75. The first electric lighthouse in the United States went into operation at Hell Gate, New York, on the night of the 15th. There are nine lamps of 600 candle power. The United States are asked to take part in the Congo Conference. Thirty-one cotton mills at Fall River, Mass., representing 1,000,000 spindles, or 1,400,000 persons employed on print goods, shut down for a week on Saturday, October 18th. 10,000 persons were thrown out of employment, and the prospect is that unless the maiket improvi-s, the shut down will continue indefinitely.

Chas. Dacre, editor of a newspaper at Lemars, lowa, and said to be the son of the late Sir Sidney Dacre, baronet, and Admiral of the British navy, was arrested for incendiarism on October 11th. He had a mania on the subject of fire, and six fires were traced to him. Fifteen thoroughbred mares, purchased by ex-Governor Stanford, in England, arrived in California on Oc--tober 12th.