Foreign.

Manawatu Herald, 13 February 1894, Page 2

Foreign.

The relations between the Czar and the Pope are strained in consequence of the persecution of Russian Catholics. The French Government has given orders for the construction of 19 j new torpedo boats of modern type. The work is to be taken in hand immediately. The Khedive has appointed Mahar Pasha, late Under-Secretary for War, the Governor of the Suez Canal. The Temps says that in revenge for the occupation of Timbuctoo the Arabs massacred the entire French force. Two African traders named Dawson and Taylor have started to find Lobeugula and offer him terms on behalf of the Chartered Company. It is reported that all Lobengula's followers have deserted him. News has been received in Paris of the massacre of the French troops in Timbuctoo. The troops were surprised while asleep in camp at Dongoi, and the Tuaregs, a tribe of Berbers, overturned the stacked arms, thus preventing the soldiers from firing. Captain Bonnier and eight other officers, 10 non-commissioned officers and 61 native soldiers are missing. The Tuaregs threaten to attack Timbuctoo, which Captain Phillipe holds with 300 rifles and six cannon. He has only a limited supply of food. In the Chamber of Deputies, the Premier, M. Casimir-Perier, replying to a question as to the massacre ot the French troops on the west coast of Africa, declared that the Government had no intention of evacuating Timbuctoo, which is threatened by the Tuaregs. Reinforcements, he said, were advancing rapidly to assist Captain Phillipe, and if necessary farther assistance would be sent from Algeria. Russian Official reports reveal frightful barbarities in the convict prison in Saghalien, a small island off the East Coast of Asia belonging to Russia. The particulars show that convicts were mutilated and beaten to death. Cannibalism is common in the prison owing to the lack of food. The Argentine press oppose the extradition of Jabez Balfour to England. .