MASSAGES OF A FRENCH EXPEDITION IN ALGIERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 145, 20 June 1881, Page 4

MASSAGES OF A FRENCH EXPEDITION IN ALGIERS.

Algiebh, April 17. The following account of the maesaore of the expedition under Colonel Flatters is furnished by the four nativeß who.artived at Ouargia on the 28th ult:— ; :." The date of the massacre was the 16th of February, and the locality some days' march from Assinm. After coming to an agreement with the Tourages of floggar, and replacing the guide of the Ouba tribe by a Touareg guide, Colonel Flatters . ordered the expedition to march to a spot which the guide stated tq be eight days' march from the Aiik AtviO/o'cleckin the morning C6lonel Flatters asted the guide in . -^bicTi 'direction they would find water,

and the guide pointed to the southwest. After proceeding in that direction for some minutes he said he had made a mistake, and, declaring that the spot iv which they were was the only pasture land in that region, he advised the Colonel to camp there and send to the wells for water. The Colonel insisted upon camping near the wells, but the guide objected that it wss scarcely worth while to go through the fatigue of retracing their steps, and insistod upon his advice being followed as he was guide, and therefore in com-' mand during the march. Colonel Flatters consequently ordered the expedition to eucamp, aud then followed the guide to Hassi, accompanied by Captain Masaon, Dr Gruyard, and M. M. Boche and Demery, The camels were sent after them. It was then 1 1 o'clock. At 1 o'clock Hunicbe, of the 3rd Rifles, arrived at the camp, shouting 'To arms !' and running to Lieutenant Dianous, said, v All the engineers, officers, and Sokhars are assassinated.' Almost afc the Bame moment two Hoggars arrived and confirmed the intelligence. An officer and the engineer Sautin, with about twenty men, proceeded to the assistance of the Colonel, and left the camp under the guard|of twenty men, commanded by the non-commissioned : officer Poheguin. The road to the wells was of a very broken nature, and they arrived there after four hours' march. The site was bordered by two lofty mountains, upon the sides of which were three ravines filled with Touaregs numbering at least GOO or 700. An officer attempted to enter one' of the ravines, but on perceiving the force of the natives he said, 'We roust fall back : we can do nothing to save the Colonel ; let us return to the camp and endeavor to save the remainder of the expedition.' " The narrative proceeds : — " We saw the Colonel's horse was ridden by Segbier Ben Cheik of the Cbambaa, and that of Capta n Masson by the guide. We did not even see the bodies of the members of the expedition, and we returned to the camp. Tb6re were 63 of us left. This is what had happened : On arriving near the wells, the Sheik Ben Boudjenna, galloping up to Colonel Elatterp, said, • Colonel you are betrayed. What have you come here for ? Beturn to" your camp.' The Colonel replied, 'You and Cham baa are a nuisance. For the laßt year you have lied to me; leave me now in peace. 7 ; Two touaregSi the guides, and Seghier Ben Sheik were with him. Seghier held the bridle ot the Colonel's horse, and the guide that of Captain Masson's. ; The Colonel turned towards the "wells i examining the ground, when Sheik Ben Boudjenna again exclaimed ' Colonel, you ore betrayed.* The members of the mission, turning round, Baw masses of Touaregs on all sides. The Colonel at first saluted them, but perceiving that they had drawn their sabres he retired on foot, and taking his revolver, fired bis shots. He was then struck with a sabre on the shoulder, and another blow, cut off his leg, after which he was pierced with lances. Captcia Masson was unable to reach his horae, and was surrounded. He defended himself bravely, but a blow from a sabre cut open his head and another cut off his legs. Dr Gruvard drew his revolver and vigorously defended himself, but received a sabre cut on fcbe nape of the neck and fell dead. M\ Demery retreated towards the mountain, revolver in hand, but having exhausted all his cartridges he was killed by a sabre cut. We did not see ithe two engineers die, as they were some distance from the Colonel, and followed the bed of the river. They must have been killed, for the Touaregs who assailed the Colonel came from that direction. Four Hoggars and one soldier were killed by the Colonel's side. Four Hoggars were killed while defending the camels, and two others, as well as four soldiers of the Ist Bifles ; and six of the 3rd, were cut down after exbaußting their ammunition. The | Sheik Ben Boudjenna fired two shots at the Touaregs, and escaped with his camel. Three other Hoggara returned to the camp, while three men belonging to Chambaa and All Ben Dam Salah crossed over to the enemy. It appears that before leaving the camp to accompany the Colonel towards the wells, Seigher told his brother and two others not to unload their camels, but to follow those of the expedition, keeping on one side of them. This indicates that there was a plot between him and the Touaregs. He married a Touareg wife, and is a relative to the ex-Caid Ben Ahmed. He went last winter to Algiers in company with the Touareg Menghem.