THE BOMBARDMENT OF SFAX.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 217, 12 September 1881, Page 4

TH E BOMBARDMENT OF SFAX.

Plymouth, August 23. The: following account of the bombardment of Sfax is tsken from the '* Western Morning News " : Full details of the bombardment of Sfax have now been received at Paris. On Saturday morning a battalion of soldiers and several companies of marinep, supplied by the fleet, embarked in launches towed in the direction of Sfar, and aa they were proceeding on the way, the ironclads kept up a well sustained fire in order to cover the landing. The preparations by the Arabs to resist the landing were of a more extensive character than the nomad tribes could have been given credit for. They had constructed a battery with guns planted "at the waterside, so as to rake the surface of the water with their fire. The object of this was evidently to blow the boats conveying the landing parties out of the water, but the bombardment of the ironclad squadron, which consisted of seven vessels, played havoc with the battery. All the guns but two seem to have been speedily placed hors/de combat. The breastworks of the battery appear to have been constructed of Alfalfa grass, to which the shells very soon Bet fire. The two guns which were left undiaabled do not appear to have ia any way impeded the. lanning of the troops. The Arabs, however, showed great pluck. When the sartors and battalion of the 92nd Kegiment reached the beach they. were received by a heavy musketry fire from behind the blazing-grass battery. The sailors dashed at it awl drove away the' defenders, most of whom were killed. Commandant Miob, of the -ship Alma, seized the green standard that still floated over the battery which had been occupied by the insurgent* and hoisted the French flag in its place. They then attacked tbe gates, which were blown open, and the' citadel was carried, apparently after some insignificant resistance. The French, however, met with considerable opposition in their endeavor to possess themselves of the town. The, Arabs disputed the ground inch by inch ; many hurrying out of the houses fired at the enemy, at the aame time rushing rapidly on from one building to another as the French troops advanced. The struggle lasted about an boup. The losses of the natives are estimated at 800 men.