CABLE NEWS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 72, 21 February 1884, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

[Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] [Reuter’s Telegrams.] Rome, Feb. 19. An attempt was made to-day to wreck a train by which His Majesty King Humbert was travelling from Rome to Corneta, a town twelve miles north of Civita Vecchia, by dynamite. The projected outrage was, however, a failure. London, Feb. 19. American papers received by the last mail contain the following A private letter from a gentleman residing in Canton, dated Dec. sth, was published in New York on Jan. 16th. It is to the effect that China is determined to fight, and war can only be avoided by France backing clear down to the ground. France has made an awful muddle of the whole affair. Had she acted with force at first, Tonquin would have been hers, and everything would now have been quiet. The idea of occupying the country with a thousand or two of troops is too absurd for serious contemplation; but that is j ust what France attempted. France, in her delay and want of resolution, led China to believo that fear kept her back, and this idea so took hold on China’s mind that she will not be satisfied with anything short of a complete surrender of the position which France has assumed in Tonquin, Troops are pouring in from the North, and are being raised here. An intelligent Chinaman, who returned to Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 16, from a visit to China, gives a very different version of the storming of Sontay to that published by the French. He acknowledges that about 3,000 Chinese were killed, but the attacking force of French troops was almost totally annihilated. The Chinese, he said, had mined the grounds, and then lured the French over the mines, with most disastrous results. He is confident the French will not have the “ walk-over” at Bachninh they expect. An attache of the French legation in London, being interviewed on Jan. 19, said that France is determined to take Bacninh at all cost. When that is accomplished, she would be ready to accept the mediation of England and the United States. Admiral Hewitt, who has recently been appointed to the command in Souakim, has refused permission to the marines of the French and Italian gunboats to land there. In consequence of the critical state of affairs in the Soudan, the English Government is preparing for large shipments of ammunition to Egypt. Mr. D. Macfarlane, M.P. for Carlow, has given notice of a motion in favor of the immediate establishment of a p.otectorate in Egypt. Owing to the important character of Egyptian affairs now, puplio interest is almost entirely centred in them, and little attention is given to the domestic policy of the Government. The idea of an Egyptian protectorate is widely and influentially supported. Evening. Telegrams from Souakim state that the troops composing the British expedition for the relief of Tokar are now arriving there, and it is understood that a forward movement will shortly be made by Colonel Graham. Intelligence has reached Souakim to the effect that a sortie was recently made by 200 men of the garrison at Tok-r. The movement was effected successfully, and a quantity of provisions, of which the garrison was in need, were obtained. Several rebel Arabs were killed and wounded, and a number of cattle and camels captured. It is now expected that the garrison will be able to hold out until the siege is raised by the British troops. London, Feb. 19. In the House of Commons to-day Mr. Gladstone said that he doubted whether the proclamation issued by Major General Gordon at Khartoum announced that no impediment would be offered to free traffic in slaves in the Soudan. He believed txiat the abstract of the proclamation rec Ived by telegram was incorrect. Alexandra, Feb. 19. Strong detachments of sailors have been landed here from the Mediterranean squadron to replace the troops drafted to Cairo for garrison duty.