THE FRANCO TUNISIAN WAR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2638, 3 September 1881, Page 2

THE FRANCO TUNISIAN WAR.

SEVERE FIGHTING. [By Cable]. Paris, Sept 1. Telegrams are to hand from Tunis reporting that a severe conflict between French troops and a strong body of Arab insurgents has taken place at Hammamet {sic), fesulting inthedeleat of the former after several hours hard fighting. The losses are not reported. Since the receipt of the above intelligence the French- Government has issued orders for the immediate despatch of a reinforcement for the army in Tunisian territory, and the embarkation of troops is now proceeding at Toulon aud Marseilles. Telegrams received to day from Algiers report that vast conflagrations, which are known to have been caused by Arab incendiaries, have broken out in many parts of the provinces. The threatening attitude of arch fanatics is causing great alarm". Sept. 2. Further intelligence has been received to-day from Tunis announcing that since the engagement, of which news came to hand yesterday, between Arab insurgents and French troops, fresh encounters have taken place in the neighborhood of Hammamet, an important seaport a fow ; miles south of the capital. The French troops have, it is now reported, been twice successful over the Arabs, who -suffered serious repulses, and a loss of over 1000 killed besides a large number of wounded. The French have occupied Hammamet in force, and retain possession of the town.