The Tonquin Rebellion. Country In the Hands of Pirates

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 191, 12 February 1887, Page 5

The Tonquin Rebellion. Country In the Hands of Pirates

The "China Mail" of December 20th saya : "Very little additional information is to be had from French sources with regard to the eerioua condition of the Tonquin frontier, which id now practically in the hands of pirates. Admiral Rieutrier is 3aid to be cruising round the coast of China near Pack-lung, with three ships of war, bent on making reprisals. He has his flag on the Turenne. The French are shrieking for vengeance, but are doubtless only too conscious of their present helpless condition. Commandant Poncet, it would seem, has relieved McMahon at Ha-kot, but although he was at the head of three companies of chasseurs, two companies of Tonquinese sharpshooters and a section of artillery, he found that he could not give battle to the numerous bands with which he was surrounded, and had to send for two other Bections of artillery and two companies of infantry. When these reenforcementa arrived it was his intention to move for. ward, and, if possible, recapture Hai-ning. The " Courier d'Haiphong" of December sth hafl the following : " Haikoi has been completely burned by the Chinese pirates. Lieutenant McMahon occupies the post and the fcrt. His 200 men have been re-en-forced by 100 militia arrived from Haiphong by the Malacca under conduct of M. De Goy, Chancellor of the Mong-kai Residency. In the course of hie reconnoiseances around Haikoi, Lieutenant McMahon had assured himself of the complicity of the Chinese regulars who were in company with the pirates. This is now undeniable. Both the pirates and regulars were armed with repeating rifles. Tho Pluvier, the Thuan-an and the Hanoi are anchored off Haikoi. Unfortunately, the affair at Haininh was more sad than was supposed. M. Haiticedisappeared among the pirates, and for a time a hope waa entertained that hie position as Member of the Delimitation Commission might save him. There is now reason to believe that M. Haitice suffered the same fate as M. Perrin and was killed the mo* ment he waa surrounded by the pirates,"