Untitled

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1605, 9 February 1884, Page 4

A central news telegram from Paris to the Pall Mall Gazette, on the 16th tilt., contained the following important ■statements with regard to the situation between Prance and China" I learn on high authority that some days hack Admiral Courbet telegraphed to the Ministers of War that his spies had informed him .that the numbers both of Black Hugs and of Chinese troops were daily augmenting in the provinces north i f Tonquin, Admiral Courbet said lie had no longer to fight the Anamese only, but-the Chinese army and in face of that situation ho was compelled to ask for fresh instructions, Ho requested his Government to openly declare war with China, as this would permit the French naval squadron to co-operate efficaciously, whereas in the present state of affairs China was making effective war on France without the latter being able to use its navy against China, To this despatch the French Government replied as follows " You are in chief command of both sea and land forces. Act accord:i:s lo the requuemeuts of the eitua* tion,"