The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-02 00:00:00

THE DEFENCE OF HAIPHONG.

Writing under date Haiphong, Dec. 4, the Special
Correspondent of the Daily News gives the following
particutars respecting the recent attack upon that
town by the Chinese :
Although we have lived in daily expectation of a
visit from one or other of the many piratical bands
who have lurked in the neighbourhocd for the past
three menthe it must not be supposed that Haiphong
was entirely at the mercy of any attacking fcrce.
Since Major Coronnat's arrival here, Haiphong has
been put into a complete state of defence; and though
there is apparently little to show as the result of three
months' labour, this town nevertheless is as strongly
protected as even the most timorous could desire.
Advantage has been liberally taken cf every
point that could be turned to account in &lenitive
works. The approaches to the town, both by
land and water, are strongly guarded ; while the
flatness of the surrounding country suggested the
erection of lofty look • out posts, from which
a sweeping view of the whole country can
oe obtained, and the movements of an enemy sp.
preaching Haiphong observed. It was as much to
Major Coronnat's foresight in providing against every
possible contingency as to his prompt and energetic
action on the afternoon of yesterday that this town
owes its very narrow escape from a night attack by
3000 Chinese. It is believed that these men formed
the attacking force which made so determined an
attempt to wrest Haidzuong from the French last
month. Colonel Badens once had it in his power to horn
in the whole body, but for some unaccountable reason
he allowed the Chinese to pass by him unmolested.
He bad been out on a reconneleance in the direction of
Bac-Ninie with a column of 1500 men; but,meeting with
some opposition, he made a detour, and in returning
towArds Hanoi crossed the rear of the Chinese in the
vicinity of Haidznong. Foiled in their attack on the
latter place, the Chinese, considerably strengthened in
force by the detached bands of pirates picked up on
the way, advanced towards Haiphong, taking up a
position in a large village about three kilometres to
the north. Here they began to entrench themselves,
and I have no doubt elaborated a plan for a night
assault on Haiphong. The darkness would have been
in their favour, as their numbers would have permitted
them to break up into several bands and attack the
town from half-a-dozen different points simul.
taneously, and, although the fortifications were strong
enough to resist the advance of an ill-diaciplined
rabble, it is certain that in the confusion which would
have ensused many lives would have been uselessly
lost. Major Coronne,t, however, has saved Haiphong.
About three o'clock yesterday afternoon the Chinese
were observed in the village before mentioned, and in
almost as short a time as it takes to write it the gun-
boats Lynx and Carabine were steaming up the river,
followed by a launch carrying a company of infantry.
The first intimation which the Chinese had of the
nearness of the French was a shower of shot from the
Hotchkiss guns in the maintops of the Lynx, which did
terrible destruction in the ranks of the former. After
a brisk cannonade, the infantry were landed, and at
the mint of the bayonet drove the Chinese out of the
village. A rather amusing incident happened at the
landing of the troops. A soldier in jumping ashore
found himself, not exactly on terra firma, but in a
bed of soft yielding mud, into which he sank as far
as his waist. The man's plight was not noticed
by his comrades, who marched on, leaving him
quite alone. One of the Chinese, however, not
far off, observed that the soldier was helpless,
and, coolly advancing on him with a bamboo stake, his
only weapon, he treated the soldier to as sound a
thrashirg as a parent would administer to a young
hopeful. The Chinaman's career was cut short just as
he began to warm to his work, the Frenchman's cries
having reached a few of his comrades, who sent a volley
into the assailant's body, and then dug out their
brother in-arms. The novelty of the situation so im.
pressed the soldier that he cut off one of the China.
man's ears as a souvenir of the incident. The action,
which lasted but a couple of hours, cost the Chinese a
heavy expenditure of life. Forty-two dead and ninety
wounded were left behind; the French had only two
men slightly wounded—a trifling cost to pay for the
safety of Haiphong.