The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-01-05 00:00:00

THE (;.:7TURE or SONTAY BY THE

FRENCH.

The F.Special Correspondent of the Daily News,
writing:under date Hanoi, Dec. 18, says :
Sontay was not taken until after four days of con-
tinuous fi tchting. It was occupied at daybreak

When the French advanced to storm the citadel,
they found it had been evacuated during the night. The
enemy were unable to withstand the iterrible (*nue*•
ading of the French guns.
There was frightful loss on the' side of the enemy.
The number is estimated at overt 3,000 men. The
French casualties were 300 men, 'principally among
the Turcoe.

Lin Kum Fu escaped. The .enemy retired to a
citadel four miles to the north of Sontay, and the
Franeh advanced in pursuit.

The following despatch has been received at the
London Office of the New York Herald from its Special
Correspondent in China :
Horra KONG, Dec. N.

I have jut received from Hoiphong further par-
ticulars of the capture of Sontay. The total French
loss was 820, of which 75 were killed. The enemy's
loss is not reliably known. My correspondent says
that there is nothing to prevent an attack on the rear
of the citadel, and avoid the loss attending a direct
assault on the front where the succeeding lines are
mutually protected. The Tarim* behaved like
madmen. One oompany of 140 men threw them-
selves upon the entrenchments despite the orders
of their officers, who seeing their men so impetuous
rushed to the front and led them to destruction.
Only twenty men and one officer escaped. After
the entrenchments were taken the enemy evacuated
Sontay. This occurred on the night of the 16th. The
French entered on the following morning with guns
shouldered. Admiral Oourbet did not intend to follow
up victory and attack Bac-Ninh until he had re-
ceived reinforcements. These eannot arrive before the
rainy season again approaches. Thus all advantage
will be lost. M. Tricots left Haiphong on the 26th
together with Dr. Harmand. The staff of the latter
proceeded directly to France. M. Trioon stops at Hui
to gesture the signature of the new King in ratifi-
cation of Dr. Harrnandir treaty made on the
26th of August. Meantime the poor Tonquinese
suffer on all sides. The French Government affords
them no protection against the pirates and robbers
who pillage and burn their villages. They cannot pro-
tect themselves, as they have been disarmed for more
than twenty-five years. Each expedition into the
country reveals on every aids villages robbed and
burned, pagodas destroyed, people suffering pangs of
hunger and terror. If they declare openly for the
French they are exterminated by Harman's mandarins
who have been imported from Hui. If they show ino
difference their property is destroyed and their homes
are sacked by the French reconnoitring parties. From
whatever quarter troops approach them they suffer,
and when no soldiers arrive then they are oppressed by
the mandarins.

REPORTED MASSACRE OF PRISONERS BIT
THE BLACK FLAGS.

A telegram received in Paris from Saigon eontai
Intelligence from Haiphong to the 26th nit. stati
that the previous news of the Black hlags havi
massacred the prisoners they captured before Sontay
had bean confirmed, and Admiral Courbet was said to
have decided upon taking measures in consequence.
There were 8,000 of the enemy killed in the engage-
ment at Sentay. Part of the French troops had
returned to Hanoi, and the attack upon Bac•Ninh had
been postponed.