New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-04
THE FRENCH IN COCHIN CHINA.

An official report of the most recent operations
Of the French expedition against Cochin China is
published in the French papers. From Touron on
the north coast, previously occupied by the
French Vice.Admiral Rgault de Genouilly sailed
on the I'd of February. with squadron Of eight
vessels, which reached the mouth of the River
Saigon on the 9th, being joined there BY four
ships with supplies. On the 10TH two forts,
which defended the anchorage off the mouth of
the river, were attacked and taken. During the
next FIVE days, part of the expedition was EN-.
ployed in ascending the river, in the course of
which operation they took five forts, which
they encountered in succession at the more difficult
bends. Though strongly situated, and fortified with
much labor and well armed with iron and brass guns,
these forts seem not to have offered any formidable
resistance. The brass guns were carried of, the
iron ones broken, the ammunition sunk in the
river and the Notifications leveled, as to leave
the passage of the river open By the evening Of
the 18th, the expedition reached two forts built
by French engineers, formerly in the employ
Of the Cochin-Chinese Government for the
defer Sc of Saigon on the SOUTH it being defended
on the north by another work known as the Cita-
del. These two forts, after brisk cannonade,
were taken the next day, one of them being
destroyed aud the other held as a cover for the
vessels of the expedition. Attention was then
turned to the citadel, which was attacked on the
morning of the Eth, and, after its fire had been
partially silenced by the ships, was assaulted by
detachment landed for that purpose, and by ten
o'clock was in the hands of the French.
All these operations cost the expedition but
very triing loss None were killed and only few
wounded while the health Of the soldiers remained
excellent The loss of the enemy is stated
siderable but no estimate is given of its amount, nor
of the number of men by which the river was de-
Tended. About two hundred cannon, corvette,
and seven warjunks on the stocks, fell into the
hands OF the yctors. The citadel was found to
contain complete arsenal, some twenty thousand
muskets with large supply of powder and ball,
sulphur satpeter lead, and rice sufficient for
years food for eight thousand men.
1t is rather singular that this report, combining
itself entirely to military operations makes no
mention, beyond its name, of the city for the
defense of which all these Notifications were built.
1t is described in the gazetteers at distance of
thirty. five miles from the sea- and as containing
population Of some 10000 of whom many are
Chinese. The main trading town, which Is stu
ated on tributary stream nayigabe only for boats,
appears to lie at some distance from the citadel,
with which it is connected by struggling suburb.
Saigon is connected by canal twenty-three miles
long with the River Cambodis and is the chief
commercial emporium in that vicinity, having a
considerable trade with Siam and China.
After taking the forts, the expedition appears
to have descended the river, leaving behind, how
ever q detachment TO wait for the completion of
the mine destined to blow up the citadel. The
Admiral estimates the damage done BY this expe-
dition as equal to some five millions of dollars.
During the absence Of the armament, Touron
was attacked by the Cochin Chinese, but they were
repulsed with loss. 1t does not appear, however,
that these military losses have yet produced any
effect upon the Government.