The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-09-28
The Black and Yellow Flag.

As there seems to be a general dispo-
sition to assume that Chinese troops
must have had something to do with
the recent defeat of the French in Ton
quin, it may be as well to state that
such a view is opposed to the facts, and
that the French have thus far had only
to encounter as opponents in Tonquin
the Annamese and the forces of the
black and yellow flags. There will be
some curiosity to ascertain who these
latter are, and, as they are Chinese by
race and in appearance, it may be we'll
to describe their political status before
they are confounded with the regular
Chinese army
The Tapping rebellion broke out in
the Province of Kwangsi, and after ex-
tending across China to within sight of
the Capital it was finally overcome by
the joint efforts of the Imperial COM
manders and of General Gordon. In
1866 those of the rebels who had either
remained in Kwangsi or who had had
the good fortune to ESCAPE there were
expelled the Provinces by the Emperor's
Lieutenants and driven across the bor-
der into Tonquin. They found secure
place of refuge in the mountains on
either side of the Sangkoi valley, but
far from willing to exasperate the Chi
nese authorities, they showed a DISPOSE
ton to act in obedience to their behest,
and to carry out their projects. In
numbers their fight ng men were
at this period computed at five
thousand. At first Watsong, said to
have been one of the principal of Tae-
ping Wang's followers, was the recog-
nized chief of this band of exiles, who
were accompanied by their wives and
families. The Annamese troops were
repeatedly sent against these trouble
some and self-invited guests, but only
to experience defeat, and in 1868 these
Chinese rebels were in unquestioned
possession of the right bank of the
Sangkoi above the capital. The assist
ance of the Chinese yiceroy of the Two
KWang was invoked and accorded with
such good results that these assailants
were expelled from the low-lying coun-
try and confined to the upper course of
the river. A division in the chiefship
of the band came almost at the same
moment to give increased effect to the
interference of the Chinese authorities.
Watson died, and two chiefs were elect
ed in his stead. one of the orig nal fol-
lowers of the Tapping, the others by
those who had joined Watsong in the
hope of plumber or from the desire to
elude the pursuit of justice. The break
ing up of the association was made the
more complete by the adoption of diff
ferent ensigns. and, while those in favor
of an adventurous life retained g the
black flag" the rest, anxious for the
safety of their families, and willing to
come to terms with the authorities both
of AMMAN and China, adopted "the
yellow flag as their token.
The division was of more serious
character than the mere change of
name, for the black flags were COM
posed of the worst characters and
most dangerous marauders of dis
turbed border and a troubled period.
Their leader, Liu Yuen Fou, had been
the most famous freebooter of Kwangsi,
from which position it was an easy
passage for him to become the most
trusted officer of Watsong. But the
yellow flags were much more disposed
to settle down, and to lead a peaceful
life. Some of them had neither sym
pathized with. nor taken part, in the
operation of the Taepngs; and their
chief, Hwang Tsong In, had been a
soldier in the army of Kwangski. The
principal settlement of the black flag is
at Laokai, on the Sangkoi, while that
Of the yellow flag is at Haglang, some
distance east and inland of that place.
Although the black flags were the
fiercest, the yellow flags were the more
numerous, and enjoyed a superiority
in this respect which the former
could not ignore. BY subsidiz-
ing the latter the Annamese au-
thorities were able to feel that they
had done something toward insuring
the good behavior of the former. They
did not refuse, however, to avail them
selves of the military service of the one
or the other, as suited their convenience,
and when NJ GARNER made himself
master of Hanoi in 1873, it was with an
army largely composed of the black flag
that the Anamese returned to attack
him. The French officer did not make
sufficient allowance for their superior
courage, and while making an attack on
their position was cut down and killed.
The Annamese have in the presence of
the same enemy now appealed to the
same allies, and both the black and yell
low flags are again arrayed under the
banner OF Tuduc in Tonquin. Their
numbers, it need only be stated in con-
clusion, have very considerably increased
since their arrival in Annamese territory,
for whereas the whole band of Watsong
numbered only five thousand warriors,
the black flags alone now muster that
number. and the yellow flags perhaps
twice as many more. London Times.