The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-08-25
THE WAR IN AMMAN.
The French Attack a Fortified
Town Near Hanoi.
mites Pursue-Both Sides Suffer
Serious Loss.

HANOI, Aug. 22.-The French were di-
vided into three columns of 800 men in
each. The right column then advanced
along the river bank, supported by five
gunbOats. After going five miles the
enemy was found entrenched. The gun
boats fired among them and the en-
trenchments were carried. The troops
then advanced to carry the fortified
village with the bayOnet, but the defense
was so vigorous they were thrice re-
pulsed. Toward evening the French,
finding their attempts fruitless, decided
to renew the attack next morning. The
center column met with faint resistance
and occupied Hanoi. There they await
ed the turning movement to be effected
by the left column. The latter advanc-
ed along the road which the late Captain
Riviere took. Four hundred Chinese
accompanied the column, which reached
Wong, and there found the road barred
by strong entertainments. The artillery
then fired into the works. The column
advanced with difficulty, owing to
floods. The horses were unused to har-
ness and refused to drag the guns and
the men took their places in dragging
up the artillery. When within 300 yards
of the enemys entTenchments, the
French opened fire. For time there
was no return made by the enemy, but
after some delay, they opened with a
tremendous fusilade which resulted i'll
checking the advance of the column. 1t
was now manifest that the position could
not be carried by direct attack, and a
flank movement was impossible, so the
French column retreated. The enemy,
shouting in triumph, issued from their
| entrenchments and began a pursuit.
They pressed around both flanks of the
retreating column. The French then
opened with artillery, firing shell into
rNfk k,N l.uNf hn
| enemy continued to follow their retreat.
The French preserved excellent order,
and carried everything off the field, in
/ cluding their killed and wounded. AT
| in the afternoon the enemy suddenly
drew off. The French column reached
Hanoi at Z in the evening completely
exhausted. Their center column also
returned to Hanoi. The right column
occupy the position which the enemy
evacuated during the night. The French
lost two officers and ten men killed and
"a seriously wounded. Thirty Chinese
were killed. The French plan was to
| strike simultaneously at SOntag, Hue,
Bacninh and HaidnOng. So far only the
last named place has been taken.
The entire Red River delta is flooded
Many villages have been destroyed and
thousands of lives lost
LONDON, Aug. ga dispatch to the
Times from Hong Kong to day says that
HaidnOng, TOnquin, has been taken by
the French. They also captured $50
cannon and $4,000 of Annamite cash.
The Annamites fed into the interior. A
correspondent telegraphs from Hong
Kong that on the 18th inst. an attack
was made by the French on PhOuhai, in
the direction of SOntag, strong post
seven miles from Hanoi. The French
force was 1000 strong and the enemy
numbered 1900. The position was car
ried. but found to be untenable. A pOr-
tiOn of the troops Tetreated to the river,
covered by the gunbOats, while the rest
went in the direction of Hanoi. There
has been terrible flOOus, causing loss of
life in the vicinity of Hanoi.