The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-23
Information About the Black Flags Who Are
Said to Torture Prisoners and Eat the
Bodies of the Slain.
Arrival of the Marquis of I4ansdowne
and Party at Quebec.
Unauth ticated RumOrs that the Landin g
of the Marquis viii BE Made the
Occasion of Riot-Cable Notes.
THE FRENCH AND CHINESE.
Reports of an Approaching War Being Cir
culated.

Culated.
HONG KONG, Oct. 22-Advices from Yung
Nan confirm the report that the Chinese are
assisting the Black Flags in AMMAN, who num-
Der 5000 men, exclusive of those in the garri-
sons at Bacninh and sontag. The Viceroy at
Canton objects to foreigners Jraversing the
streets. Ten thousand men are concentrated
near Canton, ostensibly on account of the an
ticipated popular commotlon. The Viceroy COM
plains of the withdrawal OF the Portuguese
gnnboat with the Waterman, who drowned
Chinaman and preciptated the riots. The Vice.
roy demands that the Waterman be handed over
To the British courts for trial. The Portuguese
oticials, in reply. said that the prisoner was at
Macao, and If the Chinese wished they could
prosecute him there. Reports of an approach
ing war with foreigners are circulating in the
interior of China. People in Yung Nan believe
the Chinese army is preparing a war of eXter-
mlnatlon against foreigners
The viceroy of Canton has asked for one mil
lion taels for the payment OF losses incurred in
the recent rioting His agents asking for
arms. All is quiet at TOn0uin. Advices from
Haiphong, at Tonquin. say the residents dread
an attack from the 1000 pirates encamped in
the vicinity of the French. The garrison at Hal
phong is small. but it is believed is able to repel
an attack by the pirates. Reinforcements, how
ever. are anxiously awaited. There is great
tivity in the Chinese camp to the north of Ha-
moi, and it is feared the Black Flags will assume
newspaper states that the French have dis
covered that the forts at Bacninn mounted
wltn hrupp guns loo strong 10 De taken by as
sault.
PARIS Oct. 22-Ofieial adyices from Tonauin
state that the roads are still flooded but the
weather has improved Several raids have been
made by French forces to cut off the enemies
supplies. The health of the French troops is
perfect
The situation in Tonquin is most seriors. II
the French attack Bacninh, war with China Will
be Inevitable.
Tonquin generally is in a state of anarchy.
The radius OF French rule does not extend be-
yond the French line of sentres-
Warriors Who Torture Prisoners and Devour
the Bodies of the Slain.
Gable Special
To-day met Major-general Mesne, of the I'm
perial Chinese army, just arrived from Yunan,
where he had an opportunity to observe much
of interest concerning the recent operations in
Tonquin. He is well informed in regard to Chi
nese affairs. He has spent fifteen years out of
twenty-five travelling through the interior,
chiefly in official capacity. He was ordered
from the Monaghan province to Yunan to assist
the Vieeroy, in consequence of his perfect
knowledge of the French language. The General
Is a native of the Island of Jersey he is now en-
route for Poochow, to take charge of the naval
arsenal. He wears the Chinese costume, with
queue, and speaks the Chinese language flu
emily.
While in Yunan two of his men spent month
in the Black Flag camp. He also met the chief,
who holds commission in the Chinese army.
The Black Flags received exaggerated reports of
the French losses at Hanoi, but correct reports
concerning the Chinese loss stated in my dis
patches. He says that II prisoners fall into the
hands of the Black Flags. they will be reserved
for torture, but the bodies VI the dead will not
be found, hs the Chinese believe that eating the
flesh of ferOclOus men makes them brave, espe-
cially the hearts and livers. Therefore they
accustomed to eat their enemies. lie Black Flags
are strongly addicted to this habit. They even
eat their own people who die by accident on the
march. This may account for the ill-success
which attended the search for the bodies of
Riviere and his followers. whose heads alone
were found on the last sOrtie by General Bouet.
He regards fighting the Black Flags fighting
the Chinese army on a small scale. The Chinese
undoubtedly furnish arms, munitions and men
to preclpitate the harassing war upon the
French in ToDQuin. The French originally made
such bugbear of the Black Flags that the
Chinese considered it worth their while to keep
as they continue the war with the French. At
that time they numbered only 1900 fighting
men; now they can put 5000 in the field and
still garrison the strOnghOlds. My informant
considers the Black Flags to be the best and
hravest of all the Chinese soldiers. He has no
doubt that France would conquer China If she
made war with an European power, but In
the same way as she wars in TOnquln she must
suffer defeat and disgrace. The city Of Canton
is apparently quiet, but in constant dread of
further trouble unless the Hankow affair is sat
isfactorily settled. Six war ships help to pre-
serve order. The Palos has gone to F0rmOsa.
The Vieeroy has about 10000 troops in the city
to curb any attempt at rebellion fomented by
the Social societies.