The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-12-13
WarS and Rumors Of wars

wary ana humofB of Wars.
Inc False Prophet is following up his
recent successes with vigor, and has routed
liie Egyptian troops again near Suakim
AS The forces at this place were made mn
OF the Khediye's best soldiers. NATURALLY
enough tlIblr defeat causes great consterna.
ZION ;'t Cairo. The Egyptian officers have
noe oeen able 70 make mp their minds
'. on net to use Suakiin as their base
!, ol'efaf .ons. Ell Mafidi seems likely to
'e'e them the trouble of deciding the
.estion by capturing the place himself.
The Cairo correspondent of the DoShe
Ners says twenty cavalrymen accompanied
the Egyptian force which was defeated
near Suakim. The total loss was $50 men.
There were two European officers with
the force, and the whole was under the
command Of an Egyptian major. The
surviving officers say they were surrounded
by 5000 men. The Egyptians formed a
square, the black troops being stationed
on three faces, and the Bashi Bazouks on
the fourth face of the squaEe. :. The. latter
fell back, throwing the black troops into
disorder. The blacks fought with great
bravery. One gun and all the arms and
ammunition were lost. In consequence of
the disaster the garrison at Suakim is re-
duced to 1000 men. Dervishes are APP
pearing in Upper Egypt, who propose to
preach holy war. The whole country
beyond Egypt roper.is ablaze.
| War between China and France in Ton
quin has been virtually commenced. An
engagement has taken place at Haiphong,
which WAS attacked atsnight by a Chinese
force. The Chinese burned village close
to the French position. = French troops
and gunboats,were despatched to the scene
and the enemy Were routed.
1t was expected that the French would
advance on Sontay Tuesday, and that China
will thenregard the war as formally.opened
by the action Of France.
Russia is greatly agitated overthe hos
tile attitHde assumed by Austria and
Greece. The condition of the Russian
army is said to be anything but encour
aging, and the government is in straight
J ened financial condition.
In regard to the Franco Chinese war
Rear Admiral Pierce Crosby, who is wei
known in Staunton, and who recently re
turned from China, has given his. views Of
the situationi to an. interviewer. In an
swer to questions he made the following
statement
''What do you think of the Franco-Chi
t nese complications ?' was asked.
: II i'm almost positive there's WILL n,
general war. 1t is against the interests O
; all the European powers and Of the entir,
commercial world for China to wage wa
to-day with a Western nation. TO tn,
Chinamap we are all alike-all Western
barbarians. They recognize no difference
! II England and America went to war i
would simply be fight between two coun
3 tries, but in China quarrel with Franc
! means war to the whole Western world
Z A difference with one means trouble Il
| all.
ITO explain, ! have only to relate an in
+ cident that happened during my stay il
= Canton. One day a Portuguese employee
at the Custom House quarreled with fel
:, low employe, Chinaman, and a scuf
: file ensqedi They were near the waite
3 and the Chinaman fell In and wa
: drowned. AS soon as his countrymel
!: learned the fact they started for the foreig
: quarter and proceeded to sack and bur
the houses of all the 'barbarians' alike
AS a class the people do not like foreigner
e and it is dangerous for an American O
e crop can to live among Them
How about their navy ?''
They undoubtedly possess some fin
vessels, from English and German build
/ ers. They number among their fleet sew
eral swift cruisers, ironclads and rams
and it is only now and then you see tn
picturesque old Chinese junk, so familia
to us in prints. Their vessels are all OF
n iicered 1e and manned by Chinamep the
: are clean, WeI,KepI. neatly naifted an
. ends. They are notS capable of competin,
with the French in war under tn
!, most favorable circumstances and thei
S fine ships would fall an easy prey to tn
!. willy Franchman.'
''Have they plenty of soldiers ~ wa
asked.
t They can get any quantity of men, bu
they have no means of equipment, littl
e drill and hardly any discipline. l wit
messed the drill of a body of cavalryme
one day at Shanghai and 1 had all l coul
: do to refrain from laughing. The Who'll
thing was perfect farce. On the horse
n was a sort of feather-bed platform, on to
Of which was perched the soldier, carry
ing bow and arrows and short woode
l. sword dangling at his side. They mad
d wild charges at an imaginary enemy, shoot
v ing away with their arrows at target
e but . handful Of European FiAemen Woul
/ have picked them of iii short order. Th
# breech-loading rifle, IN the hands Of on
: hundred well-drilled men, would be NOR
e than match for thousand of thei
> troops. The climate would be more deadl
s. to the European than they would be. L
n their forts, however, noticed some heav
# guns, probably Of German manufacture.
/ Has France many vessels On tthlle Chi
d The French fleet in Chinese waters
). not composed of very heavy vessels, bu
:, their force is large and they are adding t
9 it every day.