The daily gazette., 1883-09-15
FRANCE : CHINA WAR.
A HEAVY ENGAGEMENT NEAR
SONTAY.
THE BLACK FLAGS DEFEATED.
Two Reports of the Battle-No Prospect of
Peace, Though Negotiations Are Still
Going ON.

LONDON, Sept 14.-The news from China
to-day puts an entirely new phase upon the
lonquin troubles, and, it is generally be-
heved, puts an end to the peace negotiations
with France, and makes war inevitable. A
battle has taken place between the French
forces and the Black Flags, in which the
latter were routed. There are various ac-
counts of the fight,some being received herr
and others in Paris.
According to Reuters telegram from
Hong Kong, the engagement occurred "be-
tween Han-noi and Sontay, near the Red
hlVer, and lasted eight hours. The French
iorces are reported as having lost two Off
| GERS and 80 men. The loss of the Black
Flags is estimated at between 500 and 6OG
men. Han-noi is the town where the French
have been holding their garrison since the
previous engagement at Sontay awaiting re-
| inforcements.
French accounts of the battle state that
on Saturday. the LIST of September. the
French forces from Han-noi advanced to
Within IL miles of Sontay, where the enemy
was found in casemate forts, upon which
the fire of the French had no effect. After
three days hard fighting, the French tloops.
under General Bouet, carried the enemv's
works at the point of the bayonot, capturing
two towns and two Black Flag standards.
The French loss was two officers and IA
'uen killed and three officers and 40 men
wounded
After the victory General Bouet withdrew
his fleet to Han-noi to await reinforcements.
leaving 300 men to hold the captured towns
Inc French naval force at Tonquin under
General bouet comprises the ironclads Bay-
ard, OF four guns, the Atlante, of 12 gums.
the Iriomphante, of eight guns, the cruisers
Irouvillee and Chateau Renaud, the trans
ports Annamite and Mytho, each carving
two guns; the gunboats Lynx and Vipere,
eacn carrying four guns. and the Fanfare,
the Leopard and the Surprise, each carving
two guns. There are four sloops carving
an aggregate of IA guns. Two torpedo
Launches are also attached to the fleet.
THE BLACK FLAGS PURPOSE.
1t is probable from the tenor of these dis-
patches that the Black Flags, whose head
quarters are at Bac-Minh, to the northeast
OF Han-noi, determined to recapture Sontav
frcm the French, who have kept gunboats
there the last fortnight, and while en- route
from Bac-Mlnh across the delta were met
by French force sent from Han-poi to in
tercept them, the battle being the result.
THE RIoTING AT CANTON.
LONDON, Sept. 14-Additional details
from Hong Kong of the outbreak at Canton
on Monday, say that the riot began at
O'Clock in the morning. As previously
stated the trouble was caused by a ouarrel
between some Chinese and a Portnruese
watchman on the quay. During the latter
part Of the riot some of the merchants
armed themselves to defend their uropertv.
The party consisted of nine Germans and
three Englishmen. They fired into the mob.
killing five Cinnamon and wounding many
more. The arrival of Chinese troops finally
checked the mob.
There are now two British, one French
and five Chinese gunboats moored in the
river abreast the foreign settlement The
Chinese have placards on the wall of the
city applauding the action of the populace.
and calling upon the m to kill the Europeans
at the next opportunity which presents IT.
self. The different consuls at Canton ad-
init that the situation is very serious. and
that the future of the European COLONY ia
gloomy in the extreme. There is almost
open war between the native and foreign
and 1t will be necessary to have
men-of-War in the harbor for long time TO
come as measure of protection.
The houses burned by the mob include 10
English, one American, two German and
one French The eonsus have fol warded
to the Viceroy an identical note, holding
him answerable for the destruction of the
because he failed to promptly
send troops when advised of the disorders.
IhTee Cnlnanent VINO were caught in the
act OF plundering property, and the Portu
guese, who was the immediate cause of the
outbreak, are now imprisoned at the British
consulate.
POINTS OF THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS,
LONDON, Sept. 14.-Regarding the Peace
negotiations, prior to the news of to-day the
Sosf, OF Paris, processes to give the follow
ing as the heads of the proposals by the
Marquis Iseng, the Chinese ambassador. To
NJ. Challemel-Lacour: That France shall
cease sending reinforcements to Tonauin:
that China will recognize the treaty of Hue,
but will retain the right OF investiture of the
Annamese sovereigns; that the French
shall be under Chinese control
and under the direction of military manda-
rims; that China shall be reim-
bursed for all expenses incurred In
the repression OF the Black Flags,
The Repabtiqae Frdncdise, of Paris, takes
The ground that France cannot accept the
proposed establishment of neutral zone.
but will be satisfied If Tonquin is withdrawn
entirely from Chinese Jurisdiction. 1t saws
hat If England can guarantee the agree
nent of China to these points the whole
trouble will be speedily ended,
The French Cabinet held acouncil TODAY.
VI. Challemel-Lacour was present and stated
hat the negotiations with the Chinese Am
oassador were progressing favorably. The
orwarding OF reinforcements to Tonquin was
discussed, and was endorsed by the council.
t was also agreed that France, In It's nepo-
lations with China, should adopt concil-
atory policy.