New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-14
THE FRENCH DISASTER IN ToNQUlM

Paris Correspondence Of The London Atdnddrd
The Temps prints series Of letters addressed
durne the last twelve months 70 various friends at home
by Commandment Riyere, which throw VIVID ignt upon
the the c e,tess bee w %areb isss When RvSe left
Saigon, where MS health lad suffered greatly from inc
enate for TonquIn. He complains, al the outset OF
the want OF dehnteness Judgment in the instr1c
tons received from home. lie was tod 10 reinforce the
garrison OF Hanoi but not to apply for permission TO do
so 70 lie Court OF Hue and thea 10 establish post on
the Red River, twelve leagues above H9Noi' nv ,e
iSson Of adyerbs, TO act paciacaly politically, admin
istratiyely, and not 10 fire gum Flnolng, h9NefeI
sch instructions absolutely impractcable Rviere on
fbe 18th of April 1882 after his arrival bOnoaaed
and captured the citadel aud Customs Offices LUIS
course disapproved aud repudated by the OVeIhO
Of Saigon. Who aimed at achieving everything oy
diplomacy He WILL however, certainly tal WIS
Rfy ere IL letter OF the 1lth OF July. THE Annamte
Government negotiating independently OF MN, au1
secretly with the English and Chinese. Tue ha %
Hanoi who are aware that / am disayOwed at Hue by
the Governor, have just applied to me 10y letter
couched In no very suitable terms Tor the ~
the royal pagoda occupied by soldiers ia the citadel
to which haye replied that the moment for complying
with their request had yet arrived IN
letter Ryere reports the absolute failure OF me poey
persisted by the Governor, the Court OF Hue having
ceased even from noticing his communication; By
resOlute and decided course Immediately altcr Lne cap
ture OF Hanoi, everything might nave been ootalncd
But Governor did neither one thing nor the other
Al the Court OF Hue be disayowed RVieres opeIli1s
and yet reraned from restoring TO the Annamtes either
the citadel the Customs offices Ryiere continues;
ain hye months. consequently, the Annanlte Govern
ment have courage. seeing very well that
neither Saigon Paris anything viii be attempt
ed and that my action Is therefore parayzed Tor the
better security they thrown themselves into the
hands OF the Chiuese, who have. without striking
blow done what we might have done with small effort
They have seized all Northern fonquin and the two
banks of the Red River. They have taken mp position
on the same bank wethe right baEk-where they oc
cupy sonta and Hong HON az thirty OF forty kilometres
from Hanoi China has done this, urging lis right as
sZerain AMMAN wished al the on tset tOoppOse the
Chinese passing 10 the right bank, but received such
oburgatiOns from Saigon aud FROM Paris that had TO
In another passage Ryiere protesting that under
circumstances will he suffer the least insoence on the
part Chinese. says: 1--WE have altogether 400 men
az Hanoi hold the redan that occupy in tho cta
del and concession the banks OF the river. have
some gunbOats that the fall OF the waters VIII soon TX
before Hanoi itself The Mandarin Anamltes make COM
mon cause with the Chinese troops and the famous
Black Flags whom the Chinese have taken in their
service"
TIE remainder Of the correspondence all tells the same
tale. "The Governor" he says, docs not know what
he wants and the Government give sgns OF life" In
d(a0genent whatever IL may be-" IN another he
writes: watch my Chinese, and wait" The last let
Ter of the correspondence written after the news
OF the fan of the Ducerc Cabinet had reached TOnqun
He says wonder who Is 10 be the new Minister OF
Marine / do not know whether TO regret Admiral
Jaureguiberry Had IL not been for the Governor OF
Saigon he would doubt, have done me justice MIN
isera dispatch Just received announces the arrival at
onoun by the Coreze OF 500 soldiers OF infantry OF ma
rne but the dispatch not say what am TO 40 with
them l. there ia there not 10 b. serious expedition
INTENDED the 1th OF this month febru
ary 1888 telegram TO Paris begging that might be
replaced. Thinking however, that This month VIII LOT
uass without definite events. shall wait"