The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-09-10
MORE TROUBLED
WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND CHINA

LONDON, August 23rd.-A Times dispatch from
Foo Chow dated o'clock this morning saws: At
O'Clock last night Admiral Courbet officially an
nounced that he had received orders from Paris to
make reprisals. The British Vice Consul left last
night and reached English guuboats at midnight
dispatch from Shanghai, dated this morning
says: Admiral Courbet has announced his inten-
ton to lombard the arsenal at Foo Chow to-day
The French Consul at this city has lowered his
flag.
Advices from Peking of yesterday state that the
Governors of Hunan and Quangsi have received
imperative orders to march their forces into Ton
quin.
HosTuITIEs BEGUN.
A dispatch TO the Times which left Foo Chow at
2:l5 =. NJ. to-day, says Hostilities begun this
afternoon ut O'Clock.
EFFECT OF THE NEWS on FRENCH RESTEs..
PARIS, August 23rd.-2:3O 2. M.-Three per cent
rentes opened this morning at IS francs 2IS cen
times for account but since have fallen TO II francs
9214 confines.
CHANCE FOR PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
PARIS, August 23rd.-i p. M.-Three per cent
rentes this morning before the regular opening OF
the Bourse were buoyant at IL francs % centimes
for account, on the report that Lii Fong Pao
Chinese Minister, would continue negotiations
with the French Government.
RESULT OF THE COMMANDMENT
LONDON, August 2Jth.-A Times dispatch says
The Foo Chow arsenal was destroyed yesterday
d1ter uNe nOurb DOmDdrQIntnt by COutDetS SQua-
dron. Seven Chinese gunboats were sunk and two
escaped. The European settlement was undis-
turbed. The French feet sustained no damage
Of the Chinese men-of-war which escaped the
French bombardment at Foo Chow, one was strand
ed end had her back broken. The other met with
no mishap. The French shelled the barracks and
camps near the Quantao. No resistance was made
to the attack. Tbs Consulate building was looted
with Chinese soldiers, who were in uniform and
armed. The French Chief of staff reports the loss
of the French at six men. The Times correspon-
dent believes that this estimate 10 untrue. An
English pilot was killed on Saturday night when
the French opened their heavy fire, and il is be-
lieyed that they sunk one of their own torpedo-
boats. The Chinese fleet lately on the Min river,
with the exception of two ships, was blOtted out.
No surrender was allowed the disabled and sinking
ships. After their guns we're silenced they were
shelled four hours. Admiral Courbet opened fire
at . 2. NJ. and the Chinese replied almost stimuli
taneously. The dockyard and arsenal were fired
Immediately, but with only partial success. Eleven
vessels formed the Chinese feet-mostly light
river and coast transports-and we're really toys.
The French had eight heavily armed ships, namely,
the Volta, Dugay, Touryille, Delaining, Aspe,
Nipere, Lynx and Nillars. Several Chinese gun
boats maintained bravely desultory fire for about
a quarter of an hour, when the survivors or their
crews leaped overheard. The combat was practic-
ally finished IN seven minutes. The superior
French artillery made the contest after the dsabl
ing of the Chinese vessels, no fight but massacre
This is the opinion Of every spectator. Two eigh-
teenton gunboats of the Chinese fleet fought WELL
one sinking near the English man-of-war Cham
pion, while one stationed above the junks made a
good stand. The French kept up fire on the
arsenal neighborng buildings, forts, barracks and
villages until O'Clock III the afternoon, although
resistance from the batteries ceased about 3 p M
Some French and Chinese ships were engaged in
close proximity to the English men. of-war Vigil
ant aud Champion.
TIE FRENCH FLEET.
The following is a list of the French vessels and
other armament in the China squadron: The Ba-
yard, the flagship of the squadron, is wooden
ironclad of the second class. Her armament con-
sists of four 81 inch guns barJette; six 81 inch
guns in the battery and two center pivoted y Inch
guns on deck. She also carries four Hotchkiss
machine guns and spar torpedoes.
The Atlanta, wooden; armament, six rs and
six ~ Inch guns.
The Victorieuse and Triomphante, sister iron.
clads, armament, six 81, one III and six 81 inch
guns, protected by six-inch armor.
The fngate Gourville- armament, seven u inch
guns on deck, fourteen 81 Inch guns in the bat
terry and torpedo apparatus. Her hull is of iron,
cased with wood.
The cruisers Villars and Chateau Reuard are OF
the second class. The armament of the former
consists of fifteen 81 inch guns and torpedo an.
paratus, while the Chateau-Renard carries only
seven 81 finch guns.
The cruisers Hamelin, Kersaint and Volta are Of
the third class. They each carry one Ga and five
5IS-inch guns
The Parseval, wooden, armament, four 51165-inct
guns.
The Albuette, Pluvier, Eclair snd Trombe, all
wooden paddle vessels, built for river service
They each carry three Hotchkiss machine guns
The gunboats Nipere Lutin and Lynx are the
largest on the station. The former carries two
% and two finch guns, while the Lutin and Lynx
each carry one ~ and two 4-inch guns.
The Leopard and Fanfare also gunboats, are
built of wood. They each carry one ~ and one
Sf-inch gun.
The Surprise, old wooden gunboat carries
two 81 inch guns.
The remainder of the fleet are all gunboats
built especially for service in China and consist
of the Carablne, Contelas, Escopette, Estoc Fra
NEE, Hache, Javeline, Massue, Musquelon and the
Yatagan. They are ali built of wood Theil
armament consists of 81 81 and ~ inch guns.
In addition to these there are several transports
The transports the Cher, Annamite Drae
Mytho, Tonquin, Bien-Hao, Saone and Winh-Lono
They vary in size from 1913 to 1886 tons and arr
each armed with from two to four small-calibeI
guns.
This feet of thirty-eight vessels of all classes
exclusive of transports, carried approximately 52
men, force which has undoubtedly been largely
uOns, are very inefficient and would prove nc
match against any other enemy.
THE CHINESE FLEET.
China's navy is composed of four divisions
namely: The Pei-Ho and North Coast the Foe
Chow, the Shanghai and that of Canton
In the Pel-Ho division the only sea-going vessels
are the steel deck cruisers Yang Vol and
Iehao- fung, built in England in 1881. Each car
ry two 6-ton 1O-inch Armstrong guns on center
plvots, commanding nearly all-around fire