The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-02-01
ABOUT BAC-NINH.
A Sketch of the Chinese Town which the
French are Threatening to Attack.

Since 1870, or earlier, Bac.Ninh has been
gsrrisoned by Chinese Imperialst troops, or,
TO be more accurate, by the Kwangtung
militia. These troops were sent by the
| Viceroy OF Canton at the earnest entreaty of
the King Of AMMAN. The whole Of Tonouin
was then in danger of falling into the hands
OF the Black and Yellow Flags, and 1t was
| only the Intervention of the Suzeraip power
which prevented such . catastrophe. Ten
years ago there was q garrison Of two hun.
dred Cinnamon In the ciLaipl arI th.ra ha,
never been anything T., 81 ~ thr ,h.y have
returned TO their osL c,Il'ry Gen. Tehen,
| Chinese warrior wh has ~ ale some mama
for himself, WAS then the commander. A
Few weeks ago 1t was announced that this
same General had gone to the Kwangtung-
Tonquin frontier. Probably he has since
"deserted" across the border line. However
that may be, it Is as certain as anything can
be in Tunqu In that Bac Mini Is held by the
Hwang us troops. At the present moment,
when an advance Of the French In force
upon Bic'Ninh appears to- be imminent, a
description Of Bac. Mini will prove interest
ing: As II position BAG Mini Is not place
which gives the Cinnamon much chance.
The fortress Is a quadrilateral, furnished
with bastions, aud, like all others in Ton.
qu!n, Is vt the Vauban type. When last a
European was there the few guns mounted
were honeycombed with age. Possibly there
Ia lnmpt HING
but In any case 1t does not much matter, for
the place Is commanded by some low hills
from quarter to half mile distant. These
eminences are perfectly devoid Of vegetation
and offer, therefore, no difficulty In getting
the guns into position. ...
1t Is In making their way to these hills
that the French will find the trouble. I'm
like the majority Of Eastern towns, BAG.
Mini does not stand on river. 1t Is about
two miles from the Thai Binh arm of the
Song koi delta and four from Do.ho, a small
village on the song-chi canal. From this
latter place Is an imperial road to Bac. Mini.
This road Is, however, mere delusion. IL
Is an embankment about yard wide. worn
away by the floods In many places and prob.
aoly nowhere able to support the weight of
field artillery. Apart from the fact that il Ia
In the occupation Of the Chinese, the town
Is Of no Importance. There are not more
than five or six hundred thatchsd houses, ar.
ranged In semi-circle outside the fosse of
the citadel. These houses are, however.
surrounded with high bamboo aud cactus
fences, aud are scattered about regardless Of
order in q tangle Of bamboo clumps and
palm trees. II retreat Is cut off there NAV.
therefore, be some desperate fighting before
the place Is taken. Bac.Nnh Is now very
strongly fortified and will prove hard nut
for the French to crack. It Is very probable
that the Chinese garrisons have been strongly
from over the border and that
during the past six months the work of
strengthening the bsstions and forts ha,
gone on steadily. 1t Is just possible that
Bac'N Mini will prove the Plevna Of TONG uin,
and the attempt to carry 1t Is, therefore,
atched with keen interest both In the far
Eas. and In Europe.