Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-08-28
FOREIGN NEWS.
HORRORS OF WAR.
Details of the Bombardment OF the Chi
nese Arsenal-The French Troops
Completely yAnnihilated-Thou.
sands Dead and Wounded
-GOrdOn's VictoryIn
the Soudan.
LONDON, Aug. %.

LONDON, Aug. %.
A despatch today from Shanghai 10 the
Reuters agency saws the French loss in the
bombardnent OF Foo Chow was killed and
IA wounded. The Chinese monitor Yang Wa
was exploded by torpedo after she had fired
troadside at French torpedo boat The
boiler of the torpedo boat was exploded bv
means of a grenade thrown from the Yang
Wa, after which the boat was sunk by the
Valta to prevent its being captured by the
Chinese.
The French expected to occupy the heights
commanding Pagada anchorage. 1t is re-
ported that there are IS, 900 Chinese troops in
the vicinity of Foo Chow.
According 10 reports received at Sontay
10000 Chinese troops have invaded Tonquin
and have already had an engagement with the
French troops In this battle it is asserted
that that the French were annihilated, while
several thousand Chinese were killed.
PARIS, Aug. 27.
An official report of the bombardment at
Foo Chow last Saturday, is received from
Admiral Courbet, and is as follows:
Foo CHOW. Apg. "A,
A good beginning has been made We
opened fire yesterday, and IN four hours nine
Chinese men of war and twelve junks were
sunk. and the battery commanding the arse
AIdl was ellFhGtu. ouI luss was sA
killed and % wounded. The fleet suffered
no serious damage except that the boiler OF a
torpedo boat was burst The Chinese losses
were heavy. During the night the fleet was
lighted by burning wrecks and logs. Tor
pedo cutters will clear all this away today.
and afterwards we will lombard the arsenal.
We shall not leave the river before the 29th
or Both. The officers and men are animated
with the greatest ardor.
CAIRO. Aug. ~.
Maj. Kitchener teegraphs from Dongola
that a spy has brought a report that Gen.
Gordon gained a great victory over the rebels
on Aug. IL, and that two rebel leaders were
killed in the engagement.
LONDON, Aug. ~
Circles interested in commercial relations
with China are debating the advisablity of
presenting memorial to Earl Granville.
This would urge the foreign department to
cooperate with America and Germany in
representing to France. the serious injury
which would be inflicted upon the trade by
interfering with the chinese treaty ports.
A telegram Just received from Shanghai
states that $4,000 Chinese troops, who have
been secretly massing on the frontier, sud
denly invaded Tonquin, and after desperate
fighting completely annihilated the French
troops in that province. The Chinese lost
several thousand men during the different
engagements which followed in quick success
sion. The massing of this large force on the
frontier of Tonquin has been going on for
some time under the supervision of expert
enced military leaders, and so well did they
conduct the affair that the French comman-
ders were unaware of the proximity of any
well regulated Chinese force until the latter
swept down upon them like an avalanche,
II. L.. i Ia
is said fought desperately and repeatedly
charged TIE Chinese lines; but As fast as the
latter were broken into they closed up again
with remarkable military precision. Many
hand-to-hand encounters ensued. The French
finally succumbed to the overw heming odds.
despatch from Shanghai says The
Mingono forts have been heavily bombarded
since sunrise, but the result is not yet known
The kinpal forts are untouched. Mails for
France are stopped at Hong Kong and for
warded thence in neutral vessels.
PARIS, Aug 27.
Minister Ferry still announces that he is
without additional dispatches from the scene
of hostlities. The journals are at their wits
end to find an excuse for Admiral COurbet's
silence. The government has ordered various
maritime companies to prepare to convey
troops to China and Tonquin Immediately
government transports being inadequate for
the purpose.
The Chinese forts on Min river are holding
out well against the French bombardment
The French are still unable to pass down the
river. The Chinese authorities are confident
in the strength of the forts.
1t is semi-ofically announced that after
Admiral Courbet leaves the main river he
will occupy the Island of Formooss, which
will remain in the hands of the French until
China pays the indemnity demanded by
France.