The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-28
FRANCE AND CHINA.
Tonquin Invaded by Chinese and
the French Army Annihilated.
Official Report Of the BOmbardment Of
Foo Chow.
THOUSANDS OF CHINESE KILLED
AND WOUNDED.

LONDON, Aug 27.-According to reports
ceiVed at Sontay $4,000 Chinese troops have in
vaded Tonquin and have already had an engage
ment with French troops In this battle it is as
serted that the French were annihilated while sew
eral thousand Of the Chinese were killed.
NEW YORK, Aug. 27.-The Graphic has a de-
spatch from London telling the story of the inva-
sion of Tonquin as follows
"a telegram Just received from Shanghai states
that &C, 600 Chinese troops who had been secretly
massed on the frontier, suddenly invaded Tonquin.
and after desperate fighting completely annihiated
the French troops in that province the Chinese
losing several thousand killed during the different
engagements which foil wed in quick succession.
According to the above despatch, the massing of
this large force the frontier of Tonquin has been
going on for some time, under the supervision
conduct the affair that the French commanders
were unaware of the proximity of any wellregulat-
ed Chinese force, until the latter swept down upon
them like avalanche with the above results.
The French troops it is said fought desperately and
repeatedly charged the Chinese lines, but as
fast as the latter were bros into they closed up
again with remarkable military precision and
many hand-to-hand encounters eDsued. The French
finally succumbed to overwhelming odds.
PARIS, Aug 27.-An official report of the bonn
bardment of Foo Chow last Saturday has been re-
ceived from Admiral Courbert 1t is dated at Foo
Chow, Sunday, and is as follows:
"a good beginning has been made. We opened
ire here today and in four hours nine Chinese mem
of-war and twelve jnnAs were sunk, and Krupp
battery commanding the arsenal was silenced.
Our loss was six killed and twentyseven wounded.
The fleet suffered no serious damage, except that
the bUiler of torpedo boat was burst. The Chinese
losses were heavy. During the night the feet was
beset by burning wrecks and logs. Torpedo cutters
will clear all this today and afterwards we will
lombard the arsenal We shall not leave the river
before the 18th or Both. The officers and men are
animated with the greatest ardor."
One Of the torpedo boats sank large Chinese
cruiser. The vessels which took part in the action
were the Volta which hoisted flag, Duguy Tro-
min, Triomphante Villars De Stang, Aspic, Lynx
and Vipere, together with torpedo boats.
LONDON, Aug. 27.-A despatch of today from
French loss in the bombardment of Foo Chow was
seven killed and fourteen wounded The Chinese
loss is es mated at 1000 killed and 5000 wounded.
The Chinese man OF, war Yanwa exploded by
torpedo after she had fred broadsde at q French
torpedo boat The boiler of the latter exploded
Yangwa, after which the boat was sunk by the
Volta to prevent its being captured by the Chinese
The French expected to occupy the heighIs COM
manding the pagoda anchorage. 1t is reported
that there are 900 Chinese troops in the vicinity
of Foo Chow.
A private telegram received here reports that
the Chinese forts the Min river are holding out
well against the French bombardment, and the
French gunboats are still unable to pass down the
river The Chinese authorities are confident of the
strength of the forts.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27.-It is learned at the
Navy Department that additional instructions
have been given to Rear Admiral Davis, command
ing the Asatic squadron in regard to his attitude
toward the Franco Chinese war. Some months ago
attention to the protection of American interests in
China and it has not been thought necessary to re
peat them. His squadron is now in the vicinity of
Foo Chow.5