The Portland daily press., 1885-03-30
THE OLD WORLD.
French Troops in Tonquin Suffer
Another Defeat.
An ImpetuOus Attack Made by the
Chinese,
And the French Hastily Retreat
Closely Followed by the Enemy.
The Troops at Suakim Greatly Over
worked.
Affairs in Egypt.

| SUAKIM, March 28.-Nearly all the infantry
and cavalry escorting the convoy have arrived
safely at the zereba on the Tamai road. The
| NUMBER OF sunstrokes among the troops Ia
| daily Increasing. The troops are greatly over
worked escorting conveys during the day and
doing sentry duty at night. The building of
tne Berber railway has been suspended outside
| OF Suakim, owing to the inability of the army
10 aHord protection along the line beyond the
camp 1t has been decided that the forces
necessary for such protection cannot be shared,
az least until after the impending battle at
Ismal, which is expected to be decisive shall
nave been fought. The laborers engaged for
tne railway construction will be employed, in
the mean time, in the much needed work of
Suakim.
Ger Graham and the army of advance ar
rived to-day at Gen. McNeilPs zereba This
advance includes all the troops except 80 men
from each regiment, who were left behind to
garrison Suakim. A violent sand storm de-
layed the movement considerably.
osmaa Digns's losses during the engage
ments Oh the past week are estimated at 1000
men.
LONDON, March 29.-Latest adyicss state
that Gen. Wolseley after making an inspection
OF the military stations from Dongola 70 Cairo
will go to Suakim. 1t is now certoin that the
advance of Gen. Graham's army to Tauai
Will De made Wednesday, sufficient water
stores at Gen. McNeill's zsreba having been
completed to-day.
SuAKISG, March 29.-The New South Wales
contingent arrived here to-day. The Austria
llans were met by Gen. Graham who congra-
tuiated them on their fine appearance and
eulogized their patriotic intentions, saying he
was proud to commend such men. They were
heartily cheered on landing. They will take
part in the advance on Tamai. 1t is reported
Osman Digna has moved his camp to Tama-
nieb.
The French in TOnqnin.
PARIS, March 28-The debate on the govern.
ment's policy with regard to the compaign in
Tonquin was resumed in the Chamber of De-
puties to-day, and was characterized by a re-
petition OF the heated and acrimon ious meet
lngs that have attended the discussion of this
snbject whenever brought up. After numer-
ous interpretations with regard to the opera
tions now going on against China, which were
either evasively or vaguely answered, Premier
Ferry arose and, in quite an extended speech,
said he greatly deplored the violent utterancss
made In the debates on this question and
3ounselled moderation in dealing with the
subject M. Ferry was frequently appauded,
and a motion to vote the order of theday pure
and simple was carried By vote of 273 TO 227,
The closeness OF the vote ia looked upon as on
ly nominal victory for the government, and
the opposition claim that few more disasters,
such as Dong Dong, will result in the over
throw of the ministry.
PARIS, March 49,
The Chinese forces gained victory over
the French at Langson, Friday. They carried
the Key or the position and entrenchments
and the French troops retrsated beyond Dong
Dong. They are falling back on Lang Koi
Th6 French loss in men and guns is unknown
The Chinese, it is estimated, are so, 600 strong
and they menace the French lines in the SOUTH
L is reported at Paris that Gen Briere de
u Isle asks reinforcements to the number of
10000 men. The French reverses haye in
creased ths political excitement in Paris and
the narrow majority obtained by the govern
ment yesterday, on the vote of Confidence
leads to the expectation that the ministry will
be defeated in the next Tonqun debate and
will then resign. The Radical and Monarch
lst organs predict the early fall Of Premier
Ferry.
The following despatch has been received
from Gen Briere de L Isle dated Hanoi, March
70: Il regret TO announce that Gen. Negrier has
oeen severely wounded and been obliged to
evacuate LapgsoH. The Chinese in three
large columns made an impetuous attack upon
our positions before Kilua. Col Herbing
IN the face of a superior number OF the enemy
and exhausted ammunition, was obliged to
retreat to Dong Dong and Thaunoi. 1 am
massing forces on the Chu and Kep roads, but
II the enemy Still increase 1 shall retire to
Lang koi; Whatever happens hope to be
able to defend the whole dslts. Please send
reinforcements as quickly as possible"
The cabinet met at this evening, and
another meeting will be held at 8 tomorrow
morning The journal des Debates saws:
Francs will make the necessary efforts in be-
half OF her sons In TonquiD. Reinforoements
will be sent, not tomorrow, but today. To-
morrow, however, we shall see with whom the
responsibility rests"
The cabinet has decided to dispatch rein
forcements to Tonquin Immediately and to ask
in the Chamber of Deputies today credit of
10000. 0Oe francs, half for the ministry of war
aud half for the ministry of marine
LONDON, March 29. "A dispatch from Paris
says: 1t is officially announced tnat the Chi
nese troops on the Tonduin frontier made a
desperate attack upon the entrenched camp
which had been established by Gen. Negrier
betwean Lsngson and Kilua, and from which
Gen. Negrier bad been making reconnisapce
beyond the frontier separating Tonquin from
China proper. The Chinese drove the French
back to Langson and recaptured that town.
Gen. Negrier was grievously wounded, and
the French casualties we're very serious.
Latest accounts represent the French troops
to be in full retreat, with the Chinese vigor-
ously pursuing them. A vast quantity of
commissary and other stores has been lost
Gen. Negrier received a gun shot wound in
the chest He was brought from the field, bat
bis recovery is doubtful. The total French
loss in killed and wounded is not vet known
Gen. De L'Isle, who is in chief command in
Tonquin, telegraphs for assistance in an i'm
piorlng tour which leads Parisians to expect
further disaster.
A council of war was held to-day with Gen.
Lewal, minister of war dresiding. Intense ex-
citemsnt prevails wherever the bad news has
become known in France.
Largest Oil Mills in England Burning.
LONDON, March 29.-Charles Price & Co.'S
oils at Belvere, Kent, are on fire. It is uss-
less to try and extinguish the flames and they
will burn down. Loss 9200, 900. The mills
are the largest in England. 1t is expected the
fire will burn several days.