Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-04-02
The FrancO.ChInese War.

PARIS, March ga dispatch from Gen.
Negrier, dated Dong Dang, March cath,
says: The Chinese attacked Dong Dang
Sunday. advanced Monday and cap
tured their first line of forts defending
their camp at Bangba. To-day renewed
efforts were made by us against the enemy,
but these proved unavailing in the face of
superior numbers. Our artillery ammuni-
tion became exhausted, and we returned
TO Dong Dang Our loss in killed and
wounded number 300.
In the Chamber of Commerce to-day,
DE la Fosse asked the government to pub
lish the whole truth concerning the Dong
Dang affair.
In reply Ferry read Gen. Negrier's tele-
gram in reference to the engagement.
Ferry stated that measures had been COM
pleted for the dispatch of reinforcements,
the advance column of which were arriy-
ing at Langson. The affair at Dong
Dang he said, was merely an incident
of the war. the effects of which our glor-
ious commanders know how TO repair, and
which will not affect the confidence re-
posed in them by the Chamber
DE La Fosse Landed the bravery of tie
/ French soldiers, and expressed his regret
that such men should be sacrificed TO a mad
criminal enterprise.
This speech was greeted with mingled
applause aud protests.
/ Ferry, replying, said: IF you wish to
make the matter Cabinet question, do
so.n
De La Fosse thereupon declared that
/ though reinforcements had been repeated
! ly sent. the Tonquin expedition had been
barren of results.
The Chamber finally fixed on Saturday
n, the day for the discussion of the inter-
pelation by Granet upon the present state
1 of the Franco Chinese war.
PARIS. March 27.--The GdulOis says /:
\ Thirteen French officers were killed at
/ Dong Dong on Mondays and Tuesdays
/ fighting. and that Gen. Negriers position
I Is exceedingly precarious. Over 10000
4 Chinese troops are massed on the frontier
not far distant The Figaro urges the
French forces 10 Immediately march upon
Canton.
! PARIS, March 21.- All the morning
newspapers contain articles on the French
reverse at Dong Dong. A few editorials
severely criticised the government for its
dilatoriness in sending reinforcements to
7 Tonquin. but the majority are very warm
in the denunciation of the Cabinet for its
I Chinese policy. Roehefort has an editorial
on the debate in the Chamber of Deputies
last evening ON the Interpolation upon the
/ present state of France. The Chinese war
\ article concludes with the following words,
1 Cease to question the ministers and invoke
the guillotine."
PARIS, March 27.-The bourse to-day has
been in a state of panic. Immense trans
actions occurred but the tendency of prices
was steadily downward. The fright was
caused by bad news being received from
General Negrier, which showed that his
little army was in a most perilous position
at Dong Dong. The capture of Dong Dong
and the slaughter or paroling of Gen. Ne
grier's troops would have a very bad effect
on rentes just now. and dealers discounting
those events and an immense war be-
tween England and Russia also tended TO
knock the bottom out of the securities,
which are supposed to be upheld by gov
ernmental influence. The result was a
general break in every active stock. The
falling off and decline was most noticeable
in the Suez canal shares.