The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-27
THE SHIPS FIRED UPON.
French Vessels Run the Gauntlet
of Shot and Shell.
a sIAMEsE GUNBoAT RUN DOWN.
Rnmmed and Sunk by tho French War
ship Iuconstanto-No Further Damage
Done to Either side-Tho Fronch Fleet
Now at Bangkok.

ship Iuconstanto-No Further Damage
Done to Either side-Tho Frouch Fleet
Now at Bangkok.
PARIS, July 27- 1t is stated that an eff
fectiye blockade of the Siamese coast by
the French fleet will only begin on Satur-
day or Sunday next. Until then all powers
will not have received notice of Frances
intention to establish blockade
The Chinese charge d. affairs, it is stated,
has informed M. Develle that Siam had no
territory east of the Mekong as far north
as latitude 23, which parallel was claimed
by the French as the northern limit OF
their influence. He regarded it as unlikely
that the Black Flags would join the Siam
ese in the event Of hostilities with France,
but he thought that If they saw Francs
and Siam embroiled the Black Flags
might resume the offensive in 1onquin.
The Temps gives u detailed account of
how the French gunboats forced passage
up the Menam river The gunboats en-
tered the channel about o'clock in the
evening" and Immediately both forts and
the Siamese gunboats opened fire on the
French warships. The French gunboats
crossed the bar, notwithstanding the ex-
plosion of submarine torpedo directly
ahead of the fleet. The Inconstante
rammed and sunk Siamese gunboat.
About 9 o'clock the forts at Paknam
opened fire at a range of oDe-quarter of
mile The French gunboats all this time
were making ten knots an hour against
the stream. At 9:30 o'clock the French
fleet anchored in front of the French leGa-
tion at Bangkok. The cannonade had lit
lie effect, owing to the darkness.
Lord Dufrerin had an audience with M
npvnl1a yaGtprlnU A cabinet cnuncil yuoa
held at o'clock last evening, but the
greatest secrecy was maintained as to what
took place Mt the meeting. Another cabi-
net council will be held tomorrow.
The police of this city, by order of the
government, are seizing cheap maps of
Siam, which are offered for sale on the
boulevards, and which represents the
Siamcse frontier in accordance with En-
glish ideas.
SAIGON, July 27.-Captain Villers, who
is in command of the French forces at
Khong, reports that the capture of Fort
Donson by the French produced an excel
lent impression. The governor of the
Island of Kong was killed during the at
tack and his death hastened the retreat of
the Samese. The French flag had been
hoisted on the Island of Rouestmlem,
which will be made the basis OF future op-
also decided to take possession of other
islands on the Gulf of Siam.
LONDON, July 21-A private telegram
from Bangkok announces that the British
gunboat Pigmy has replaced the Swift be-
fore Bangkok, for the protection of Brit
ish residents. England has an adequate
feet on the East India and China stations,
numbering twenty-ciyht vessels, including
the Imperiense, n cruiser of 1890 tons.
France can only muster nineteen vessels,
OF which the largest is only 4,TO0 tons.
It is believed that NJ. Develle hopes that
this pacific blockade will induce Siam to
surrender at discretion. Should Siam still
resist aud the blockade be made effective,
British interests would suffer severely
The London merchants int crested in the
Siamese trade have forwarded joint let
ter to Lord Rosebery, pointing to the In
jury which would be inflicted by the block
adc of Singapore and Hongkong.
The Standards correspondent says ho
believes that the French cabinet i. becom-
ing more amenable in its negotiations
with England over the Samese dispute.
A Bangkok dispatch to The Daily News
says that Captain II. NJ. Jones, British
minister TO India, acting under orders
cabled from London, has maintained n
strictly -committal attitude in the
matter OF the Franco-Siamese imbroglio.
BERLIN, July 27.-The Tageblatt rcioices
over the prospect that England, who scorn-
fully holds aloof from the dreibund, may
become embroiled with France over tha
Siamese affairs. England, says The Tage-
blatt, will betaught IL lesson, and she need
not expect to receive German support.
Other newspapers express similar senti-
ments, although in milder language.