St. Paul daily globe., 1894-01-07
MlSTOOK Them FOR ARABS
BATTLE BETWEEN FRENCH AND EN-
GLiSH SOLDIERS
ASSUMING a SERIOUS ASPECT.

French Soldiers Claim That They
Mistook the English Soldiers
for arabs Not Generally Be
lieved = English Newspapers
Inclined to Suspend Judgment
Until Facts Are All In.
LONDON, Jan. 6. Particulars con-
cerning the battle between French and
British troops OH the frontiers of Sierra
Leone. on the northwest coast of Africa.
are coming slowly, and every hour
seems to give a graver aspect to the
affair. The situation will require care
full handling in order to avoid serious
complications. Particulars of the en-
gagement received today say that the
British force, said to number about 500
native troops, sent against the Sofas.
were encamped near Warina, in the
sphere Of British influence, shortly be-
fore daylight OH Dec. %. This force was
attacked by thirty Senegalese sharp
shooters, supported by 300 native French
auxiliaries under Lieut.. Moritz. of the
French regular army.
The French opened fire upon the
British. who replied, and after the fight
ing had continued for some time the
French retired. and Lieut.. Moritz, who
had been wounded. was captured by the
British and brought into camp. Upon
being questioned as to his reason for
opening fire upon the British troops,
Lieut.. Moritz explained that he mistook
the British force for force Of Sofas
under European officers and Arab lead
ers. Lieut.. Moritz. in spite OF the as
sistance promptly rendered him, died
of his wounds. In addition ten of the
Seneyalese sharpshooters were killed.
| panied the expedition, IN addition to
Inspector Lendy, two were killed and
three were seriously wounded. The
British force, 1t is added, remains at
| Warina.
The governor of Sierra Leone cabled
| to the Marquis of Ripon, secretary OF
state for the colonies, today. confirming
| the dispatch in all points, and adding
| that the French pretend that they
| thought the British were enemies,
| thoungh it appears certain that the
scene of the encounter WAS we'll on the
| British side of the border. The colonial
| Office this afternoon announces that the
affair will be made the subject of
stringent inquiry, so soon as full de-
tails of the affair are received from the
governor of Sierra Leone
Later news received from Sierra
Leone says that the encounter took
! place during period of bright MOON
| light, and tha. when the French sur
prised the British force the latter were
| unprepared for the engagement, and
could not easily have been mistaken for
Sofas. The later dispatches also say
| that the French officer in command.
who was mortally wounded. prior to his
death in the British camp, was able to
the moonlight he miStOoll the white
campaigning costume of the British
officers for the white dress of Arab
chiefs, whom he supposed to be in COM
mand OF force of Sofas. 1t is now
said that this statement of the French
officer makes it perfectly clear that a
mistake was made by the French. and
that no responsibility attaches to the
British officers.
1t is not yet explained. however. what
the French force was doing in locality
| WHiCil NuS NCll hIlliiH tiiO 1'lllloii
border, and it is this point which is
| liable to lead to serious complications
| when coupled with the shooting of Brit
ish officers and soldiers.
The leading English newspapers are
| all inclined to suspend judgment over
the affair until full details of the en-
| gagement are received from the COVER
nor of Sierra Leone, and until an ex.
PLANTATION is furnished by tine French
authorities as to the presence within the
! British border of such large force of
| French troops.
The Daily News, which may be sup
posed to accurately reflect the views of
the government on the sub ject, says
| that the incident will form the basis of
strict inquiry upon the part of both
| governments, adding:
''Were the two nations involved less
strong and less sure of themselves. it
might result in immeaSurable evil.
Pending receipt of the details, no one
III this country can fail to realize the
tremendous responsibility which at
| taches to every utterance OH the sub
| ject.''
The Pail Mall Gazette remarks: The
| French were undoubtedly in our terri
tory, and it is difficult to understand
how even black troops clothed in the
conspicuous uniform OF the queen could
be mi.taken for Sofas. Happily. there
is no reason to fear serious difficulty
| with France