The record-union., 1894-02-10
public.
sneciaI to the REcoRp-UNIox.

~ SAAN ANASSC'A"A O~'AS-'s
PARIS, Feb. 9.-Premier Casimir Per-
eradmits the French column was attacked
and destroyed by natives near Timbuc-
too, and that several officers were killed,
but declared he would not evacuate Tim
buctoO. and reinforcements are already
forwarded.
The Governor ofSoudan telegraphs that
Colonel Bonnier's column left Timbuctoo
December lst on a reconnaissance, and
was surprised while asleep when about
three days march from Timbuctoo. The
success of the Tuaregars emboldened other
tribes, and the retreat OF the French was
continually harassed. On arriving at
Timbuctoo the commander at once began
throwing up entrenchments in the eX-
pectation of combined attack by the
natives. The latter are said to be mus
tering forces for that purpose.
The Secretary Of the Colonial Depart
ment this afternoon received a telegram
from st. Louis, Senegal, stating that
Colonel BONNER, eleven other officers
and go privates were massacred by the
Iuaregars. Another account puts the loss
at sixty seven.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
PARIS, Feb. 9.-The following details
of the disaster were given out by the
French Government upon information
received from Captain Philippe, French
Commandant at IimbuctOo. The Tuare-
gars, armed with lanceS and knives,
made the first attack upon the leading
division of the French column. The at
tack was SO desperate and well sustained
that the first division was apparently cut
to pieces.
News of the disaster was brought to the
second portion of the column by Captain
Nugette. who, badly wounded, managed
to escape. The second division was en-
camped few miles in the rear of the ad-
vance guard, which was surprised during
the darkness of the early morning. The
officer i'll command of the rear guard i'm
meuiately commenced TO retreat upon
Tim bucJoo. leaving the vanguard, COM
manded by BONNER, to its fate.
The official statement admits that at
least nine French officers, including
Colonel BONNER, two European nom
commissioned officers and SIXty-eight
native soldiers. were massacred. n
official reports, emauating from the War
Department and Colonial office, say the
loss in killed and captured was at least
800.
The rear guard reached Timbuctoo on
December 18th, carrying number Of
wounded. Several men, i'll addition to
those admitted to have been killed when
the vanguard was cut to pieces, are said
to have been either killed or lett dying
along the route during the retreat to Tim
buctoo.
Captain Philippe gathered his whole
force together and began throwing up
entertainments to secure his position, as
Timbuctoo was seriously threatened by
Tuaregars. The Tuaregars become so
aggressive that they pushed up close to
the French soldiers at work in the en-
trenchments, and killed and wounded
several. Captain Philippe organized
small parties, who made Sallies upon the
Tuaregars, driving them backward and
killing a number. Once or twice every
night the natives made attacks upon the
French lines, killing and wounding sew
eral in the garrison
The force of the enemy is estimated at
four to ten thousand. The French only
had 800 men in the entertainments, and
this force was only supported by six
small field pieces. When Captain Phil
lippe was informed by messengers that
the offere column was on It's way to re-
lieve him, he sent a messenger to Colonel
JofTere to warn him that his force was in
danger of attack by Arabs. Captain
Philippe also sent 4 request to the Gov-
ernor Of Soudan that the French flo
tilla of Niger should not leave that dis
trict until the JOf1ere column reached
Timbuctoo.
News of the disaster has caused a SEN
sation in Paris, and it is already an
nounced that several questions on the
subject will be asked as soon as possible
in the Chamber of Deputies. It is under
stood the Government viii say that Bon
nier's expedition was undertaken upon
his own initiative, and against the orders
OF the Government.
1t is semi-otlicially stated that the Gov
ernor of Soudan has taken extraOrdi-
nary measure to relieve the French forces
at Timbuctoo, and all French outposts
have been doubled,