The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-07
MISTAKEN FOR NATIVES.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE KILL.
ING OF BRITISH TROOPS.
when Fired Upon the BritIsh Responded
and the French Captain Was Killed.
Mistaken for tho Sofas Tribes.

LONDON, Jan. 6.--Further details hava
been received from Freetowu. capital OF
Sierra Leone. Of the killing OF British
troops by the French. According to the
latest inform alton The British were en-
gagged In the Connoh district. near Warina.
The camp was within the British sphere.
At daylight on December sd thcy were
attacked by the French force. consisting
OF thirty Senegalcse fharp-shOotcrs and
LOO natives who were headed by Lieu
tenant Moritz.
The British Responded.
When they were fired upon the British
at once responded. and the French shortly
aftcrward retired. Lieutenant Moritz was
wounded and captured by the British.
He was questioned as to his reasons for
attacking them, and explained that he be-
| lieved that the British troops. who were
| blacks, were members % tue Sofas tribes.
and that their European officers. who were
deeply tanned by the African sun. were
/ Arabs. Lieutenant Moritz died from the
effects Of his wounds soon after his cap.
ture
British Lost Only six.
| The latest details placed the British
loss at only six, instead of tWonty-six
| prlvates. The report OF the killing OF
Captain Lendy. Lieutenants Wroughton
and Liston, and a sergeant were contra
| dicted. Nineteen OF the British troops were
seriously wounded. The loss Of the
French force is not known. The British
| force remains at Marina.
Mistaken To- Natives
Another report OF the engagement says
that it took place by moonlight. aud that
It was ov ng to this fact that Lieutenant
Moritz Was not able TO distinguish the
| uniforms of the British troops. The lat
ter were taken by surprise. The confu-
sion in the British camp was great. and
this was added 20 By careless firing on
the part Of the British. The latter were
well within British territory.
Oniciai News Received.
Col. a. g. Ellis. OF the West India Regl-
ment. has telegraphed TO campboll-Ban-
herman. Secretary of State for War a
dispatch dated Warlna, December 23d, as
follows.
Before daybreak this morning our
camp was suddenly attacked by strong
force OF natives, several Of whom were
armed with rifles. For forty minutes
there was hot fire. The enemy used
trees for cover. The killed OF the West
India Regiment are Lieutenant Liston,
/ nttpnu Lieutenant NlOnHntou, Sergeant
Carrahor. and four privates
"The killed Of the constabulary were
Captain Lendy and two priystes.
"rhc severely wounded were Sergeant
| Field and fourteen priyates OF the regi-
ment and three priyatos Of the constabu-
larry"
COL Ellis then describes the rcpulsc OF
the attack. the finding OF Lieut.. Moritz
fatally wounded. and his death on the
same day, and proceeds:
Before his death he said that natives
| had told him that We were Sofas, and
that ne had no idea that We were British.
Lieut. Moritz and the ten Senegalcse who
We're Killed in the fight were buried with
military honors
sho nv Their Own MSn.
"Capt. Lcndy and two constables were
shot by their own men.
| Another letter has been sent 10 the
| French commander at kissi, informing
him OF the occurrence and assuring him
that the friendly relations existing VIII
not be disturbed, owing 10 Lieut. Moritz
mistake.
"Warina Is within our own sphere
which is the source OF the baDez rNer'
which follows eastward
Colonel Ellis reports that he had sent
two letters Of advice to the French COM
II
Of the British.
French Press Comments.
The Journal Des Debats says 1t declines
20 believe that the French were response
bic for the Warina affair. 1t complains
that the French were never officially
notified Of the departure OF the British
force into the interior.
La Liberte says IL has reason 10 believe
that the British were wholly b.ameable.
The Temps expresses the opinion that
the affair was undoubtedly the result
OF misunderstanding IL adds that the
only means 10 prevent repetition OF the
affair is 10 bring about Immediately the
delimitation OF boundaries. the absence
Of which caused the resrettable encounter.
A Cabinet council will be convened on
Tuesday TO consider the reports OF the
battle at Warina.