The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-28
The French Garrison at Tim
buctoo Fairly Annihilated.
Troops Made a Sortie and We're
Overwhelmed by Tauregs.
THE SECOND DISASTER.
Earlier in the Year French
Troops We're Massacred.
Arabs Stole Up and Killed Them
in Their Sleep.

PARIS, Aug. 26-Most startling news
has reached hero from Senegal, West
Africa. According to = report received,
( the French garrison At Timbuctoo after
three days desperate fighting with the
Tauregs and other hostile tribes which
have been investing that city for long
time past, made = sortie. The beleaguer-
! ing forces were overwhelming IN num-
bers and fell upon the sortio party, fairly
annihilating it.
This nows created CONSERVATION in many
circles, as it is the second serious disaster
the French have met with in the Vicinity
of TimbuctOO since that important SOud-
anese town was occupied by them early in
the present year. A French column, com
manded by Col. BANNER arrived at
IimbuctOO on January 10 and two days
later detachment of troops with Col
BANNER at its head, accompanied by
Commander Hugeny and the entire staff,
started out on accommodating expsdi-
ton. leaving Captain Philippe a senior
captain in charge OF the post At Timbuc-
too.
This French detachment in some man
ner never fully explained to the public,
WAS surprised asleep in camp ut Dough,
two hours march north Of Goundam and
three days march from TimbuctOo.
The Arabs chiefly Tauregs, mounted
and on foot. and armed with lances and
knives, entered the French camp by Sow
eral sides during the darkest hours Of
early morning and overturned the stacked
arms in front of the sharp-shooters, who,
surrounded, we're unable to seize their
rifles to defend themselves successfully.
The Arabs massacred nearly the entire
detachment, consisting Of the Fifth and
Eleventh companies of Soudanese sharp
shooters
A French officer, Capt. Nigot, though
seriously wounded in the head, succeed
ed in escaping to platoon Of soldiers
left some yards behind the main COM
pany to guard some captured hocks.
This platoon was under the command of
Lieutenant Sarda. 1t retreated TO Tim
buctoo, bringing with it a few wounded
men, who had escaped the massacre at
Dough
The Tauregs pursued the retreating
soldiers and practically invested Tim
buctOO, which Captain Philippe made
haste to defend pending the arrival of
achievements. It was stated that at
Dough the French lost nine officers, two
European sergeants, an interpreter and
one sergeant, six corporals and sixty-One
native sharps hooters
For the defense of Timbuctoo. Captain
Philippe had 800 rifles and six canon,
but this was a very small force with
which to hold town of 10000 pOpula-
ton situated among hot moving sands on
q
walled enclosure about three miles in
circumference
But a Column commanded by Col. Jof-
fire, was on its way to reinforce the
French at Timbuctoo and having sent
messengers to the colonel and communi-
Gated with the commander of the French
fotilla the Niger river, the captain
made the best disposal possible of his
small force, and with the cooperation Of
the pOpulace succeeded IN holding out
until thS Jofre column arrived THIS
column WAS composed Of \ company and
a half of sharp shooters, a squadron Of
Spahis (splendid African cavalry thirty
auxiliary Spahis and thirty guns.
1t also had the horses, mules, drivers,
etc, Of the frat column. 1t followed the |
land route by San Sanding, Moninpe, /
Nanpalg, Lere, Soumps and GOundem, !
and met with serious opposition during /
its advance. On January 20 a company !
of sharp shooters marched on Niafounke, !
supported by cavalry and artillery. They /
were confronted by two kilOmeters of a /
swamp which surrounded the village. in /
front of which were 400 warriors drawn /
up in battle array.
The warriors charged the French force. /
The latter in less than fifteen minutes /
killed over 100 of the Africans The /
others took fight and the village was /
captured without any loss on the part Of /
the Joffre column. Several such en-
gagements took place, cannon and cav /
airy being repeatedly called in to use but |
on February 2, the advance hotilla ar
rived at Goundan and met the advance /
guard OF the JOHre column and on Feb |
ruary ~ the latter reached Timbuctoo.
1t is in all probability part Of the force
of Capt. Philippe and Col Joffre, which /
according to the advices from Senegal |
had been cut to pieces by the Arabs Ii |
10 believed that the garrison Of Tlmbuc- /
too has, since the Joffre column arrived |
there been again reinforced