The morning call., 1894-02-10
CUT TO PIECES.
French Troops Defeated
by Tuaregs.
SHUT UP IN TIMBUCTOO.
The Garrison Even Now in
Deadly Peril.
PROMPT MEASURES FOR RELIEF
The Gov ernm ent of Casimir Perier
Will Be Asked Some Rather
Awkward Questions.

PARIS, Feb. 9-Premier Casimir Perier
admits that Fren ch column was attacked
and destroyed by natives near Timbuctoo
and that several officers were killed, but
declares that he Will not evacuate Tim mbuc-
too and re-enforcements have ALREADY been
forwarded
The Governor of Soudan telegraphs that
Colonel Bon nier's column left Timbuctoo
December 1 on reconnaissance and was
surprised while asleep when about three
days march from Timbuctoo. The sue
cess Of the Tuaregs EN- boldened 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 expecta-
ton of combined attack by the natives.
The latter are said to be mastering forces
for that purpose.
The Secretary of the Colonial Depart.
ment this afternoon received telegram
from st. Louis, Senegal, stating that
Colonel BOnniers, eleven other officers and
$50 privates were massacred by the
Tuaregs.
The following details of the disaster are
given OUT by the French Government
upon information received from Captain
PHILIPPE. French commandant at Timbuc-
too. The Tuaregs. armed with lances and
knives, made the first attack upon the
leading division of the French column.
| The attack was so desperate and so we'll
sustained that the first division was ap-
parently cut to pieces.
The news of the disaster was brought TO
the second portion of the column BY Cap
tain Nugette, who, although badly
wounded, managed to escape. The sec
ond division was encamped a few miles
| in the rear of the advance guard, which
was surprised during the darkness of the
early morning. The officer in command
of the rear guard Immediately commenced
a retreat upon Timbuctoo, leaving the van
guard. commanded by Bounier, to it's fate.
The official statement admits that at least
nine French offi eTs. including Colonel
BONNER, two European non-commissioned
| officers and fifty-eight native soldiers were
| maSsacTed.
Unofficial reports, emanating from the
War Department and Colonial Office, say
the loss in killed and captured was at
least 300. The rear guard reached Tim
buctoo on December II, carrying a num-
| Der of wounded. Several men in addition
to those admitted to have been killed when
the vanguard was cut to pieces are said to
have been either killed or left dying along
the route during the retreat to Timbuctoo.
At once upon reaching that town Cap
tain PHILIPPE gathered his whole force
together and began throwing up entrench-
ments TO secure his position, as Tim buctoo
was seriously threatened by the Tuaregs
| The Tuaregs became so aggressive that
! they pushed up close to the French
soldiers at work in the entrenchments and
! killed and wounded several. Captain
PHILIPPE then organized small parties, who
made sallies upon the Tuaregs, driving
! them backward and killing a number
| Once or twice every night the natives
made an attack upon the French lines.
killing and woundng several OF the gar
rison.
| Opposed to the enemy, estimated from
1000 TO 10000. the French only had 500 men
in the entrenchments, and this force was
supported by six small field pieces.
When Captain PHILIPPE was informed by
Messenger Joffere that column was on
the way to relieve him he sent messenger
to Colonel Joffere to warn him that his
forces were in danger Of attack by Arabs
| Captain PHILIPPE also sent request to the
Governor of Soudan that the French flo
tilla on the Niger should not leave that
district until the Joffere column reached
| Tint mouctoo.
The news of the disaster has caused a
sensation in Paris, and it is already an
nounced that several questions on the SUBJ
ject will be asked as soon as possible in the
Chamber of Deputies. 1t is understood
that the Government will say that Bon
nier's expedition was undertaken upon his
own initiative and against the orders of
the Government Ii is semi-oficially
stated that the Governor of Soudan has
taken extraordinary measures to relieve
the French forces at Timbuctoo. and that
all the French outposts have been doubled.