St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-29
DETACHMENT ANNIHILATED
In a Sortie Against the Nat
I've Hordes Attacking
the Town.
THE RUM0R DIsCkEDITED.
No Official Confirmation Has
Yet Been Received
in Paris.

PARIS, Aug. 2S.-The Journal des
Debats has received dispatch similar
TO the one made public here this morn
ing. This dispatch announces that
after a three days fighting detach-
ment of the garrison of Tjmbuctoo made
sortie. This detachment was COM
posed of two companies. Both reports
agree i'll stating that the detachment
taking part In the sortle was cut to
pieces.
Inquiries made on this subject at the
ministry of the colonies show that no
confirmation of the report has been re-
celved there up to o'clock this even.
ing. and the officials in charge express
the belief that there is no truth in the
report. claiming if the fighting had
occurred some news of 1t would
certainly have reached the min.
istry of the colonies from Hayes,
through which place all news must pass.
The original dispatch from Senegal was
received from private source at St.
Louis. Senegal,and 1t is possible that he
may have transmitted to this city a
rumor gathered from the natives, who
are much given to magnifying such
matters.
An employe of the colonial ministry
said this morning that lie believed the
whole affair would turn out to be moth
Ing more than an exaggerated story of
skirmish.
The Journal des Debats forms the
same opinion and openly questions the
accuracy of its own report, which also
came fr ON private source.
The latest official dispatches from
Timbuctoo declared that the French
force at that place was adequate to cope
lth the Tauregs. who, it was added,
mad been cOwed by recent defeats. and
who, consequently, were indisposed 10
resume hostilities.
Second Disaster.
The report Of the humiliation of the
detachment, however. spreads conster-
nation in many circles, as it is the Sec
ond serious disaster the French have
met with in the vicinity of Timbuctoo
since that important Soudanese town
was occupied by them early in the pres
ent year.
A French column, commanded by
Col. BANNER, arrived at Timbuctoo on
Jan. 10. and two days later detach-
ment of troops, with Col. BANNER at its
head. accompanied by Commandant
Hugueny and the entire staff, started
out on a recommending expedition,
leaving Capt. Philippe as senior cap
tain In charge of the post at Timbuctoo.
This French detachment, in some man.
ner never fully explained to the public,
was surprised asleep in camp at Dou-
four, two hours march north OF Goun-
dam, and three days march from Tim
buctoo. The Arabs, chiefly Tauregs,
mounted and on foot, and armed with
lances and knives. entered the French
camp by several sides during the dark
hours of early morning, and, overturn-
Ing the stacked arms in front of the
sharpshooters, who, when aroused, were
unable to defend themselves success
fully, the Arabs massacred nearly the
entire detachment, consisting of the
Fifth and Eleventh companies of Sou
udlieSe SNarpSnOOter6.
. A French officer, Capt. Nigotte,
though seriously wounded in the head,
succeeded in escaping to a platoon of
soldiers, left some yards behind the
main camp to guard some captured
fOcks. This platoon was under the
command of Lieut.. Sarda. 1t retreated
to Timbuctoo. bringing with it few
wounded men who had escaped the
massacre at Dougoui. The Tauregs
pursued the retreatlng soldiers, prac-
tically invested Timbuctoo, which Capt.
PHILIPPE fastened to defend, pending
the arrival Of achievements.
1t was stated that at Dougoui the
French lost nine officers, two European
sergeants, an interpreter and one SER
geant, six corporals and eighty native
sharpshooters. For the defense of
Timbuctoo Capt. PHILIPPE had 800 rifles
and SIX cannon, but this was very
small force with which to hold town
amid hot, moving sands, on the verge of
a morass, and having walled enclosure
Of about three miles in circumference.
But a column, commanded by Col.
Jotfre. was on its way to reinforce the
French at Timbuctoo, and, having sent
messengers to the colonel and com
municated with the commander of the
French tlotilla on the Niger river, the
captain made the best disposal possible
of his small force, and, with the CO.
operation of the populace, succeeded in
holding out until the Jotfre column ar
rived. This column was composed of
company and half of sharpshooters,
squadron of Spahis Splendid African
cavalry, thirty auxiliary Spahis and
two guns; it also included the horses,
mules, drivers, etc.. of the first column.
1t followed the land route by San Sand
ing, Nonlnpe, Nampala, Leere, Soumps
and Goundam, and met with serious op-
position during its advance. On Jan.
20 company of sharpshooters marched
on Niafounke, supported by cavalry and
artillery. They were confronted by
two kilometres Uf swamp which sur
rounded the village in front of which
400 warriors were drawn up in battle
array. The warriors charged the French
force. The latter in less than fifteen
minutes killed over 100 of the African
warriors. The others took flight and
the village was captured without any
loss on the part of the Joffre column.
Several such engagements took place,