The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-10
CUT TO PIECES
AWFUL FATE OF FRENCH SOLD
IERs NEAR TIlBUCTOO.
At Least Three Hundred Men on
Either side Killed or Captured
BY the Sayages-Surprised in the
Dark of the Early Morn-Great
Excitement in Paris


Paris, Feb. 9.-Premier Casimir Per-
Ter admits that a French column was
attacked and destroyed by natives
near Timbuctoo, and that several Off
Gals were killed; but he declared the
French would not eyacuate Timbuctoo.
Reinforcements have already been for
warded.
The secretary of the colonial depart
ment this afternoon received a tele-
gram from Senegal. stating that Col
onel BONNER eleven other officers, and
$50 privates had been massacred by
the Tuarges. Another account puts
the loss at 81.
The following details of the disaster
were given out by the French govern
ment upon information received from
Captain Philippe, French commandant
at Timbuctoo:
The Tuarges, armed with 1ances and
knives, made the first attack upon the
leading division of the French column
The attack was so desperate and we'll
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 Nj
gette who, badly wounded, managed to
escape.
The second division was encamped a
few miles in the rear of the advance
guard, which was surprised during the
darkness of early morning The officer
| in command of the rear guard immed-
lately commenced to retreat upon Tim
buctoo leaving a vanguard, command
ed by BONNER, to its fate.
The official statement admits that at
| least nine officers, including Colonel
BONNER, two European non-commis-
stoned officers, and sixty-eight native
soldiers were Inassacred
4 ioI aTfc
the war department and colonial Of
! flee, say the loss is, in killed and cap
tured, at least 300
The rear guard reached Timbuctoo
on December IL, carrying a. number of
the wounded. Several men, in addition
Ito those admitted to have been killed
when the vanguard was cut to pieces.
left dying along the route during the
lretreat to Timbuctoo. Captain Phil
lipe gathered his whole force together
land began throwing up entertainments
to secure his position, as Timbuctoo
was seriously threatened by the Tu-
argos.
The Tuarges became so aggressive
that they pushed close to the French
soldiers at work on the entertainments
and killed and wounded several
Captain PHILIPPE organized small
parties, who made Sallies upon he
ITuarges. driving them back and kill
ling a number Once or twice every
might the natives made an attack on
the French lines, killing and woundine
several.
The garrison as opposed to the
Ienemy is estimated at 1000 to 10000
The French only had 300 men in the
entertainments and this force was only
lsupplied with six small field pieces.
When Captain PHILIPPE was Informed
by native messengers that Joffere' S
column was on the way to relieve him.
he sent messenger to Col. Joffere to
warn him that his forces were in dan
/ ger of attack by the Arabs.
Captain PHILIPPE also sent a request
to the governor of Soudan that the
French fotilla on the Niger, should not
leave that district until Joffere's col
umn reached Timbuctoo.
The news of the disaster has caused
a sensation in Paris, and it is already
announced that several questions or
the subject will be asked as soon as
possible in the chamber of deputies
1t is understood the government viii
say that Bonnier's expedition was un.
ldertaken upon his own initiative ano
against the orders of the government
1t is semi officially stated that the
/ governor of Soudan has taken extra
Eordinary measures to relieve the
French forces at Timbuctoo and al
French outposts have been doubled.