The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-10
300 KILLED AND CAPTURED
The Historic African City Be-
sieged by the Arab VictOrS.
Reinforcements Hurrying to the Relief
of the FOreigners-Alleged Plot
to Kill Brazirs President.


had been attacked and destroyed by the
natives near Timbuctoo. The Premier
added that it was also true that several
officers had been killed. The Governor Of
the Soudan has telegraphed that Colonel
Bonnier'S column surprised while
asleep when about three days march from
Timbuctoo. The success of the Tuaregs is
said to have greatly encouraged the other
native tribes, and the retreat of the French
most difficult, as they were continu-
ally harassed in their retreat. Upon reach
ing Timbuctoo the commander of the
French forces there decided that it was ad-
viSable to prepare for the worst and steps
were Immediately taken to throw UP en-
trenchments in anticipation of attack IN
force upon the part of the natives. The
latter were said to be mastering their
forces and to be preparing for a combined
onslaught upon the French.
The following details Of the disaster were
given out by the French government to-
night: The Tauregs, Captain Philippe re-
ports, were armed with lances and knives,
which they used with terrible effect against
the French native troops. The Tuaregs
made their first attack on the leading por-
ton of the French column, which seems to
have been divided into two divisions. The
attack of the Tuarges was so desperate and
well sustained that the first division was
apparently cut to pieces. The news of the
disaster was brought to the second portion
OF the column, or rear guard by Captain
Nugette, a French officer, who, though bad
ly wounded in the head, managed to escape
from the crowds of natives which assaiIed
the advance guard. The second division
was encamped a few miles to the rear of
the advance guard, which was surprised
during the darkness of early morning The
officer in command of the rear guard i'm
mediately ordered his force under arms,
abandoned his encampment and commenced
to retreat upon Timbuctoo, leaving the un-
fortunate vanguard, commanded by Col
BONNER, to it's fate.
Reports conflicting as to the number
killed, but the official statement admits
that at least nine French officers, including
Colonel BONNER, two European noncom-
missioned officers and sixty-eight native
soldiers were massacred- The unofficial
reports, emanating from the War Depart
ment and Colonial Office. say that the loss
in killed and captured is at least three
hundred. The rear guard, after enduring
considerable hardships and being pressed
by the enemy, succeeded in regaining Tim
buctoo on Dec. H. carrying with them a
number Of wounded. Several of the 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. The French officers fought
most braveiy.
Captain Philippe gathered his whole force
| together and began the work of throwing
| up intrenchments in order to secure his po-
| sition at Timbuctoo, which shortly after
wards was seriously threatened by the
| Tauregs. The Tauregs became so aggres-
| sive and confident in their strength that
| they pushed up close to the French SOL
| diers at work in the intrenchments and
killed and wounded several of them. Capt.
| Philippe organized two small parties of
| picked soldiers who made several spirited
sallies on the Tauregs driving them back
| ward and killing a number of them. At
| least once or twice every night they
| would make an attack of some description
| upon the French lines, killing or
| wounding several of the small garrison.
| Opposed to an enemy estimated to number
| from 1000 to 10000, the French had only
| 300 men in the intrenchment at Timbuctoo,
| and this force was only supported by six
| small field pieces. When Captain Philippe
was informed by native messengers that the
1
| him he sent q message to Colonel Joffere
| in order 10 warn him that his forces were
| in danger of attack by the Arabs. Captain
| Philippe also sent a request to the Gov
| ernor Of the Soudan that the French fotilla
| of the Niger should not leave that district
| until the Joffere column had reached Tim
| buctoo.
The news of the disaster to the BONNER
| column near Timbuctoo has caused a de-
| cided sensation in Paris and it is already
| announced that several questions on the
| subject will be asked as soon as possible
in the Chamber of Deputies. The Associ-
| ated Press is informed good authority
that the French government will say, in
| reply to the questions, that Colonel Bon
| nier's expedition was undertaken not only
| upon his own initiative, but against the or
ders of the government. 1t is semi-officially
stated that the Governor of the Soudan,
who is reported to be at Hayes, has taken
extraordinary measures to relieve the
French forces at Timbuctoo, and that in
addition all the French outposts have been
doubled.