The record-union., 1894-08-29
A Sortie Party at Timbuctoo Over
come by Hostile Tribes.
THE NEWS CREATES CONSTERNA-
TION IN ARMY CIRCLES
Japan Taking Active steps to Defeat
China in the Oriental war-Troops
Being Landed to the Northwest of
Taku, With the Intention of March
ing Upon the Chinese Stronghold at
Pekin.

Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.
PARIS, Aug. 2S.-According to a report
received at st. Louis, the French garrison
at Timbuctoo, after three days of desper-
ate fighting with the Tauregs and other
hostile tribes which have been investing
that city, made sortie. The beleagur-
ing forces. overwhelming in numbers,
fell upon the sortie party, fairly annihi-
lating it. This news has created conster-
nation in army circles, as it is the second
serious disaster the French have met
with in the vicinity of Timbuctoo since
that important Soudanese town was occu-
pied by them early the present year.
a French column, commanded by
Colonel BANNER, arrived at Timbuctoo
January 1st and two days later detach-
ment of troops, with Colonel BANNER at
its head, accompanied by Colonel Hugier
and the entire staff, started out on a re-
connoitering expedition, leaving Captain
Philippe as senior Captain i'll charge OF
the post at Timbuctoo. This French de-
tachment, in some manner never fully
explained to the public, was sur
prised asleep in camp at Dougoi, two
hours march north of Gourdam and three
Arabs. chiefly Tauregs, mounted and on
foot and armed with lances and knives,
entered the French camp by several sides
during the darkest hours of early morn
and overturned the stacked arms III front
of the sharpshOoters. Those who were
surrounded were unable to use their
rifles to defend themselves. The Arabs
massacred nearly the entire detachment,
consisting OF the Eleventh and Fifteenth
(tfN,,i nil of SharIOc
A French officer, Captain Nigotte, though
seriously wounded in the head, sue
ceeded in escaping to platoon of soldiers
left some yards behind the main camp to
guard the captured fiOckS. This platoon
was under the command of Lieutenant
sSarda. 1t retreated to Timbuctoo. bring
ing with it a few wounded men who had
escaped the massacre at Dougoj. For the
defense of Timbuctoo Captain PHILIPPE
had 800 rifles and cannon, small force
with which to hold town of L, 600 people,
situated amid hot, moving sands on the
verge of a moraSs and having walled
enclosure about three miles IL circum-
ference.
But column commanded by Colonel
Joffer, was on its way to reinforce the
French at Timbuctoo, and having sent
messengers to the Colonel and commu-
nicated with the Commander of the
French flotilla on the Niger River, the
Captain made the best disposal possible
of his small force and with the cooper
alton of the populace succeeded IN hold
ing out till the Jotfer column arrived.
This column was composed of a COM
pany and a half of sharpshOoters, a
squadron of Spahdis, splendid African
cavalry, two auxiliary Spahuls, and two
cannon. Several engagements took place,
the cannon and cavalry being repeat
edly called into use, but on February
10Th the advance guard OF the Joffer col
umn and the latter reached Tim buctoo
soon atterWard.
1t is, in all probability, part of the
force of PHILIPPE and Jotfer which, ac-
cording to the advices from Senegal has
been cut to pieces by the Arabs. 1t is
believed the garrison of Timbuctoo has
since been reinforced.
NO CONFIRMATION OF THE REPORT.
PARIS, Aug. 2S.-The journal DeS De-
bats has received a dispatch similar to
the one made public here this morning.
The dispatch announced that after three
days lighting a detachment of the garri-
son of Timbuctoo made a sortie. This
detachment was composed of two COM
panies. Both reports agree in stating that
the detachment taking part in the sortie
was cut to pieces. Inquiries on this sub
iect made at the Ministry of the Colonies
show that no confirmation OF the report
has been received there up to this even
ing, and the official in charge expressed
the opinion that there is no truth in the
report, claiming that if the report were
true it certainly would have reached him.
A dispatch from Senegal was received
from a private source. The latest official
dispatches from Timbuctoo declare that
the French force at that place was ad
equate to cope with the Tauregs who, 1t
was added, had been cowed by recoil de-
feats and were indisposed to resume
hnstilitieS