The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-29

Paris, Aug. 8.-AccOrdlng TO une re-
port received at st. Louis, the French
garrison at Tipobuctoo, after three days
desperate fighting with the Tauregs and
other hostile tribes which have been
infesting that city, made a sortie. The
beleaguering forces, overwhelming in
numbers. fell upon the sortie party,
fairly annihilating it. This news ere
alter CONSERVATION in army circles, as
it is the second serious disaster the
French have met with in the vicinity
of Timbuctoo since the important Sou
danese town was occupied by them
early in the presenr year.
A French column, commanded by
Colonel BANNER arrived at TImbuctoo
january l, and two days later a de-
tachment of troops, with Colonel Ban
nier at its head, accompanied by Col
onel Hugder and the entire staff, start
ed out on a. accommodating expedition,
leaving Captain Philippe as senior cap
tain, in charge of the post at Timbuc-
too.
This French detachment, in some
manner never fully explained to the
public, was surprised asleep in camp
at Dugoi, Two hours march north of
Gourdanl, and three days march from
Timbuctoo. The Arabs, chiefly Taur-
egs, mounted and on foot, and armed
with lances and knives, entered the
French camp by several sides during
the dark and the hours Of early morn
ing and overturned the stacked arms
in front of the sharpshooters, who,
surrounded, We're unable to seize their
rifles and defend themselves success
fully.
Massacred BY Arabs.
The Arabs massacred the entire de-
tachment, consisting of the Fifth and
Eleventh companies of Soudanese
sharpshooters French officer Cap
tain Nigotte, though seriously wounded
in the head, succeeded in escaping to a
platoon of soldiers left some yards be-
hind the main camp to guard some
captured flocks. This platoon was en-
der command Of Lieutenant Sarda- 1t
retreated to Tfmbuctoo, bringing with
1t a few wounded men who had es-
capped the massacre at Dougoi.
The Tauregs pursued the retreating
soldiers and practically invested Tim
buctoo. which Captain Philippe made
haste to defend, pending the arrival
of reinforcements. 1t was stated that
at Dougoi the French lost nine officers,
two European SergeanIS, and an inter
prefer and one sergeant six corporals
and sixty-one native sharpshooters
Inc De1cnSe OF TlmbuctOo.
For the defense of Timbuctoo Cap
tain Philippe had 800 rifles and six
cannon. but this was a very small
force with which to hold a town of
about 1000 people, situated amid hot,
moving sands on the verge of a NOR
ass anl having a walled enclosure
about three miles in circumference.
But column, commanded by Colonel
Jeffer. was on its way to reinforce the
Il, tn.
messengers to the colonel and commun-
icated with the French flotilla on the
Niger river, the captain made the best
disposal possible of his small force
and. with the cooperation of the pop
ulace. succeeded in holding out until
the Joffer column arrived. This col
umn was composed of a company and
half Of sharpshooters, a squadron of
Spahis. splendid African cavalry, $50
auxiliary Spahis and two guns. 1t
also included the horses, mules. driv-
ers. etc. of the first column.
1t followed the land route by San
Sanding, Monipe, Namapli, Ere,
Soumpe and Geudam and met with
serious opposition during it's advance.
On Januory 20 a company of sharp
shooters marched on Niafunke, supper
teo by cavalry and artillery.
The Africans RepuIsed.
They were confronted by two kilo-
metres of a swamp, which surrounded
the village in front of which were 400
warriors drawn up in battle array.
The warriors charged the French force.
The latter, in less than fifteen minutes,
killed over 100 Of the Africans The
others took flight and the village was
captured without any loss on the part
of the JOffer column. Several sucn
engagements took place, cannon and
cavalry being repeatedly called into use,
but on February . the advance guard
OF the Joffer column and the latter
reached Timbuctoo soon afterwards.
1t is in all probability part of the force
of Captain Philippe and Colonel Joffer.
which according to the advices from
Senegal, has been cut to pieces by the
Arabs.
1t is believed that the garrison of
Timbuctoo has since the Joffer column
arrived there, been again reinforced