The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-07
wARINA's FATAL FIGHT.
The Dying Leader of the French Tells
How the Mistake Occurred.

The Dying Leader of the French Tells
How the Mistake Occurred.
London, Jan. 6.-F'urther details have
been received from Freetown, the capital
of Sierra Leon, of the killing of British
troops by the French. According to the
latest information, the British were en-
gagged the Connoh district, near Warina.
This camp was within the British
sphere. At daylight on Dec. %
they were attacked by the
French force, consisting of thirty Sene-
galez sharp shooters and 1900 natives,
who were headed by Lieut.. Moritz. When
they were fired upon the British at once
responded and the French shortly after
ward retired.
THE FRENCH EXPLANATION.
Lieut.. NORTH was wounded and
captured by the British. He was ques-
toned as to his reasons for attacking them,
and explained that he believed that the
British troops, who were blacks, were
members of the Sofas tribes, and that
their European officers, who were deeply
tanned by the African sun, were Arabs.
Lieut.. Moritz died from the effects of his
wounds soon after his capture.
THE BRITISH LOSS.
The latest details place the British loss
at only six, instead of twenty-six pri-
Yates. The report of the killing of Capt
Lendy, Lieuts. Wroughton and ListOn,
and a sergeant, was correct. Nineteen
of the British troops were seriously
wounded.
The loss Of the French force is not
known
The British force remains at Warina.
Another report of the engagement says
that it took place by moonlight and that
ii was owing to this fact that Lieut..
MoritZ was not able to distinguish the
uniforms of the British troops The lat
ter were taken by surprise. The confu-
sion in the British camp was great, and
this was added to by careless firing on the
part Of the British The latter were well
within British territory.
Acablnet council will be convened on
Tuesday TO consider the reports Of the
bottle at Warina.
AN OFFICIAL REPORT.
Col. Bells, of the West India regiment,
has telegraphed to Campbell Bannerman,
secretary of state for war. the dispatch
being dated Warina, Dec. %, as follows:
Before daybreak this morning our camp
was suddenly attacked by a strong force
Of natives, several of whom were armed
with rifles. For forty minutes there was
hot fire. The enemy used trees for
cover. The killed of the West India
regiment are Lieut.. Liston, Second Lieut..
Wroughton, Sergt. Carraher and four pri-
Yates. The killed of the constabulary
were Capt. Leandy and two privates.
The several wounded were Sergt. Field
and fourteen privates of the regiment
and three privates of the constabulary.
NORTH STORY.
Col. Bells then describes the repulse Of
the attack, the finding of Lieut. Moritz
fatally wounded and his death on the
same day, and proceeds: Before his
death he said that natives had told him
that we were so far away that he had no
idea we were British. Lieut.. Moritz and
ten Sengalez, who had been killed in the
fighting, were buried with military hon
ors. Capt. Leandy and two constables
were shot by their own men.
"Another letter has been sent to the
French commander at Kissi informing
him of the occurrence and assuring him
that the friendly relations existing will
not be disturbed owing to Lieut.. Moritz
mistake.
"Warina Is within our own sphere, In
which is the sources of the Babes river,
which flows eastward"
Col. Bells reports that he had sent two
letters of advice to the French com
mander notifying him of the presence of
the British.
FRENCH PRESS OPINIONS.
Paris, Jan. 6.-The Journal Des De
bats says it is inclined to believe that the
French were not to blame for the Warina
affair. 1t complains that the French
were never officially notified of the de
parture of the British force into the in
terror
La Liberte says it has reason to believe
that the British were wholly blameable.
The Temps expresses the opinion that
L. 44.... -. j
misunderstanding 1t adds that the
only means to prevent a repetition of the
affair is to bring about Immediately the
delineation of the boundaries, the alb
sence of which caused the regretable en-
counter
Help for the Ponce de Leon.
Wa shincrfnr rr,nnin1 4...s-.