The herald., 1894-08-29
FRENCH DISASTER IN AFRICA
Desperate Fighting in the
SOudan.
Tuaregs Lay Siege to the City O.
TimbuctOO.
A French Sortie Party Annihiiatsd by
the Savage Tribesmen-French
Onicars and Troops
Massacrsd.
BY tie Assnnintnd Prals

the french garrison at Timbuctoo, alter
three days desperate fighting with
Tuaregs and othor hostile tribes which
have been investing the city, made q
sortie. The beleaguering forces. over
whelming in numbers, fell upon the
sortie party, fairly annihilating it.
This news created CONSERVATION in
army circles, as it is the second disaster
the Freach have met with in the vicini.
ty OF Timbuctoo aince that in portant
soudanese town was occupied by them
early in the present yea..
A French column, commanded by
Colonel BANNER, arrived at Timpuctoo
January 1st. and two days later de.
tschment Of troops, with Colonel Ban.
nier, accompanied by Colonel Hugier
and the entire staff, started out on re-
connoitering expedition, leaving Cap
tain PHILIPPE, as senior captain, Ia
charge of the post at Timbuctoo. This
French detachment, in some manner
lever fully explained to the pub
lie, was surprised asleep in their
camp at Dougoi, two hours' march
north OF Goardam and three days
march from Timbuct,o. The Arab5,
chiefly Tosregs, mounted and on foot,
and armed with lances and knives, en-
tered the French camp by several sides
during the darkest hours OF early morn
ing, snd overturned the stacked arms in
front OF the sharpshooters, who, sur
rounded, wore unable to seize their
rifles to defend themselves successfully.
The Arabs massacred nearly the entire
detachment, consisting of the fifth and
eleventh companies OF Soudanese Hharp.
shooters. A French officer, Captain
Nigotte, though seriously wounded in
the head. succeeded in escaping to
platoon OF soldiers left some wards he
hind the main camp to guard some cap.
tured tocks. This platoon was under
the command of Lieutenant Sarda. 1t
retreated to Timbuctoo, bringing with 1t
a few wounded men who mad escaped
the massacre at Dougoi.
The Tuaregs pursued the retreating
soldiers and practically invaded Tim
buctoo. which Captain Philippe made
haste to defend, pending the arrival of
reinforcements. 1t WINS stated that at
Dougoi, the French lost nine officers,
two European sergesnts, an interpreter
native sharpshooters.
For the defense of Timbuctoo Captain
Philippe had 800 rifles and six cnnnons,
but this was very small force with
which to hold town of $4,000 people,
situated amid hot, moving sands on the
verge OF a morass, and having walled
inclosure about three miles in circum-
ference. But column, commanded by
Gol1 f1F 80 20 rni,
force the French at Timbuctoo, and
having sent messengers to the colonel
and communicated with the commander
of the French flotilla on the Niger
river. the captain made the best dis.
cooperation of the populace. succeeded
in holding out until the Joffer column
arrived.
This column was composed of q
company and half OF sharpshooters, q
squadron OF Spabis. splendid African
cavalry, $50 auxiliary Spshis and two
guns. 1t also included the horses, mules,
drivers, etc, of the first column. II fol.
lowed the land route by Sanding, Mon.
ipe, Nsmspli, Ere, Soumpe and Goudam
and met with serious opposition during
its advance.
On January Goth a company OF sharp.
shooters marched on Niafunke, sup
ported by cavalry and artillery. They
were confronted by two kilomsters OIL
swamps which surrounded the village
in front OF which we're 400 warriors drawn
up in battle array. The warriors
charged the French force. The latter
in less tnan 10 minutes killed over 10t
of the Africans. The others took flight
and the village was captured without
any loss on the part Of the Joffel
column. Several such engagements tool
place, cannon and cavalry being repeat
edly called into use. but ON February
Goth the advance guard of the Joffel
column arrived, and the latter reached
Timbuctoo soon afterwards.
1t 10 in ell probability part of the
force OF Captain Philippe and Oolone
Joffer which, according to the advicel
from Senegal. has been cut to pieces by
the Arabs. 1t is believed that the gar
rison of Timbuctoo ha3, since the Joffei
column arrived there, been again rein
folosd.
The Journal dee Debats has receiveC
. dispatch similar to the one made pub
lie here this morning. The dispatch
announced that after three days fight
ing detachment OF the garrison Of
Timbuctoo made sortie. This detaoh
ment was composed of two companies
Both reports agree in stating that tbs
detachment taking part in the sortie wal
cut to oteces.
Inquiries made ON this subject at the
ministry OF the colonies show that nj
information Of the report had been re
ceived there up to this evening, and tn,
official in charge expressed the opinion
that there is no truth in the report
claiming if the fighting had occurred
news OF it would certainly have reached
the ministry from Hayes, through
which place all news must pass. Th,
original dispatch from Senegal was re
ceived from private source. The lates
official dispatches from Timbuctoo stat,
that the French force at that place wa
adeq nate to cope with the Tuaregs, who
it was added, had been cowed by recen
defeats. and were indisposed to resum,
hostilities.
II know an old soldier who hat
chronic disrrhea Of long standing t,
have been permanently cured by takin,
Cham bsrlain's Collie, Cholera and Diar
rhea Remedy" says Edward Shumpik
prominent druggist Of Minneapolis
MINI. II have sold the remedy in thi
city for over seven years and consider i
aurariov RI cuv othar m nd nina NOW n,