The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-09-06
.FICHI IN THE SOUDAN
rho French Are Badly Bea- en
at Timbuctoo.
srvNARY OF THEIR MOVEMENTS

Account. Of other BATTLES and the oo-
,a,ion Of Timbuctoo by the French
Detachment Makes a SOrtie
Town and is Cut to Pieces.
n.n.. Aucust 30.-According to re-
q raceivel at st. Louis the French
l orris,r ut Timbuctoo after three days
5a.rara.e fighting with the Tauregs and
ua~ hostile tribes, which had been be-
s;a,inr that city, made sortie. The
t.reaguerng forces in overwhelming
,,,,,.bars fell upon the sortie party, fairly
81 .tratir,, il. This news has created
.ns,arnation in army circles, as it is the
.,.ond serious resistance the FIR ;h have
mo, with in the vicinity of Tlmbuctoo
since that important Soudanese town
uas occupied by them early in the pres
ort wear. A summary of the move
,,erts Of the French in the Soudan and
d the occupation of Timbuctoo is as fol-
lows: ,1C
4 French tOiuillu Ny WV
d AL RAINIER arrived at Tim buctOO Janu-
u ary l. and two days later a detachment
Of troops with Colonel BANNER at their
q head accompanied by Colonel Hugier
and fine entire staff, started out on re-
ronpoitering expedition, leaving Captain
d pbj]ipe as senior Captain in charge of
& tba most at Timbuctoo. This French de-
i tacblment in some manner never fully
Il eyplained to the public was surprised in
Il sleep in camp at Dougoi, two hours
3 march north Of Gourdam and three days
1 march from Timbuctoo. The Arabs,
u chiefly Tauregs mounted and on foot,
u armed with lances and knives, entered
i the French camp by several sides during
i fine darkest hours of early morning, and
Il overturned the stacked arms in front of
the sharpshooters, who, being surround
B ed were unable to seize their rifles to de-
4 feDd themselves successfully. The Arabs
massacred nearly the entire detachment,
II consisting OF the Fifth and Eleventh
& Companies Of Soudanese sharpshooters.
8 AFrench officer, Captain Negotte, though
n seriouslvwounded in the head, succeeded
Il in escaping to platoon of soldiers left
some distance behind the main camp to
guard captured focks. This platoon was
1 under the command of Lieutenant Sarda.
1t retreated to Timbuctoo, bringing with
. it a few wounded who had escaped the
massacre at Dougoi. The Tauregs pur-
sued the retreating soldiers, and practi-
4 cally invaded Timbuctoo, which Captain
3 Philippe made haste to defend pending
d the arrival of achievements.
Il TWAS stated that at Dougoi the French
lost nine officers, two European Ser
geants, an Interpreter and one Sergeant,
six Corporals and sixty-one native
Il sharpshooters. For the defense of Tim
7 buctoo Captain Philippe had 100 rifles
s and six cannons, but this was very
small force with which to hold town of
1900 people, situated amid hot, NOV
ing sands on the verge of morass and
having water Enclosure about three
q miles IN circumference. But column
commanded by Colonel Joffer was on its
4 way to reinforce the French at Timbuc-
8 too and having sent messengers to the
Colonel and communicated with the
commander of the French f1otilla on the
Niger river, the Captain made the best
3 disposal possible of his small force, and
4 with the cooperation of the populace
81 ''NNNNNNN III IN lQLliS OuU uuGll UI1O OOAC1
column arrived. This column was COM
posed OF company and a half of sharp
shooters, a squadron of Spahis, splendid
African cavalry, $50 auxiliary Spahis
q and two guns. 1t also included the
horses, mules, drivers, etc., of the first
J column. 1t followed the land route by
Sanding, Monipe, Namapli, Ere, Soumpe
and Gourdam, and met with serious
opposition during its advance. January
~ company of sharpshooters marched
On Alaiunke, supported by cavalry and
artillery. They were confronted by two
AIometers of swamp, which sur
rounded the village, in front of which
were 4VO warriors drawn up in battle
array, The warriors charged the French
loiee. The latter in less than fifteen
MINUTES II, killed over 100 of the Africans.
Inc others took fight, and the village
was captured without any loss on the
part oil the J0tier column. Several such
engagements took place, cannon and
TTaEaIfy beng repeatedly called into use.
IIe .g ~ the advance guard of the
Vouef column reached Timbuctoo, and
!le column itself soon afterward. 1t is
~ all probability part of the forces of
D4PIaln Philippe and Colonel Joffer
81. |IlItH according to the advices from
, enfgaI has been cut to pieces by the
-l4os' 1t Is believed that the garrison
y. iIlnouctoo has since the Joffer column
arrived there been again reinforced.
NO CONFIRMATION OF THE REPORT.
MA FPAEI>, August 3O.-The Journal DIES
~ heo ,; has received dispatch similar
S ~ ule one made public to-day. This
GGoSp4'tn announced that after three
U"ss hghtlng the detachment of the
fT1ilL'S9n OF Timbuctoo made q sortie.
CONS ,,lS detachment was composed of two
iU,' tp' anleS Both reports agree in stat
~ ~ Suat the detachment taking part in
n me- soItle was cut to pieces. Inquiries
tL l''o = On The subject at the Ministry OF
of 't t CoIonles show that no confirmation
70 ne me report has been received there uI
e snlS evening, and the official in charge
trI pibesSed the opinion that there is nc
oc rr. IA IT, claiming that, if fighting had
Ol ,iIG:ILed, news would have reached the
n iieliIslT Try from Hayes, through which
diSn oo az news must pass. The original
a n pa1ch from Senegal was received from
nat l'a'e source. The latest official dis.
s F rsal5s from Timbuctoo declare the
& cona con-: forces there were adequate te
had b @ilh the Tauregs, who, it was added
Were G ;n5; cowed by recent defeats and