The herald., 1897-11-27
BLOODY FIGHT
Between Troops in Lagos
Hinterland
THE EXPECTED HAPPENED
WIEN FRENCH AND BRITISH
FORCES MET
Home Governments Doubt the Accu-
racy Of the Story, but Admit
It's Probability
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
BERLIN, Nov. PA dispatch to the
Frankfort Zeitung from Rome reports
that sanguinary conflict has taken
place between the French and British
at Nakki, in the Lagos Hinterland.
DOUBT EXPRESSED
| LONDON, Nov. 26.-While the ac-
curacy Of the Rome dispatch announce
Ing that conflict has taken place be-.
tween French and British troops in the
Lagos Hinderland Is doubted, the local
morning papers today pointed out the
imminent danger resulting from the
proximity of the two forces in the con-
tested territory.
A conflict between the French and
British forces in the Lagos Hinterland
has been anticipated for some time past.
Both countries have been hurrying
troops into the disputed territory. The
trouble is Of about thirty years stand
ing. In 1870 France and Great Britain
opened negotiations for the settlement
of their respective frontiers in West
Africa and 1t was decided in substance
that French influence and authority
should be confined to the north of cer-
tain line and that Great Britain should
have free hand south of this line. The
outbreak Of the Franco Prussian war
interrupted the negotiations. There was
| considerable opposition in both coun-
tries to the cession OF any territory and
during the next five years difficulties fire.
quently occurred. Finally it was re-
solved to appoint commissioners to re-
| consider the whole matter, and as a re-
suit, in the course of the next ten years
four separate agreements were con-
cluded.
Later in the day rumor was received
at the British Colonial Office to the effect
that there had been a collision between
the British and French forces at Nakki.
which is said to have been captured by
the French troops.
The officials of the Colonial Office, how
ever, regard this report as highly i'm
probable, as they explain the British po-
lice In the Hinterland, who are in very
limited numbers, had strict orders to
avoid any collision with the French. 1t
is also understood that the French
forces had been instructed not to come
ilitO COuIl1CJ WIN Lne br1C1S1.
But since these agreements were ar
rived at further difficulties have arisen,
owing to the failure of the boundary
commissioners of Great Britain and
France to agree among themselves as
to the frontier lines. Since then both
parties have turned their attention to
getting treaty concessions from the ma :
tive chiefs. The French have been aim
Ing at the establishment of great Afri-
can empire and dispatching expeditions
to the Hinterland Of Lagos and Carnot-
Vile to establish headquarters.
The British Niger company, however,
getting wind of the French plans. dis
patched Capt. Lugard to Mkt, the cap
ital of Pargua. for the purpose of nego-
tiating treaty with the native ruler
and the English officer was fortunate
enough to reach there before q French
officer, Commandant de Coeur, who was
bound for the same place and with the
same intention, although the latter had
the start, and Lugard secured his treaty
and carried it away three weeks before
De Souer arrived at Mkt.
The French, however, seemed to have
chosen to disregard this fact and have
to Mkt but to Broussa, which has all
along been accredited to be within the
sphere of British influence. To settle
these and other questions in dispute,
commissioners representing Great Brit
ain and France are now tardily begin
ming to deliberate in Paris.
The colonial Office late this evening re-
ceived cable from Lagos stating that
rumor is current among the natives
there Of collision between 400 British
and French troops. The report, 1t Is
believed, will prove to be founded on g.
conflict between the French and some
natives.
NO INFORMATION
PARIS, Nov. 26.-M. Lebon, minister
of the colonies, has received no informa-
tion Of q collision between the British
and French troops at Mkt, the Niger
region, and discredits the report.