The San Francisco call., 1897-03-19
When Driven From One Posi-.
ton They Immediately
Took Up Another.
HARASSING THE FRENCH
SOLDIERS.
Lurking in the Bush They Were
Constantly Making Sudden Des.
cents on the Troops.

The barkentine Tropic Bird arrived
from Tahiti yesterday after fair run OF
thirty days. Captain Jackson was very
sick man while the vessel was in Papeete,
but is now hale and hearty again. He
says that the BIRD never folded her wings
during the entire trip, and when the re-
cent northwester was raging she logged
over $50 knots day for three consecutive
days, splendid showing for a sailing
vessel.
Two days before the Tropic Bird sailed
the gunboat DuguayTrouin arrived from
The seat of war IN Raiatea and Tahao.
She reported the rebels as being steadily
driven back, but nevertheless more men
and ammunition were required and the
gunboat had come for them.
The French flag, which had been torn
down al the commencement of the rebel
lion, had been replaced. but the natives
were still in force and seemed determined
to hold out to the bitter end. Up to Feb
ruary last LIE Messenger lie Tahiti gave
the list of casualties on the French side as
seven killed and fifteen wounded.
The Messenger DE- Tahiti says: "Charles
Grisostoni, corporal of the detachment
from Noumea, was seen in the hospital
last Sunday. While marching at the
head of his section a discharge made by
the rebels from ditch IL which they were
hiding wounded him IN the ankle, another
bullet perforated his pocket book and a
spear went through his hand
The wounds of about dozen others are
then described, and without saying so, the
paper indicates that the French had to re-
lire.
Rene lie Savut was speared by the
natives, and his ammunition being gone
and having lost his bayonet, he made .
club out OF his rife and fought ike a
Trojan. He was captured, but his COM
rades charged back and overcame the
Raiateans ana rescued their companion.
His clothes were in shreds, and beside the
spear wound he was struck several times
by bullets and he may die.
After the battle an examination was
made of the bullets fired by the natives.
1t was found that they were all sugs of
lead which had been nodded in the sand,
and caused in consequence an ugly, jagged
wound. A translation from the columns
of LIE Messenger de Tahiti is as follows:
After the bloody encounter of Teraotoa,
when the dead were buried and the wounded
succored, the column commanded by NJ.
Chocheprat continued to advance, exploring
alternately the valleys OF the western islands
and destroying the traces OF the rebels.
The rebels were fleeing and in their retreat
were firing right and lefI. Their bullets, how
ever, rarely reached their mark. Between
times Raiateans came in groups, accompanied
by their wives and children, and sure ndered
their arms. The column commanded by Nj.
Daniel met with similar experience.
On the 9Th Chocheprars column reached
the valley OF the Opoa. where they met a
rather large detachment OF rebels, in the mids I
of which Teraupo. A lively battle fol-
lowed. in which the rebel Chief Otan, bad Y
wounded was taken captive. He died week
later.
A moment later it looked as though Teraupo
was to share the same fate when he and his
followers took shelter behind The women and
the children
Order was Immediately given by the officers
TO cease firing. The ind dignation of the SOL
diers WAS extreme, and Teraupo owes his pres
ervation 10 the length of his limbs. After the
9th the rebels, with vivid recolleclions of
Tersotoa, fed TO all parts, and surrenders were
many and frequent
more prisoners were taken, but the greater
part, after throwing their arms in the brush
chose to surrender. saying, "Farani marital
(Frenchman Is good). A garrison has been es-
Inhished at d UturoG
The commander of the Duguay-Trouin, to
whom the deposed Queen OF Ayera had pre-
viouSly given all he guns, received also from
her eX-Majesty the flag of the Protectorate in
exchange ior the French flag, which she had
Immediately raised, ct the same time making
written declaration OF loyalty to France.
1t was immedia tely noted that this mani
iestation was but ruse, for in the house of
the eX-queen were four red vests and other
rebel equipments.
The defeat of the natives al Tahaa on Janu-
ary 1S met with no results, as the inhabitants
OF the islands daily manifested their hostility
by insulting the French flag and firing on the
passing boats 1t w2s decided on the 14th
10 reduce the island to submission.
Commandant Daniel was put in charge. The
infantry of the marines and u section of vol
unteers were placed at the outposs.
On the 18th after general review by Com
mandner Bayle the troops embarked on the
Duguay-Trouin. 10 the great as tonishment of
the population, who. naturally ignorant of the
project were anxiously inquiring whether the
troops were not abandoning the tight and pre-
pairing to re-enter Papeete.
Toward A. NJ, In the pouring rain, con-
tingent of forces composed principally of
marines, reached the shores OF Tahaa at the
agreed point, occupying the isthmus EN- braced
by the bays of Apu and Hsmere. The move
ment, which was 10 be accomplished without
light ana in profound silence, was punctually
executed
At day break the attacking column landed at
Port Toanafo, at the southern point OF the
island, preparing to charge on the enemy by a
flank movement. Thus surrounded, the ad-
versary hastily abandoned the village, the
troops taking poss ession at about $50, Just as
the bells were about to sit down to their morn
ing meal.
Continuing to fight while retreating the
rebels retired IN the direction of the isthm us
with the evident intention of reaching the
IL was there that they were awaited and they
found themselves entirely cut off by Gordon
of troops
Disconcerted they retreated toward Mount
Farewra. Finally. Judging resistance useless,
they showed the flag of truce. aud on the
morning of the 18th capitulated.
AS the result of this encounter the rebels
lost three men and three were wounded. Not
one of the French troops received even a
scratch. On the 18th. while Commander
Bayle was entering the western coast of Nora
de Pile de Tanaa, his men were attacked by a
troop of rebels who were hidden IN the thfcket
at Mamora-
An officer of the staff of the Mayor, Com
mander NJ Ryckleynck, answered the shots of
The adversaries. About thirty shots were
fred, killing one man and wounding another.
The 18th the Gordon at the isthmus was
broken and the column invaded the Held,
which was thoroughly explored. About fifteen
captiyes were taken and the rest OF the popu-
lation was reduced to complete submission.
Tahaa thus being completely subJugated,
the troops were put aboard the Duguay -Trouln
again and were landed at Uturoa. This was
decided upon as the basis of operations for
the future. The natives were not subJugated,
however When Lieutenant Gadiot ana nity
men were marching along the beach at
Tevaitoa, they were fired upon by the natives
from the brush. The soldiers charged, Dut
could not find any trace of the men. Inc
French lost one sergeant and three soldiers,