The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
FRENCH WORK In AFRICA.
WHAT EXPLORERS VOULET AND CHI
NOME HAD ACCOMPLISHED.
Chanoine's Successful Overland Trip Across
the Niger Bend-The Pagan Tomas-Ths
TuareRs Likely to Give the Most Trouble
Deserts and Fertile Country Found.
From he London TimeA

Deserts and Fertile Country Found.
From The London Time&
The extraordinary story which was published
yesterday in Paris Of the circumstances attend
ing the death Of Lieutenant Colonel Klobb and
Lieutenant Meunier in the French Sudan has
now been officially confirmed, and II is we fear,
no longer possible TO hope for the honor Of the
French army that II may prove TO be untrue
Colonel klobb had been entrusted by the French
Government with somewhat unusual mission
Some time ago Lieutenant Peteau, an officer
attached to an expedition under the command Of
Captains Nouet and Chanoine, made series Of
grave charges against the leaders Of the expcdi-
ton. These charges have never so far as We are
aware been officially formulated, but it is known
that they involved an abuse Of their powers and
acts Of gross cruelty committed gainst the natve
A preliminary inquiry at once held by the
French Resident at Say. and by Licutenant-COl-
onel Grave, Commandant of the Eastern Soudan
The result of this preliminary inquiry was so far
to substantate the charges that the Government
instructed Colonel Klobb. who in military
command Of the northern district Of the Soudan.
TO proceed with all haste in pursuit of the Voulet-
Chanoine Expedition, to interrogate the incul-
pated officers, and to conduct exhaustive in
qury into the charges made by Lieutenant Peteau.
1t is reported that Captain Noulet and the
other officers Of the mission gave orders TO their
soldiers to fire on Colonel Klobb and his compan-
ions; and the French Government finds itself faca
to face with an incident of the utmost gravity.
Both the officers implicated in these extraordin-
airy proceedings have had previous African ex-
perence. They were associated together in 1895
in an expedition which resulted in the establish
ment of a French protectorate over the countries
OF Mossi and Gurunsi Captain Noulct Is an off,
Ger Of the Marines and Captain Ghanoine who
is son Of tho well known general of that name.
belongs 10 a regiment OF Spahs- II was Captain
Nouet who was in command of the French forces
which came into contact with Captain Donald
Stewart the British Resident al X umassi, during
the troubles in the Ashanti Hinlsrland.
1t was in July of last year that Captains Voulet
and Chanoine entrusted with their present
mission They were ordered u continue tho
work which had been begun by the unfortunate
Captain Casemajoux, who had been assassinated
together with most Of his followers near Sindc, by
the orders of the chief Of that place. Their main
object was to explore the county lying between
Say. on the Niger, and the western shore Of Lake
Chad, north of the boundary line fixed by tho
Anglo French agreement OF last year. In Octo-
Der last the members Of the expedition were at
JENNIE, on the Niger. On the 18th OF that month.
Capt Chanoine with 800 tiraeurs started TO cross
the Niger bend by land, while Capt Voulet with
the remainder Of the expedition and the stores
by the river. Capt Chanoine has given an inter-
estng account Of all his journey across the Niger
| bend He traversed the mountainous country Of
Bandiagary. which forms the line of division bo-
tween the basin of the upper Niger and the basin OF
the middle Niger and the Volta He describes this
country inhabited by an interesting race Of
mountaineers. who live in isolated villages To
which access is sometimes only possible by means
Of ladders These people, who call themselves
Tomas" are pagans, extremely industrious. and
display much foresight than most of the tribes
inhabitng the Soudan. They almost arm
ed, and take the greatest of their weapons.
The Fulah missionaries have never succeeded
in converting them and their attitude towards
the French appears TO have been one Of armed
neutrality. They do not attack the French. on
| condition that they eft practically in COM
| plete independence. After leaving this noun
| famous region Capt Chanone proceeded in an
| east south eastery direction To Wahiguva. the
capital of the Yatenga country He crossed
| a large sandy plain named Same, thinly peopled
in the north, but with a dense population further
south. The Samos are. Capt Chanone says
savages as compared with the moro civilized
inhabitants to be found further north. They
have not yet submitted To French rule, although,
as he says somewhat bitterly, the commandment
Of this region has for two years past been roprt-
ing that their rebeons at an end. 1t is aigN
nificant, in view of the charges which are now
brought against Capt Chanoine and his leader.
that he ascribes the fact that the Samos have NOT
submitted to French rule to the tender methods
that have been employed in dealing with them-
At Wagadugu, the capital Of Moss Capt Cha
noine, with much pomp and ceremony, invested a
number OF natives with decorations which had been
awarded TO them by the French Government for
| services rendered during the expedition of 1906
81 Mossi he described as a country of exceptional
richness The climate is healthy, the soil excel
lent and there large herds OF sheep and cattle
az wee as horses and donkeys in abundance
But the people are incorrigibly lazy. and only
cultivate the soil TO an extent which will satisfy
their immediate wants From Wagadugu Capt
| Chanoine's column passed through northern
| Gurma to Say. where he arrived on December Ii
of last year. After remaining there for some days
he crossed the river and proceeded along tho left
bank To Sansannc Hausa, about 100 or 1b0 XIII
ometres further up the river. Here he WINS Joined
| on January 2 OF this year by Capt Vouict, who
| had succeeded in passing in safety the numerous
rapids that impede the river below Ifmbuktu-
Two months were spent in reorga MIXING tho expo
| diton and in the early part of March start was
made for Lake Chad Owing, however TO the
scarcity of water the expedition Obliged To return
| to the Niger and later another start was made
along a different route. The charges brought by
| Lieut. Peteau against his superior officers IeintS
both to Capt Chanoine conduct during the hand
| journey form Jenne 70 Say and To the two months
| spent by the mission in the neighbOrhood 'ue
| Sansanne Hausa
| The population Of the Niger basin near Say In
extremely mixed. There several black tribes
who have at one time another held sway in the6O
| regions, but at present the Tuaregs appear TO he
! the dominant power. They live at some distance
from the river banks but exercise q species OF
| nuaP lOPdah ma nf he nm