Washington sentinel., 1899-10-14
a DOUBTFUL PLEASURE TRIP.
ANNIHILATIoN OF A FRENCH MISSION
IN NORTHWEST AFRICA.


ANNIHILATIoN OF A FREScH MISSION
IN NORTHWEST AFRICA.
Standard London, Sept. II.
1t is to be feared that the misfortune
France has suffered will have important
consequences throughout the region
between the Nile and the Niger. Any
extension of European influence in that
part Of the Desert which fell to France
under the recent addition to the Niger
Convention is demonstrated to be i'm
possible for the time being, and may
now be delayed for a generation. The
Expedition was the largest ever sent
beyond the southern confines Of Algeria,
Ifany one could have ensured its sue
cess it was NJ, Foureau, one of the most
adventurous and distinguished of French
travellers in Africa. and with an unrival-
leled knowledge and experience Of the
Tuaregs. The object was Agades.
There isa lOOphole Tor doubt whether
the destruction of the Mission is so COM
plete as it seems to be; but previous
experience Of the TuareRs torbids hope.
1t is all too probable that It has suffered
humiliation. Some Europeans, il is
true, have cl1- 1-sed the Desert from the
North with the caravans which pass
from Tripoli, through Air, to the West
ern Soudan; but it is equally true that
many more have met with violent
deaths. The fate of the Foureau Lamy
Mission shows that a much larger body
than few hundred soldiers must be
employed. This is not the first time
that the French have found the Desert
impenetrabie because OF the Tuareg
Confederation; and it will not be the
last, unless the next effort is made on a
scale which is comparable, IN some
respects, with the advance made by the
Anglo-Egyptians further east. The
difficulties are enormous, for the hostil-
ity Of the Tuaregs is Implacable. For
ages they have been masters Of the
Desert-the finest, the most fearless, and
the most terocious and treacherous race
in the Continent OF Africa.
Ai0yHfNR PoSt-London, Sept, II.
The misfortunes OF France stretch
from Paris to Lake Chad. News has
reached Tripoli by courier OF the des'
tructiOn OF the Foureau Lamy Expedition
by the Tuaregs OF Northwest Africa.
The Mission was one OF three which had
started from Algeria with a view Of
establishing communications between
the coast and Lake Chad. The practical
disappearance of the Noulet Chanoine
Expedition and the conduct of the
officers who led it were the sensation of
fortnight ago. Today France has 10
mourn the more honorable fate of the
Foureau Lamy party. Last May it was
understood to have reached the Oasis
of AR, which is situated about two
hundred and fifty miles to the northwest
of the Lake, and to be preparing to start
on the elatter stages OF lts journey, despite
the attacks of local tribesmen. News
travels slowly TO the coast, and the
disaster which has now occurred, and
which represents, roughly speaking the
waste of about SOC, 900 fr. of public
money, is fixed by a calculation oi
distances at about the end of June.
Little or nothing is known about the
Tuaregs inhabitlng that barren region
but the present account of their savage
onslaught on a small band OF explorer:
will not encourage the further sacrifice
OF valuable and fearless lives. TIE
names OF Foureau and Lamy are a!
much to the credit of French enterprise
in the Soudan as those of Voulet anC
Chanoine are disgraceiul; but, from firs
to last, the Republic cannot congratulate
b herself on her success or her gooC
fortune in that field. II i,
] impossible not to feel sympathy for the
brave and unfortunate men who pefisheC
: so far from home, and who upheld the
honor of France in a country where hei
= dishonor is not known; but we fancy tha
= this mornings news will increase tbs
D dissatisfaction Of the righteous men lef
e in France with the methods and aspira
4 tions Of the Government.
$ DGffy GGEehs-Birmingham, Sept. Il
!. A grim story comes from the Frencl
e Soudan, and II 1t is true it will still fur
/, ther confirm the impression that tn
r, Army of France is under the ban c
2 Providence. Less than three week
Al ago news was received OF the murder {
z Colonel Klobo and Lieutenant Meunie
o by Captain Voulet and Lieutenant Cha
is noine in the Touareg country, and no
h It is reported that the Foureau-Lan
.r expedition has been annihilated by .
10 immense body Of Touareg natives. tt
barsst rumor is to hand, but the nsws