El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-10-31

. SenegaD. with its teeming millions OF
population, that France is drawing al
I the present time most Of her black
Z regiments. Ever since the war began
she has been enlisting and eQuipping
fresh native troops in that part Of
! the world. and, with practically unli-
mited numbers Of such fighting men
available, il may be taken for granted
that the Senegalese will from now on
be represented IN steadily Increasing
numbers on the firing lines OF the al
lies War is their favorits amusement,
and already the Germans are finding
them most formidable antagonists
Even far-Off Timbuktu is cOntribut-
ing its quota Of black recruits. shipped
on steamboats, up the Niger They
are men Of gigantic size and prodiEious
strength, these SOudanese. most cheer
full and enthusiastic fighters. For cen
turtles their chief occupation has been
war, their country having enjoyed the
blessings Of peace only since the French
occupied il, in 1893.
The city called by this name Is Just
about 900 miles from the west coast.
being located at that distance almost
due east of the mouth Of the Senegal
river. It is the ancient capital Of the
country known as Timbuktu. which in
the fifteenth century was a Moslem
empire Of such vast extent that so DAYS
were required for a caravan to cross
IL The city, (as proved by extern
sive ruins today, was then a veritabls
African metropolis. a flOurishing center
Of trade and industry, and possessing
wonderful Libraries
Downfall of Timbuktu.
It's downfall, and that Of the empire,
seems TO have been attributable to the
introduction OF firearms. The BIoOrs be-
ing first in Africa to obtain possession
Of these instruments of destruction
marched south, o. easily overcame the
resistance offered by the people OF Tim
buktu. and wiped out the city. which.
ravaged again and again by subsequent
wars. never regained its earlier impor-
lance.
Until within the last few years Tim
buktu was known as the Mysterious
city no white man having succeeded
in reaching it across 500 miles. Of desert
1t stands nine miles north Of the Niger.
on the southern edge Of the Sahara. and
today is a great mart for the exchange |
OF the produce Of northern Africa for
that Of the rich countries to the south :
and west French money has replaced I
the cowrie shells which formerly were ]
the negotiating medium. III a rate OF \
$500 for 81. The city is called the 4
port OF Sahara in the Soudan" and
the meeting point OF camel and canoe"
the latter designation referring TO
the traffic by pirogue on the Niger.
lne OF the greatest rivers in the world. Z
having a length Of 500 miles.
Women Also Fighters.
.
or the Germans that the celebrated
Amazon regiments Of Dahomev have ]
,een disbanded. else female troops from (
hat African possession Of the French
night possibly be fetched TO the scene I
Z conflict in Europe.
Dahomey is next neighbor on the east
o the German colony OF Togoland, with
sea-frontage IS miles long on the
iulf Of Guinea It extends nOrthward I
II the way to the Niger, a distance Of
n.-Y- "a hoe - ]
ants The latter are pure negro-tal1 |
roud. polite. and warlike. It is un-
erstood that several regiments of them
re now being recruited and made ready
or service in France
It is entirely within the bounds of Z
easonable likelihood that before long
elbow troops from the French posses
ions in the far East will make their Z
ppearance in Europe The allies Just !
ow are not missing any bets, so to I
peak. or neglecting any chance that /
an help them to win. and in that part (
{ the world France has a population Of
S. 000 900 TO draw upon This is in |
1do-China. which embraces AMMAN,
Onking. Cambodia, and the colony Of |
The territory in Ques- I
ION is the eastern part Of the Indo-
hinese peninsula. It is the extreme | ]
outheast corner OF the continent Of !
STA, with Siam on the west and Bur
iah on the northwest
French IndO-China Army.
The regular army of French Indo-
hina consists Of over $4,000 native
regiments Of Tonkingese.
70 regiments Of Annamese, one bat
llion Of Cambodians, one battalion Of
hinese tirailleus (sharpshooters), two !
Iuadrons of Annamese chasseurs ;
light horse), and two companies Of en-
ineers- /
Speaking Of the Algerian troops. one
reminded Of the "vivandieres," those s
farming on-combatants of gentler
*. who did military service with the I
rench regiments in that country J
Rough not, it is true. with the native : Z
-ganizations-for some time after they ] Z
ld ceased to exist as an institution Of ! I
ar in France. She carried a little | 7
.sk OF brandy slung from her pretty ] 3
ioulders, for first aid" to fatigued or I Z
ounded troopers. Responsibility was
lt her forte: but que voulez vOus2- ]
= I'm other words, what was the user : 2
ne has departed forever. and IL is only h
the comic opera stage that she sur ! v