The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1881-04-09 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

FRENCH WAR. complete plan of dealing with the sub- The French are drifting into a little cot, for lam convinced that when such war" in Algiers. There has been fights plan is proposed it ought to be pro- ing on the Tunisian frontier, and on the posed by a Government to a Parliament 81st ultimo there was an engagement of which has plenty of what I may call a very serious character. It lasted six elbowroom—(hear, hear)---plenty of free hours, and no less than half-a-dozen and unoccupied space for discussion, •tribes of lihoumis took part in it. because of the complexity of interests lOther tribes maintain a passive attitude that are involved. There are three but it is believed that all the frontier great, I would say gross, anomalies in tribes are willing to join in an assault our present system of death duties, none on the French at the first signal. The of which I attempt on the present occa- troops have been reinforced and military sion to deal with, although I wish always supplies are being collected at Eliaehun. to keep them in the mind of Parliainent. Four natives, belonging to Colonel The honourable member for Stockton Hatter's mission of exploration for a had done good service in connection Trans-Sahara railway arrived at Ouasgla with this subject; but even he was not on the 28th ult. They report that the in a position to deal with the anomalies expedition has been almost completely to which I refer. The first of the anoma- annihilated, having been surprised lies is the total exemption of property in by a native tribe four days' march mortmain from death duty and life duty. from Hairer, south of Assimu. Colonel How long the Parliament of this country, Hatters and nearly all the members of which is supposed to have some self- the mission were killed. M. Dianons governing energy in it, will be inclined and a subordinate officer escaped, but to bear this intolerable anomaly I do were subsequently overtaken by the not know. I myself have made an Touaregs of Hoggar, who declared that unsuccessful attempt to deal with it, they had had no hand in the massacre. but no.extended attempt has been made They offered the fugitives dates, but the since that failure. The day must come fruit was poisoned, and after eating it when it must be dealt with; and I hope M. Dianons and 28 men died. M. it will be dealt with, and boldly, by the Poleguin and 80 men continued their present Parliament at a time when the retreat, but when about four days' other anomalies are also taken in hand. march south of Messenguen they were The next anomaly is the question be- surrounded by hostile tribes. M. PoleWean settled and unsettled personalty, gain sent foal' natives on to Ouargla, and it is impossible to conceive anything and on their arrival succour was mimemore irrational as regards pare person- idiately despatched to the remnant of ally than utter inequality. It is as if it the expedition. But little hope, howwere the policy of the country to drive ever, is entertained of relieving them, as all property into settlement, instead of the thirty survivors were surrounded, leaving it free to be handled by the , and were ill supplied with food and amenergy, enterprise, and skill of the munition. The wretches who 'Make war people. I have been tempted to make , with poison are deserving of very little a proposal on this subject, but the , consideration, and we hope that retrimatter is so mixed up with the con- , bution will swiftly and surely overtake siclerations of questions of settlement the vile murderess of X. Dianons and and realty that we find it impossible to his little band.