The Sun. — 1869-02-09 (London, England)

ACTION BETWEEN ENGLISH AND  MINESE IN FORMOSA.  Another missionary difficulty in China has ended in serious consequences. It appears that peaceful negotiations having failed to obtain satisfaction for the recent outrages in Formosa, A.B.M. gunboats Algerine and Bustard proceeded to Amping, the port of Taiwanfoo, to take possession of that place and its fort, Zelandia, as a reprisal. The chief cause of this quarrel appears to be attributable to the opposition of the local authorities to the presence of European missionaries. Protestant and Roman Catholic chapels had been sacked and destroyed at Koi Kan and Pei-t'ou (twice at the latter place), a Christian convert being brutally murdered near Takao a short time afterwards. In May a number of converts were assailed at Taiwan ; Dr. Maxwell and his assistants were accused of diabolical murders and infamous crimes, while Taiwan was (nominally) cleared of the Christians. In addition to these religious affairs there were commercial and political disagreements. No redress was obtainable from the local authorities, and it was decided that the Algerine and Bustard should proceed to Amping, the port of Tiawanfoo, and take possession of that place anci its fort as a reprisal. After formally taking possession of Amping, Lieutenant Gurdon, of the Algerine, re-embarked his men, expecting to command the place by the guns of his vessel. On Wednesday, November 25, the Taiwanfoo authorities sent down 500 men to re-occupy the place. This they did, and began actively to mount guns to defend the place. Lieutenant Gurdon, having been informed of this, sent a letter to the Chinese military commander in the place, that if within an holly he had not evacuated the fort and town, he (Lieutenant Gurdon) must proceed to shell it. At the same hour he warned the inhabitants to clear out. His remonstrance was in vain, so for an hour and a ball before nightfall he cautiously and slowly poured in shot and shell into the fort. About midnight he landed with a party of volunteers, twenty-five in all, passing through the surf in safety themselves, but losing one of their boats in it, lay in wait behind a bank on the shore, until the moon was fairly down, and then, all undiscovered, sallied right into the place. Making their way to the Hiap-tai's yamen, they found it filled with soldiers. The lieutenant invited them, by an interpreter, to lay down their arms, but they refused and showed fight, and in self-defedco the assaulting party was compelled to fire. They did so, killing eleven men and wounding six others: the rest of the garrison took to flight. A few hours later, in the dim light of morning, Lieutenant Gurdon, while examining the approaches from Taiwanfoo, heard the noise of a large body of men in the distance, and having planted his men, they shortly descried a party, which was afterwards ascertained to be composed of 250 Honan braves. When at about 200 yards, the Algerfnes, with their Sniders, opened on the advancing braves, who stood for about five minutes returning the fire. After losing- six men killed and ten wounded, however, they turned tail and fled to Taiwanfoo, leaving Lieutenant Gurdon and his blue jackets in possession of the prize. The terms demanded have been fully complied with by the Chinese, and the local authorities have been suspended by the Foochow Viceroyal Government.  lIIISSIONA.RY