THE FRANCO-CHINESE REPRISALS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4521, 25 November 1884, Page 4

THE FRANCO-CHINESE REPRISALS.

Tbe Fighting In TtfmjSto.

[BEUTER'S TEiJjGßAsk?;]!

CooKTOwir, November 10. The following Items of later Chinese news are taken from files to hand per 8. Timor up to the 21st October :— Reportfl from Tonquin Btate that the French gunboat Mossue, while going up the Lochnau River, wfls attacked by the Chineee, who were lying Ifl atnbueh. In attempting to swing, the vessel got aground, and became a target for the Chinese rifles. Captain Challier was shot'dead, his head being pierced, while 21 of the crew and 10 marines were wounded. The gunboat was rescued by the Haichee and Mosquito. This occurred on 3rd October. Oeneral do Negrier proceeded at once ftotn Hanoi to f hu Lang Thuong in the Caratfne", tfH the available infantry being gent overland ait tfefe eaipe time to Bacninh, taking up there some fflorft spare troops. In the meanwhile 400 European sofdiefs, under Colonol Kaulieng, and two compaini*s of Tonquin Trailieurs, were despatched in' the gunboat Eclair, accompanied by two or three smaller gunboats, to enter the Lochnau In order to prevent a junction by way Of ihitt river between the Chinese on the Hongsatn Roadj -who bad formed a line .of defence on Song Thuong and those about Dongtrien, whose line" of defence was on the Lochnau. When General de Negrier arrived at the point where the Moesue was attacked, he attempted a landing, but when about half his force was landed they were attacked by about 3,000 Chinese. The French disembarkation was completed tinder cover of the gunboat, and e»vere fighting ensued, lasting fttHy six Jhour«, from ten in the morning to four in the afternoon. The Chinese were driven feac* with a loss of about 1,000 killed. The FrCnCb hie included 1 officer killed and 6 wounded, and 0 tnon killed and 26 wounded. The French had floa*tttleiy wi:h thetfr, ivhile the Chinese had Krupp #f&sY firing double uhell full of grape shot. They oaftceeded tn carrying them all off. The Chinese mKde a good stand, and charged several times. The Tonquin Trailleura were utterly useless, and a large number of them ran sway during ths fight. General Negrier left Phu Lang Thliohg on the 7th October, the day. after the engageifleflt) with about 3,000 men. They marched nlcrtig 8 dreary narrow road to Hangswon. Ofl their approach to Ban Loch, the Chmeso headquarters, tbe Chinese forces withdrew towards Hong Kep, the French following. Next morning they encountered there about 6.U00 Chinese regulars, who had fortified the position. This force made some violent attacks on the French, but were continually driven back tfith heavy losses. After five hours' hard-fighting ih^ Chinese fled and disbanded towards l)ao QaSS, being cut off from China by the Lan Son roaC They left with the French all their stores, as Well as horses and mules. The Chinese losses in thißbattleareestimatedat2,ooo. The French lost Captain Pbante, a young officer recently promoted, and fifty men, while ei^ht officers and twenty men are returned ac wounded. Among the wounded are General Negrier and his aide-de-camp. The general has a bullet wound through his ankle. The French were bravely led on, and Oeneral Negrier and his officers were complimented by the Corcfmander-in Chief. The former has returned to Aptiah fat medical treatment; He was replaced by General Briare de Lisle, who pursued the Chinese towards the Lochnau, forming a junction 'with Colonel Danlier on the 10th. They found the Chineee at Thion strongly entrenched in pita protected by earthworks. '■. The enemy made desperate efforts to retake , their lost position, but the French, having put their ordinance in position,: repulsed them with heavy loss, driving them back to the mountains. ~