WORLD SENSATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 12, 15 January 1934, Page 7

WORLD SENSATION.

Fashoda Incident Recalled by Marchand's Death. NOTED TRENCH GENERAL. (Received 11.30 a.m.) PARIS, January 14. The death is announced of General Marchand, noted for his famous defiance of Earl Kitchener in the Fashoda incident. Jean Baptiste Marchand, the intrepid French ofiicer whose name is linked with the Fashoda incident which nearly led to war, was the son of a carpenter, and was born at Thoissey, in the Ain Department, | in November, 1803. After three years m the ranks he became a junior officer in 1886, and saw service in Senegal. Relations between France and Britain were not very cordial in the '90's. France was looking round for compensation for the British occupation of Egypt, arul saw opportunities in the partition of Africa which was then proceeding. Sho complained, however, that she was hampered everywhere by Britain. The British project of a Cape-to-Cairo railway was regarded as particularly provocative. In March, 1895, the British Government informed that the Valley o£ the Nile between the Lakes and Egypt was A-ithin the sphere o£ British influence, and that an expedition was projected to end the Mahdist terrorism. Next year the Nile campaign was started under Ivitchener, who was then Sirdar of the Egyptian forces. .

In Februarv, 1896, the French Colonial Minister, M. Guieysse, instructed Captain Marchand to proceed to the Congo and. to march across Africa so as to extend French influence as far as the Nile. In June he set out, and for two years hardly anything was heard of him. Meanwhile he was fighting his way with a smallforce through the continent. By July, 1898, the Anglo-Egyptian Nile expedition had dentroyed the Mahdist horde and **captuied Khartoum.

Two months later Knchcner learnt that there was a white force at Fashoda to the south. Proceeding there to investigate he found the French flag flying over a small enclosure, and Captain •Marchand -in command. Kitchener tactfully but firmly pointed out that lie could not recognise the French occupation. IVlaichand, with equal courtesy and firmness, cited his orders, and refused to lower his flag or to move. Kitchener then disposed a British force so as to encircle the little French garrison, and telegraphed the news to England. It startled the whole world, and caused acute tension between Britain and France. War was spoken ot freely in both countries, but diplomacy, worked at high pressure, and counsels ot peace prevailed. An order was sent fioni Paris to Marcband to lower hie flag and withdraw. He obeyed, but refused Kitchener's offer of conveyance homeward in comfort through Egypt, and marched on to Jibuti! in French Somaliland. When he reached France he was welcomed as a national hero. In 1904 he retired from the army, but when the World War broke out lie was given command of the 10th Colonial Division. During the attacks which he led he was wounded three times. At Navarin Farm in 1915 a bullet passed through his body, and for three weeks he lay in a dugout before lie could be removed to hospital. In three months, however, he was back at the front. Marcband received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre.