THE FRENCH AND CHINESE AT SHANGHAI.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5629, 3 October 1883, Page 3

THE FRENCH AND CHINESE AT SHANGHAI.

Hostile feeling between the French and Chinese at Shanghai was the cause of a disturbance there on the 14th July. The " North China Daily News*' says £-"■ A number of sailors -belonging to the Irraouaddy obtained leave of absence to STiend the evening ashore. Many of them ordered dinner at the Cafe de France* on the Tang-king-pang, and about twenty of them „ sat "down, to their meal Boon after, seven o'clock. * k The presence of the r Bailors attracted a crowd of Chiriese,?wh6 viewed the* cafe from both aides of the Yang-king-pang. The Bailors went on with their dinner without paying any attention to the crowd 'outside, and were enjoying-themselves heartily, whea their mirth was suddenly brought to a dose by some rowdies, who taking advantage of the crowded state of the road, threw stones through the Windows of the: cafe opposite the table where the sailors were sitting. Half a brick struck a sailor in the, mouth, cutting his lip severely. Other stones was thrown, which smashed a lamp in front of the cafe, and did some damage inside the building." The same pajperof the 16th July says :— " A. rumor was current last week that there was going to be a riot on the day of the celebratj«n of the French Fete, and precautions, were taken, accordingly. The proceeding wa« a wise one, for soon after the illumination commenced about fifty soldiers came * out of the dtj. They were armed, with some ugly-looking weapons, and' appeared to have organised a plan of attack on the houses on which they had threatened vongeance in the morning. We have been unable to ascertain who struck the first blown, but the soldiers -were'soon in a hand-to-hand fight with the French police, who endeavored to capture the marauders, five of whom quickly found themselves locked up, but not till they had inflicted serious injuries on an informer and some alight injuries en a detective and some of the constables. . With three of the soldiers were captured their weapons. One of these ■ is the jawbone of apony* with the teeth filed down, and bound round with cloth to make a convenient handle. Two other weapons are Chinese fighting irons. GLhe eoldiers are still locked up at the French station, notwithstanding that their officer! have sent to ask for their release. They feared that some of the men had been killed, and wanted to know-, whether such was the case. M. Binos very .wisely refused to give ike soldiers up, having determined to send them to the Mixed Court to be there dealt with. The informer -who was injured received a severe Mow on the head,' fracturing his skull, and several bruises on his arm, which caused it to swell to twice its natural size." ■ T ' '