PARIS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3137, 18 July 1881, Page 3

PARIS.

July 14. The anniversary of the French Republic was celebrated to-day as a public holiday throughout the country. Festivities were organised in all parts of this city, and passed off with great eclat. Telegrams are to hand to-day from Tripoli aunouncing that certain emissaries despatched by the French Governor to the Governor-General of Tripoli have been placed under arrest on their arrival at the capital. July 16. Telegrams to hand from Tunis this morning report that the bombardment of Sfax continues, but the French have so far been unable to dislodge the Arabs. The latter still offer a firm resistance to all attempts on the part of tbe French vessels to land a storming party. Later. News has just been received that tbe French have been successful over the insurgent tribes at Sfax. Under cover of a heavy bombardment by the ships a strong storming party effected a landing this morning. The Arabs offered a firm defence, but after heavy fighting were at length driven back, and the French forces are now in full possession of the town. July 17. Later intelligence regarding tbe battle preceding the capture of Sfax by the French states that the Arabs offered most stubborn resistance to the storming party, and inflicted upon it the loss of 8U killed and 40 wounded. The engagement lasted some time, and tbe insurgents did cot give way until they had suffered heavily. The French troops in the occupation of Sfax have now been largely reinforced from the squadron, and have taken up string potions in and around the uity in preparation for attacks by tb« Arabs".