THE FRANCO-CHINESE WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 6759, 26 November 1884, Page 4

THE FRANCO-CHINESE WAR.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF TAMSUI, The Chinese opened fire npon the French ships at twenty minutes to seven on the morning of the 2nd October, and the French returned the fire within a couple of minutes, every ship engaging the small battery known as the White Fort and the new earth battery thrown up within the previous two months on a spur of the hill running down to the pilot village. This earth battery was mounted with five Krnpp guns. It was the general opinion at Tamsui, held by both the Chinese and the foreigners, that the French would demolish both the batteries in about half-an-hour; and that they would land marines and soldiers, and find Tamsui in their possession in the coarse of a few hours. The bombardment from the French ships waa something tremendous. Every house shook. The windows rattled, and the plaster fell from the ceilings at the first shot. The shells seemed directed towards the White Fort, the earth battery, and the encampments on the slopes on the downs, but before long the air became alive with them. Between 7 and 9 a.m. the firing was continued without cessation at an appalling rate, There was scarcely a moment between the shots at any time. Every now and then broadsides were fired from the Galissoniere and the Triomphante, which were simply deafening. After the first hour or so, shot and shell were heard whizzing through the air, and were seen bursting in the neighborhood of the foreign houses, but some dropped dose to an English gunboat lying in the stream. Notwithstanding the recklessness, and the terrific character of the bombardment, there was very little loss of life on shore, only twenty Chinese being killed and wounded daring a thirteen hours’ bombardment. In the afternoon, the shore batteries having long been silenced, the French carried on the fire independently, and often broadsides were indulged in, the shot flying Ml over the country in places where there was no enemy to be seen within a mile or two. Just about this time a live shell entered the roof of a house close by right at the end of the town, and the whole of the house suddenly collapsed, a cloud of dust rising in the air where the building had previously stood. Under the ruins were found the bodies of an old man, an old woman, and a child. The next day it was fully expected that the French would land, and all day the foreign inhabitants were in a state of suspense, bnt there was no sign of boats putting off from the ships, and np to the 7th October no landing had been effected by the French.

AFFAIRS AT FOOCHOW. Later news from Foochow, dated October 14, states:—With the exception of a couple of small vessels the French fleet have withdrawn, bat evidently only temporarily. It is believed that when a sufficient force arrives Foochow will be occupied. The ramble of guns was heard for several hours yesterday, and it was generally thought that the French fleet had recommenced operations, It turned out, however, that the Chinese were only practising, which is a favorite amusement when the French are not in sight, and impresses the Natives with a belief that they are not being squeezed for nothing. A fire occurred here yesterday, a luge quantity of Native property being destroyed, while the looting was, as usual, considerable. Everything appears strangely quiet, bnt the Chinese continue to reconstruct the forts, and the soldiers are receiving a daily training. They certainly appear in a far more efficient state than they were.

CHARGES QF CANNIBALISM AGAINST THE CHINESE.

A correspondent writing to the ' Shanghai Mercury 1 from Tientsin, under date 6th October, says:—"By the Chung King, which arrived here on the 3rd inst., there came a messenger bearing a despatch from Feng Yu Lin, together with some of the spoil taken at Yuang Yin Chian on the 24tb June last. The latter in part consisted of flags, swords, and several coat-sleeves, having on them stripes designating the rank held by the wearers. I gather that three French officers were taken alive, whose fate it was to suffer the most horrible tortures. I am informed that they were for several days carried about in cages from post to post, and finally bled to death, their blood being carefully caught, mixed with samshu, and distributed by the different commanders to their nice, by whom it was drunk. The bodies of the unfortunate victims were then disembowelled, their hearts taken possession of by the officers, and their bodies given up to the soldiers, by whom they they are reported to have been eaten.”

DANGER TO FOREIGNERS, A correspondent of the ‘ Argos ’ writing from Hong Kong, under date October 21, says“ The situation in China is becoming for all the neutral Powers more and more difficult. Serious complications ore at any time likely to arise. This is, to a certain extent, owing to the continuance of hostilities by France without any formal declaration of war having been made; but, supposing war to be immediately declared by France against China, though some difficulties will be smoothed away, there will still exist complications which may possibly end in a European war, and very likely in the dismemberment of the Chinese Empire, The Government of China has all along placed mnch reliance on the idea of the interests of the great commercial Powers England, America, and Germany—being so strongaa to induce their respective Governments to intercede on her behalf, and bring about a reconciliation between her and her powerful foe. This policy hasbeen strongly advocated by the entire foreign community of Shanghai, where the largestmeetingon record in the settlement was recently held, which passed a resolution colling upon the British Government to mediate between France and China. It appears, however, probable that the expectations of China and the endeavors of the neutral Powers to bring about a rcconciliation will be disappointed, and. that hostilities will continue. Business both at Hongkong and at the coast ports is almost at a standstill. It is only by the presence cf the mcn-of-war that any security exists for the lives and property of the citizens of neutral nations in the trade ports of China. In addition to violations of the flag committed on neutral Powers, several outbursts of antiforeign feeling on the part of the people have recently occurred in different parts of the country. An English missionary—Mrßagnall by name—attached to the American Bible Society is reported to have been murdered at Ghantnng, and a number of chapels—ten or twelve in all—in the district around Canton, belonging to the English and American missions, have been looted and destroyed by mobs’ of Chinese, the Native converts in many instances being subjected to all kinds of persecution.” [Late cablegrams report frfr Bagnall to be alive, — Ed, E.S.]