FRENCH ACCOUNTS OF THE DISASTER IN CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 752, 21 January 1860, Page 3

FRENCH ACCOUNTS OF THE DISASTER IN CHINA.

Two Paris journals, the 'Univers' and ' Presse,' contain letters from China giving details of the affair. - The correspondent of the.' Univers' writes. a,s follows :•—

. " The brilliant English squadron, composed of twelve gunboats and of several other, vessels of varioua sizes, and the' two French steamers Duch,ayla and Norzagarayi anchbre^d at the Peihp m

June,l6th. In the fortg of Takou no movement was to be di.scer.ned. A boat wan sont ashore to examine the place; a Mandarin came down and prohibited landing. 'The'officer then announced tho arrival of tho Ministers for the ratification of the treaties at Pekin, and demanded Tree patmage for the ships. Tho Chinese replied very rudely, that no man-of-war could pass, and that he might souk apassago further north if he chose. It was soon discovered that the mouth of the Peiho was obstructed by numerous Htockatle* extending..very far inland. To the questions addreaxod to them a« to tho object of these stockades, tho Chinese replied that the authorities had nothing to do with' them, that they wore tho work of the people i'or protection against piratoa. These replies'imposed upon no one; three days were given to the Mandarins to remove the barriers. A formal refusal was the reply. During all this parleying there was complete silence in the forts, not a flag nor movement was perceived; the works were so well concealed that one might easily have thought tho forts deserted. On the 25th June orders were given to the gunboats to advance and force the passage. The Plover and Opossum were fortunate enough to force the first two stockades, but the third stopped them. The Chinese, seeing them thus engaged, while tho Starling and the Banterer touched ground, lifted the mask by a cannon shot fired at the Plover which carried Admiral Hope's flag. It was the signal of a frightful butchery. The awnings (tentes) that concealed the batteries were drawn aside in an instant,and a terrible hail of cannon-balls fell on the gun-boats. These replied bravely, but the position was not tenable. The Admiral received two wounds. His flag was transfered to another gunboat, and the action became general. The fire from the forts was too heavy for the gunboats, and had already sunk three of them. It was attempted to land the 1200 or 1300 disposable men. But these, unfortunately, found themselves up to the waist in mud, their ammunition was quickly damaged, it ivas impossible to advance except with the most extraordinary effort, and the enemy continued to fire on these brave men, who could not make use of their arms. The officers performed prodigies of valour to encourage their men, who were harrassed by fatigue. By nine o'clock at night 460 men were killed and wounded. The gunboats had exhausted their ammunition. The remainder of the troops regained their ships through fatigues and dangers impossible to describe. Sixty French, of the crew of the Duchayla, shared in the action;, four were killed and ten wounded. The brave Commandant Tricault, of the Duchayla, is wounded in the arm, not dangerously.' Besides the gunboats destroyed, two others were sunk during the action; fortunately they were recoveredduring the night. This is the summary of the most terrible check that the Europeans have ever experienced in China/

The letter then remarks that this event will cause a great sensation in Japan and Cochin China, and that its consequences will be immense if speedy and complete vengence be not taken. Exemplary chastisement must be inflicted on the Tartar, or European influence and honour will be gravely compromised in that part of the world, r

The letter in the '■ Presse' agrees with the above in most of the essential points. In the first place it says that similar reports from all sides gave warning that the expedition would encounter great obstacles before reaching Pekin; they said that the Takou forts had been reconstructed and formidably armed, and that a body of 20,000 Mongols was massed on the shores of the Peiho, under the orders of a famous general, named San-ko-lin-sin. Mr. Bruce; it is stated, acquired the certainty on arriving at the Peiho that the Government would oppose the fleet's entrance into the river, but the mandarins^ with'whom he communicated said that the ambassadors would be received at Pekin, and offered them an escort if they would leave their vessels and soldiers. The number of guns opposed to the squadron was estimated at 100, varying in calibre from 30 to • 50-pounders. They kept up a terrible and directed lire. The English Admiral was one of the first wounded. Towards five o'clock, says the letter, the tide having gone out with great force, several gunboats got aground, and their hulls, thus exposed to the enemy's aim, were knocked to pieces. When the landing party got embarrassed in the deep mud, the Chinese redoubled the vigour of their artillery practice, and poured in quantities of grape. Many of the men, overwhelmed by the fire ? fell in the mud, from which they had the greatest difficulty in extricating themselves. When darkness came on the Chinese discharged globes of fire from their guns, which enabled them to see their enemies, and ajm at them. At last Captain Shadwell, commanding the expedition, being badly wounded, the order to retreat was given, and the retrograde movement was hailed by the Chinese with a frantic shout of joy.