BRITISH AND FRENCH TROOPS FIGHTING.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 24, Issue 1259, 11 January 1894, Page 3

BRITISH AND FRENCH TROOPS FIGHTING.

• *.—- , AN UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE.

Telegrams from . Sierra t Leone, Western Africa, published in London newspapers, state that the the French attacked a British camp at Warrin* before dawn on the, 23rd December. The British replied to the fire, and the fighting lasted for some time, but eventually the French -withdrew. Their commander, Lieutenant was.'wounded. He was brought into camp where he died. Before his death he explained that he thought the British were a body of Sofas against wkoao-r-ths. French were operating, officered by Aws~~leaders! In the" fight 10 on the French side were >„ The "West India Regiment (British) had Lieutenants Liston and Broughton, a sergeant, and four privates killed, and 15 , seriously wounded. The frontier police had Captain Lendy and two men killed and three seriously wounded.

The British which is within thV,British sphere. There were troops on bp£h sides as well as natives. • ir»v"- *• :>.t -i* Later telegrams state th : at a British expedition of 600 of the First. West India Kegiment and frontier policemen was despatched from Sierra relieve Captain; Lendy, who was encircledJToy Twelve hundred ;Frencn? Native -troops with Singalese sharps sbpciters were also operating against the Sofas. ■•-.- - ---'

The French Government were warned of the despatch of theßritish expedition, but it' was. not expected' the French expedition would be so far as'to come into contact jwith. the British. It is thought the French operations drove the Sofas into_the British sphere. The British and French spheres of influence had • previously been defined..: The is awaiting furtlier comments are of a.template .character. j Later information says:-—The attack: by the. French on the British camp at Warrina was made by, bright moonand the French mistook white.Suitsof the British for l&eirobes chiefs. . The British expeditionwa's J .surprised,'>but doggedly: held their j ground, regardless of the death of their leaders. ; ~; IV . • . Official ~ messages received from Sierra Leone, state that in:the confusion df the onslaught Captain Lendy, of the frontier police, was shot by his own men.