ALGERIA. FIVE OFFICERS AND TWO HUNDRED MEN SURRENDERED TO ABD-EL-KADER.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 100, 15 July 1846, Page 3

ALGERIA. FIVE OFFICERS AND TWO HUNDRED MEN SURRENDERED TO ABD-EL-KADER.

The Sad has the following particulars of this defeat, — " The Ville de Bordeaux (says this paper) which left Algiers just as theOran mail arrived, coald bring us- nothing new ; but our Toulon correspondent supplies us with a piece of information, in our eyes far more important than the deplorable affair in which 450 of our brave men met their death. If our correspondent, who is generally well informed, is to be credited, 200 of our men and five officers have surrendered themselves as prisoneis." Toulon, Oct. B.— -Yesterday, at half past nine, the steamer Cerbere arrived from Algiers with despatches. It is affirmed that she brings most distressing intelligence, and that the same was this morning transmitted to the government by telegraph. "At the close of another desperate struggle in the westward of Algiers, 200 of our troops, and among the number, five officers, and 40 Zouaves, surrounded on all sides by hosts of Arabs, and summoned to surrender, have laid down their arms. This news, which, in the morning, was only a vague report, has this af'ernoon assumed all the characteristics of an unquestionable and melancholy fact — it is official. We all expect to hear of the return of the Marshal d'lslay to Africa." The Sem-ipkore of this town has the following details — they are probably correct, though not official — "The garrison of the small camp had begged of General Cavaignac some reinforcement, which their numerical weakness, in a country in open revolt, and traversed by Abd-el-Kader's hordes, rendered extremely urgent. In order not to reduce his squadrons, General Cavaignac chose out of the hospital two hundred men, who were deemed recovered to return to active duty. Care was taken to select the ablest, of the§e men ; in fact only such as were perfectly convalescentfea pleine convalescence ) . A detachment of Zouaves was added to them. This small column set but, but was soon surrounded by hosts of Arab?. It was impossible for them to defend themselves. The two hundred men were accordingly forced, a thing which has hitherto never occurred in Africa, to lay down their arms, and yield themselves prisoners to Abd-el-Kader-" A telegraphic despatch reached Toulon on the 7th, prescribing the preparation of all the large steamers at anchor in the port to receive troops on board. They are all enjoined to be ready in eight days. The Titan steamer has been despatched to Algeria, with a special mission — it is supposed that she ccnveys instructions to General Lamorciere. The greatest bustle obtains in this port. The 42nd regiment of the line is in readiness to embark, and they say that the Government has resolved on sending a re-inforcement of 10,000 men to the African army.