Anglo-French Fight in Africa.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6894, 5 February 1894, Page 3

Anglo-French Fight in Africa.

FULL PARTICULARS,

London, Jan. 6.— Colonel A. B. Ellis, of the West Indian Regiment, has telegraphed to the Right Hon. H. Campbell-Baunerman, Secretary for War, the despatch being dated Warina, December 23, as follows : —

" Before daybreak this morning our camp was suddenly attacked by a strong force of natives, several of whom were armed with rifles. For forty minutes there was a hot fire. The enemies used trees for cover. The killed of the West India Regiment are Lieutenant Liston, Second Lieutent Wroughton, Sergeaut Carrahef , and four privates. The killed of the constabulary were Captain Lendy and two privates. " The severely wounded were Sergeant Field and fourteen privates of the regiment, and three privates of the constabulary." " The fire slackening, we advanced and found seven magazine rifles and eight chassepots. Shortly after a wounded prisoner reported that we had been attacked by Lieutenant Moritz of the French army, thirty-two Senegalese sharpshooters, and 1200 Kissi natives. The prisoner stated that Lieutenant Moritz had left Farana with this force against the Sofas at the end of September aud had arrived December 21 at Tenbikundu, fifty miles north-east of Warina. Lieutenant Moritz, hearing that there was war in the Connoh district, believed that it must be that which waa being carried on by the, Sofas, under Porokerri, a Sofa chief, who was trying to escape from the British troops and join Sultan Samundu. Lieutenant Moritz left on the morning of December 21, and halted on December 22, fifteen miles north -east of our camp. He left this point at midnight under a full moon and attacked us, believing us to be Sofas. I wrote to Lieutenant Moritz, explaining the situation. A letter had been previously sent on December 13 tojthe commanding French officer at Kissi, in Sanhara, giving notice of the approach of the British troops. At 11 o'clock Lieutenant Moritz was found severely wounded. Despite all medical assistance, he died at noon. Before his death he said that natives had told him that we were Sofas, and that he had no idea that we were British. Lieutenant Moritz and ten Senegalese, who had been killed in the fighting, were buried with military honors. Captain Lendy and two constables were shot by their own men. Another letter has been sent to the French commander at Kissi informing him of the occurrence and assuring him that the friendly relations existing will not be disturbed owing to Lieutenant Moritz's mistake. Warina is within our own sphere, in which is the source of the Babbes river, which flows eastward." The British Government has ordered that a stringent enquiry be made into the affair. Another report of the engagement says that it took place by moonlight, and that it was owing to this fact that Lieutenant Moritz was not able to distinguish the uniforms of the British troops. The latter were taken by surprise. The confusion in the British camp was great, and this was added to by careless firing on the part of the British.