The Franco-Malagasy War.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIL, Issue 7448, 30 September 1895, Page 4

The Franco-Malagasy War.

An occasional correspondent of the Melbourne Age, writing; from Antananarivo under date of July Bth, gives the following particulars of a twenty-two hours' battle:— . The Malagasy army of the north-west has attacked Tsarasaotra, the most advanced French outpost, which is about 15 miles from Mevatanana and 35 miles from Malatsy, a distance of about 50 miles separating the two towns, and virtually annihilated the French black troops stationed there, and hurried up, during the engagement, for reinforcements of their comrades. The battle raged during 22 hours, and had it been possible for the Malagasy to have kept up the supply of ammunition, Tsarasaotra, stormed and held for many hours by the Malagasy, would have remained in the hands of the atormers. Although the full official details of the fight are not yet to hand, I have not the slightest doubt of the truth of the general particulars that I have been able to glean. It appears that on June 28th Rainianjalahy, Hvtra (general), who has taken over from Ramasombazaha, 14vtra, the chief command of the army of the northwest, had advanced from Malatsy, a distance of some 19 miles, in force to Kalomainty, a ridge 1290fb above sea level, which commands the valley of the Ampasoria river, which, flowing from the north, passes along the foot of Kalomaiaty and joins the Ikopa. Having i made sure of his line of communication with Malatsy, by fortifying vantage points along the road as he advanced, Rainianjalahy, towajrds evening on the following day, June 29th, sent forward a division to attack Tsarasaotra (marked, I believe, in most maps as Tsarasaotrinirizana). At 10 o'clock the assault commenced. The defence was most determined, but the Malagasy gained the place. All through the night the fight raged with more or less intensity. Again and again the French black troops, who had formed the garrison, returned to the attack, but the Malagasy hsld their ground. When morning broke, the scene of carnage was terrible. The ridge and the slopes of the ridge upon which Tsarasaotra is situated were strewn with dead and dying. From Mevatanana, some 15 miles distant, reinforcements were hurrying up to regain the position, and charge after charge was being made. As yet the French commandant at Mevatanana trusted to his black troops— the Turcos, Senegales, and Dahomeyans — and the Bourbonnaise Creoles. The African savages fought splendidly. Foot by foot they only yielded the ground they had gained in the charge. During the night their number, although repeatedly reinforced, had been more than decimated. As the day wore on, the Bourbonnaise took to flight and Had en masse northward. Towards the clobo of the day, Sunday, June 30th, the French black troops no longer existed in sufficient numbers to have any chance of regaining the position. Their regiments were but skeletons of the well-filled lines that yesterday held Tsarasaotra apparently secure against all assault The black troops were virtually annihilated, and the survivors were worn out with fruitless exertions and raging passion. The only chance of recovering the place was in hurling forward the regiments of Frenchmen. On came the Frenchmen with all the bravery for which their gallant nation is rightly famed, Yet again and again they were held in check. But they were near their base, and the heroic Malagasy were far from reinforcements. To contiuue the battle any longer was inadvisable. Then the heroes who had so gallantly stormed and for long hours held the position had to retire. And at 8 o'clock in the evening of the last day of June the daring attempt to recapture the outskirts of Mevatanana was over. For 22 hours the battle had raged. In good order the wtre&t was effeoted. How little advantage was on the side of the French is unmistakably ehown by no pursuit being attempted. The French gained the day, but another auch a victory would, as the bulk of the Malagasy army have not beea engaged, be worse than a defeat.