THE FRENCH IN TONQUIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3333, 7 December 1883, Page 2

THE FRENCH IN TONQUIN.

(“North China Mail,” Oct. 17 ) Private advices from Hong Kong say that letters from Hanoi and Haiphong report that M. Harmand, Commissioner in Tonquin of the French Republic, made overtures to the chiefs of the Black Flag bands, and tried, by promises of money and safe conduct, to buy them off. The overtures were received and discussed. While discussions lasted the Black Flags strengthened their positions, and then refused M. Harmand’s offers. That overtures of the kind reported were made we believe is certain, and the result is that the Black Flags think the French position is weak, and no doubt, unless strong reinforcements come out, and quickly, will suffer severely. The French expedition is daily declining in strength, and even now, if the Yunnan braves —for such the Black Flags are—made a strong attack, the French forces might be destroyed. From all accounts we can gather, the French Government from the first has underrated the forces to be overcome. In consequence the French troops had to take the initiative in the deadly months of July, August and September, with, as issue, a frightful loss of men by sunstroke and malarial diseases. The troops, left practically in stockade besieged by the Yunnan men, are weak from exposure, and unfit for even operations of a few days from the base of march; and if the French ever wish to get beyond their present stringently circumscribed radius, 15,000 to 20,000 fresh men, well equipped and with abundant transport, must be acquired—a state of things unattainable as the Anan and Tonquin coolies will not work for France, and all coolies required must be brought from Canton, of all places. But without such aid no progress or conquest can be made. We regret very much the suffering of unhappy French troops, but are disposed to express indignant feeling towards the unprincipalled jobbers who have pitched France into this miserable and ruinous war. In this Tonquin business France, in 1883, has been as much the victim of jobbers as she was in the Mexican expedition, which was made to recoup the losses of DeMorny, who had invested at a cheap rate in the Jecker bonds. We may add, while speaking on the matter, that the Black Flags are well equipped with Bemington and other breeoh-loading rifles, and, as it is now seen after every fight, empty brass cartridge cases are found strewn about. Now, how do the Black Flag bands get rifles andnew-pattern cartridges? Some day the Tsung-li-Yamen will be asked to answer this pertinent question.

Tbe tone of mail advices from China by the steamer Whampoa reflects in a marked manner the anticipations of an early outbreak of hostilities with Prance. The Hong Kong “ Daily Press ” of Oct. 4 says :—“ A private letter received here yesterday from Canton states that one mercantile firm there has made arrangements to remove to Macao, being profoundly convinced that ere long the Chinese will make another attack upon Shatneen. It is also believed in Canton that war between France and China is imminent, and large numbers of the wealthier Chinese residents have left the city and gone into the interior. It also states that the Chinese newspapers published in Hong Kong were all warned by the Eegistrar-General, on Sept 17, to be careful what they wrote, and that they had attended to the caution."