THE BOMBARDMENT OF FOOCHOW. A Sickening Affair.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 73, 25 October 1884, Page 5

THE BOMBARDMENT OF FOOCHOW. A Sickening Affair.

Vjbry brief and inadequate accounts of the bombardment of Foochow are as yet to hand, the "Times" alone, of all the London dailies, having a correspondent on the spot. This gentleman cabled as follows on Saturday night :—" Admiral Courbet gave official notice at nine o'clock on Friday night that he had received orders to make reprisals on the Mm. The British ViceConsul and doctor left the anchorage that i evening, reaching the English men-of-war! at midnight. Firing commenced at two o'clock on Saturday. The bombardment was a sickening business. The Chineso fleet lately on the Mm has, except two ships, been blotted out. No surrender was allowed to the sinking and disabled vessels ; tho guns having been silenced, they were shelled for hours. Admiral Courbet opened fire at 2 o'clock and the Chinese fleet replied almost simultaneously. Tho Dock-yard Arsenal fired immediately, but with enly partial suocess. The eleven vessels forming the Chinese fleet, almost light river and coast transports were really toys. The French had eight heavily-armed ships— the Volta, Duguay Trouin, Detaining, Aspic, Vipere, Lynx, and Villars. The Triumphante ironclad arrived soon after fire had been opened. Several of the Chinese gunboats maintained bravely a rosultory fire for about 15 minutes, when the survivors of the crews leapt overboard ; but the combat was practically finished in seven minutes. The superior artillery of the French made the contest,-after the disabling of the Chineso vessels, no fight —it was a massacre This was the opinion of every spectator. Two 18 ton boats fought well, ono sinking near tho Champion (English), whilo the othor above tho junks, made a good stand. Tho French kept up fire on the arsenal and the neighbouring buildings, forts, barracks, and even villages, until four o'clock, although the resistance of the shore batteries had ceased at about three o'clock. Some of the French and Chinese ships were firing close to the Vigilant and Champion. I was myself on board the Champion. The burning gunboats floated down the stream, one carrying French colours. Ono passed close to us, and so also did numerous fire-junks, blazing in a dangerous manner; but they were all fended off One English barque was saved by the English. Tho French torpedo-boats exploded the sterns of the Yangwoo transport, and of t\\ o of the sinking gun-boats. The scene on the river as the dead and wounded men floated by was terrible. The English saved many of the latter. The forte lower down have not yet been attacked." A later telegram dated three o'clock, Sunday afternoon says :—" The French recommenced firing at noon to-day; their operations being directed against the pagoda and above. It is surmised that their object is to obliterate the transports, shell the villages, and occupy Jthe heights round the arsenal. The French are now shelling the barracks and camps near Quanto, where no resistance is offered. At the pagoda, the Consulate buildings are being looted by Chinese soldiers in uniform and armed. From this we may judge what precautions at Foochow are necessary, though it is now quiet. The chief of the French staff reports that the French loss has been six. In my opinion, this is untrue. An English pilot was killed during a scare last night, when the French opened a heavy lire, and it is believed sank one of their own torpedo boats. In official circles the opinion is freely oxpressed that tho conduct of Admiral Courbet in refusing quarter to tho Chinese sailors after the enemy's vessels had struck their colours, will, unless modified by circumstances not yet known, cause intense exasperation among the Chinese at the treaty ports. It is teared that the feeling of the natives may runsohighas to get beyond the control of the authorities and thusrenderitdifficult for the Chinese Government to give the European regiments the necessary protection. Ap prehensions are also expressed on behalf of the European missionaries residing in the nterior.