THE FRENCH EXPEDITIONS ABROAD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2779, 20 August 1883, Page 3

THE FRENCH EXPEDITIONS ABROAD.

A despatch received at Paris on July sth, says: — A Frenoh oolumn, after a successful campaign m Upper Senegal, was attacked with typhus fever. The situation becoming grave, Colonel Dei Hordes, the French commander, instead of marching to St. Louis, the capital, resolved to reach the roast and cm bark on the Frenoh transport Garonne. This effort proved fatal to the column, as the CJtn-

mander of the Garonne, fearing his crew might become infected, refuted to receive tho afflicted soldiers on board.

In the French Chamber of Deputies, on July lOlh, M. Lacour (aid the French force m Tonquin was sufficient for any opposition it was likely to encounter. France had demanded of China not to embarrass her action. It was proposed, eventually, to conclude a convention with Chins, with a vie* of insuring a respect for their respective frontiers. If China, contrary to indications, should follow disastrous advice, the Chamber would not heiitate energetically to defend the interests of the country. M. Paul Caeiagnao followed this with a violent attack on the Government, m which ho called the Prime Minister (Ferrj) the worst of cowards and liars. He was censured and excluded from the Chamber for a fortnight. An Order of the Day expressing confidence m the Ministry was adopted by a vote of 371 to 82.

A despatch from Paris dated July 17th, says all reinforcements sent to Tonquin had armed. Owing to rains and grest heat, however, operations will not be begun before the end of September.

The Obineso havo prohibited the export of bullocks for the use of French troops m Tonquin, and cargoes of cattle wore detained at Hanoi. The French Admiral made a strong complaint on the 23rd, and the English Consul at Hong Kong also protested, some of the shipments being made by an English firm, but without avail.

Mr Gladstone m the House of Commons on 10th July referring to the outrages on the English Consul at Tamatave, the interference with the captain of H.M.B. Dryad, and tho arrest of missionary Shaw, eaid : In announoing theie grave and painful occurrences I can only say that we must await the receipt of further details. We must also await those communications from the Frenoh Government whioh the case may require, which wo have intimated weexpeot, and which it would be our duty to make under similar circumstances." (Cheers.) The statement produced a painful impression m the House. While the proceedings of the JTrenoh are calculated to strain tho present relations between England and France, it is not generally believed that an open rupture will ensue. No reply to the demand upon the Frenoh Government for explanations made by the British Foreign Secretary had been received up to the hour of the adjournment of the House.

Despatches from Paris dated July 13th lays the French Consul at Zanzibar had telegraphed to bis Government that he had no knowledge of the affairs complained of, and requested that a report of the matter be sent him.

A despatch from London, dated July 15tb, says the military aut!\orities have been instruoted to make enquiries m regard to the shipping available for transport serrice.

The captain of the British man-of-war Dryad was acting as Consul at Tainatave. The captain of the Yarmouth Castle was allowed to ace him once. The French wished to have all oooeoUr deapatohes sent on board

Admiral Pierre's ship, but. tbo English objected, and Cnpt»iu Hiiy received them directly from tho Dryad. Tho lalter vessel escorted tho Yarmouth Cuttle out of the harbor.

The Pro)' slant church was deslroye-d durirg the Tamatave bombardment, and there is much dieeiise among Britith mhjects. It m generally believed tho cuptain of the Dryad had offended the French by landing a guard of marines at the British consulate and placing his boats at tho dispofsl of the fugitives.

Tho arrest of the English missionary is confirmed, and three other English residents had been placed under temporary arrest. Communicrtion with tho Dryad was forbidden by Admiral Pierre.

It was decided on July 24th to dospatch the Britirb troopuhip Himalaya with drafts from tin- Indian equadron for themen-of-warDragon and Dryad, which are stationed at Tomntave. Tlin Himalaya will go direct to Zanzibar, and on her arrival he placed at the disposal of tho British Admiral nn that ststinn.