AFFAIRS IN MADAGASCAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4751, 23 July 1883, Page 3

AFFAIRS IN MADAGASCAR.

THE BOMBABDMENT.

[Pbb Passs Association.;] (Per s.s. Wairarapa, via tbe Bluff.) j

MS GLADSTONE'S STATEMENT. FEELING AT HOME AND ON THE CONTINENT. ACTION TAKEN BY ENGLAND. ADELAIDE, Jttmt 16. The latest intelligenca.regarding the war in Madagascar is brought from Mauritius by Frenoh steamer Argo, whioh left Tamatave on June 16. The following are the chief items : — Tamatave has become a French town, and French laws are enforced, The Government has been already established. Foreign Consuls no longer have the right to hoist their respective national flags until they «re accredited by the Frenoh Government at Tamatave. A state of general siege has been proclaimed, and the curfew bell rings at eight o'clock every evening. Walking out is -forbidden from eight o'clock until six in the morning. Severe siege laws are applicable without distinction of nationality. 'lhe bombardment of Tamatave began on June 10, and lasted all day. The Hovas replied feebly, and at nightfall re* treated, after firing their own oamp. On the following morning 909 Frenoh landed, and found the ports vacated. Co Tuesday the vessels Forfeit and Nivere bombarded Ivondoon, and afterwards in company with the Ooursaint they bombarded the northern villages, The fugitive Frenoh were able to return from the fleet to the shore on June 14. Fourteen Hovas were killed during the bombardment, and several Malagasieae. Before the bombardment the commander of the Dryad changed his anohorage at the request of Admiral Pierre. A foreign Committee has baen appointed at Antananailvo with the Anglican Bishop as president, for the promotion of the interests of English, Americans, and Norwegians. Throughout the bombardment all the consuls, namely, the British, German, American, and Italian remained, with their colours flying at their respective consulates. The Frenoh consul orly, with his I vice-consul, went on board. ! LONDON, Imar 11. I Great excitement was created in lhe Hoc 3 ' lof Commons t a- night, when the Premier 1 announced that the French Admiral at 1 Madagascar had adopted a l»ae of policy which threatened to disturb tbe relations exiting between England and France. In the course of his remarks, Mr GJadotone ' Btated tbat Admiral Pierre, the French com- ' mander at Madagascar, had actuated the ' Efscrotny of the British Consul at CTamatavs, the kit named gentleman beiDg ill at tha time. The a?resfc was in dafianeo of tho ■ irbrritioEal lialits of Consuls ; and, igno- ' rig tha Barioua illness of Mr Pakenbam, the • French authorities peremptorily ordered that j gentlemen to withdraw from T*aaatave I within twenty-four hours. Before th : i arbitrary order could be carried out, i however, Mr Pakenham d ; ed from b;- --■ J"pe3\ rp'J the French auihori'.'ej Lvl'p* , the capfrnn and officers of the British ma&'Of • J ifi* Dryad, at present ljiz,? off Xki^itave, to Btt9ud the fonera'. Ik* invitation wbt oceapted, but through gome me at present uqarplff'ned tbe ofEeavj referred to wece forcibly detsined on shcre oy the French. Tbs captain of tba Dryad for nally protested 1 a£? ; nil tbe course adopted by tba F«nch, , I basing bis protest on the pt; c'p'.o of amity 1 baiwean the Lvo na'.iouy. T!!O Frzadh comj raander, howeve", disrngevded tto appr;r.-8 cf tho f7,p*fcin p-'d ordevc that rU .fligs flying at tho offiesi of tie Foreign Cjasvifo'es j shoved to hauled domu Be bi«o iseusd mii strpclioi-sfoi' the arrest of Mr fchazr, the I British M-'ssionary, on the ground tbat the | 'latter Hd been commun'cslfes \r'fh the | M»'agasioae. When aokr '. \o -.d'easo tie BriMsh prisoners, the F; ;teh cobs.. :.r.der re- j I'mi'.a of international 'a</, and"fhnt ha was I parepa'ed t-3 rllow tha 4 ; 'aw to trfce :!j ar-vrae, I Tue London papers are un,. :iu us '.?. .on* . dotii^'rg tho ac-;ion cf lio E^uou *«>n- J maedft? "C \ Ite; \A-.i uj> ?i j tbe lfi:g sh 'C>vernraenfc dni)i:\'.':r^ '•--', France a complete disavowal .«>• i,iij .-.oj-.i*. ! of .-linj-'wl Pierre. j u^.. F4.-z.c : x au.ci-*;i':i aS ..»."> ... ~i\' .' cf C.;ta 7 waTi-ia:* :,i tl'e c.;. . :;r>..; i" "co 4 tf G/n36.. L.vt, :.:.£*:■;■. < .ss.-.-s' ~. g Ka'amaT 5i th'-t hz*' 1 -- ■• \. • • cj-'^s -f cwrvi'g 2'i-~r±u9. '100 pr.sosers \texe broaghfc bafora the Court, and fiacd for tb© offence. In Fie Houn or Lo?do ft. Zs-j, E:lGran« v!"c the ?-'C" l -\ t) c" '.' -... 'c. T? - : ~u Affair, plated that bo Lad ocmmuT. .'cited wita If La')i7 -..Ish i^l . .^jio ■.j z. lewptad capulsion of the British Gor.ul for Trmatave, and tha aubnequerst nizate cf Biitish naval officers. M. Laoour replied that the Frenoh Government wbi in entire ignorance of what bad taken pl»P9# In reply

to 1 ord Salisbury, Sari Granville also stated that M. Lacour had expressed the opinion that if the report of the expulsion and seizure were correot, the French commander had aoted in a most improper manner, Earl Granville was aßked whether in view of wbat had ooourred, the English Government intended strengthening the squadron cruising near Madagascar; but he declined, in tho existing state of affairs to make any annonnoemont as to the intentions of the Government. M. Ferry, the Premier of France, believes that the report of tbo outrage has been greatly exaggerated. He displays a friendly feeling towards tbe English Government in connection with the matter, end admits that if the accounts provo substantially correot England in entitled to somo reparation. The French PreßS treat the affair lightly, and adopt an unconciliatory tone towards England. The German and Italian newspapers have taken the rr.atter up warmly on behalf of England, and they are unanimous in the opinion that i* t»i'U be necessary for Franco to make ample reparation to the British Government. 'Ihe intelligence of the outrage at Madagascar was conveyed to Zanzibar by a British man-of-war, and from thence was cabled to England by the Brit?'h Consul at that place, Sir J. Kirk, K.O.M.G. Tho English Government have instructed the captain of the British war vessel Stella, now stationed at Mauritius, to proceed at once to Tarn at a ye, in order to rescue the captni and officer s of the Dryad, who were detained on shore by the Frenoh under instructions from Admiral Pierre. After effeoting the release of these officers, tho Stella will romain at Tamatave to prevent a recurrence of outrages by the Freach. In view of a posaible outbreak of hostilities between England and France, the Government are making enquiries into the condition of transport ships. Should war break out, Government contemplate conveying troop from India to the scene of operations. During the recent bombardment many public buildings, including the Protestant Church, were completely destroyed. The Frenoh have forbidden tho export of bullocks from Madagascar by the Natives. The Frenoh refugees who were expelled from Antananarivo, the capital, and who were supposed to have been murdered on their way to the Coaßt, have all arrived safely at Tamatave.