433
14th Visitation the French Admiral Courbet at Hongkong received a telegram winding up that Bacninh was taken on the 12th with a loss to the French of only seventy (70) in killed and wounded. The Garrison did not make the defence that was expected from many quarters, but retired to one side of the fortifications when the French advanced to attack.
2.
Nothing is known here positively of what will be the future relations of France and China in consequence of the fall of Bacninh. In fact, this question will be practically decided at Paris. The Chinese Government will probably continue to play a waiting game.
There are, of course (as I have reported before) many current rumours as to the likelihood of France demanding an indemnity from China for the expenses of the war, and seizing Hainan, or Formosa, or other material guarantee for the payment of that indemnity. A permanent peace is very desirable, as the tension and uncertainty in the relations between the two countries is very damaging to the interests of Commerce in this quarter.