sito collain witte Ingland, was supported by little more than historical sentiment, the Chimère lumperor has now behind
hin a nation comprising rearly one-fourth of the entire human race.
5. The quration whether the
prezint complications will lead to war
belwören
·rance and China 15, of course,
Scenly discurred hi this Coling, and in
all the foreign settlements on the mainland
of China. The opinions
10
This Dubject
the liesh-informed persons deem to be
the
fairly summed up be the subjoined
article retracted frond me of the English
lished at Stoughing :-
Newspapers published at
The China Ittail.
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1883.
The question whether war will, or will not, ensue between France and China is one of vital importance to all foreigners
in the Far East. Personally we do not think it is at all probable that such a calamity will ensue; still it is a question that is fairly sur le tapis. Complications may arise, and in fact have already arisen, between the Governments of the two countries; China may assume a defiant attitude, and sounds of warlike preparations may be heard from Canton to the most northern limits of the Empire, but it is our conviction that the Peking authorities and their advisers will have sufficient good sense to stop at the Rubicon, and, while they may posture there for a while in magnificent defiance, the fatal stream will not be crossed.
War between France and China would mean the cessation of ordinary trade here and at the ports along the coast. There would be no trade with China while the warlike operations lasted, except in munitions of war and other supplies for the troops. The ports would be blockaded by French war vessels. Even now, a report from Paris states that a blockade is to be established along the Tonquin coast by twenty-four French men-of-war. English vessels, now trading to the Far East would not even find employment, in the event of war, by carrying troops and supplies between Europe and China, as doubtless the vessels of the Messageries Maritimes and the French transports would be found amply sufficient for the work. Business in this port of the world would be at a standstill while the war lasted. The only advantage foreign merchants in China would derive from a war to counterbalance their losses through the stoppage of trade, would be an improved state of affairs for foreigners and foreign trade generally in China after the struggle was over. Probably the Empire would undergo an entire revolution in every way. This is presuming that the French were successful. If the Republic abandoned the war on finding that it would cost her more money and the lives of more troops than she anticipated, the position of Europeans and European trade in China would become far worse than it is at the present moment.
We have said that the question of war or no war between France and China is fairly sur le tapis. It is not our opinion that there will be a war, but in Europe:
2,
it is quite clear, from recent telegrams, that a struggle between France and China is anticipated. One of the latest of Reuter's direct telegrams received here, for instance, states that "the Times publishes a telegram in which it is stated that a rupture is imminent between France and China." This telegram is dated the 27th ultimo, and two days later another telegram was despatched announcing that "three French ironclads have been ordered to Tonquin." Ironclads are not exactly the sort of war vessels required for operations in Tonquin; vessels of lighter draught would be more serviceable there, and the despatch of ironclads to these parts may certainly give rise to the supposition that the French imagine their war vessels may be required for other work than operations on shore. They do not require iron-clads to bring the Black Flags to reason. The force which was to have sailed from Toulon on the 29th ultimo will, however, be scarcely more than sufficient to drive the Black Flags back from Hanoi. According to the latest news from Paris brought by the mail, the total strength of the French expedition will be only 4,000 men and 12 guns.
French operations in Tonquin so far certainly cannot be regarded as having been very successful. The French appear to have committed exactly the same errors as have brought disasters upon British troops in their recent campaigns against half-civilized people. They clearly underestimated the strength of the enemy, and their intelligence department seems to have been faulty. It was a brave act on the part of Commandant Riviere to rush across that narrow bridge, only wide enough for one man, in advance of his troops, but it was not the act of a prudent or able commander. At the other end of the bridge there was a dense jungle, filled, as it afterwards proved to be, with desperate Chinese armed with breech-loaders. As our Haiphong correspondent pointed out last night, it was the clear duty of the officer in command of the column to clear the jungle with artillery before sending a man across the bridge. The proper place for Commandant Riviere was also where he could direct the operations of his men, and not heading such an attack. If the men required leading, there were plenty of officers there for the work. The result of the sortie, with its lamentable results, will doubtless be a useful lesson to the French in their future operations in Tonquin.
8
sito collain witte Ingland, was supported by little more than historical, sentiment, the Chimère lumperor has now behind
hin a nation comprising rearly one- -fourth of the entire human race.
5. The quration whether the
prezint complications will lead to war
belwören
·rance and China 15, of course,
Scenly discurred hi this Coling, and in
all the foreign settlements on the mainland
of China. The opinions
10
This Dubject
the liesh- informed persons deem to be
the
fairly summed up be the subjoined
article retracted frond me of the English
lished at Stoughing :-
Newspapers published at
رانا
The China Ittail.
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1883.
The question whether war will, or will not, ensue between France and China ie one of vital importance to all foreigners
in the Far East. Personally we do not think it is at all probable that such a calamity will ensue; still it is a ques- tion that is fairly sur le tapis. Com- plications may arise, and in fact have already arisen, between the Govern- ments of the two countries; China may assume a defiant attitude, and sounds of warlike preparations may be heard from Canton to the most northern limits of the Empire, but it is our con- viction that the Peking authorities and their advisers will have sufficient good sense to stop at the Rubicon, and, while they may posture there for a while in magnificent defiance, the fatal stream will not be crossed.
War between France and China would mean the cessation of ordi- nary trade here and at the ports along the coast. There would be no trade with China while the war- like operations lasted, except in muni- tions of war and other supplies for the troops. The ports would be blockaded by French war vessels. Even now, a report from Paris states that a blockade is to be established along the Tonquin coast by twenty-four French men-of- war. English vessels, now trading to the Far East would not even find em- ployment, in the event of war, by carry- ing troops and supplies between Europe and China, as doubtless the vessels of the Messageries Maritimes and the: French transports would be found amply sufficient for the work. Busi- ness in this port of the world would be at a standstill while the war lasted. The only advantage foreign merchants in China would derive from a war to counterbalance their losses through the stoppage of trade, would be an improved state of affairs for foreigners and foreign trade generally in China after the strug- gle was over. Probably the Empire would undergo an entire revolution in every way. This is presuming that the French were successful. If the Repub lic abandoned the war on finding that it would cost her more money and the lives of more troops than she anticipated, the position of Europeans and European trade in China would become far worse than it is at the present moment.
We have said that the question of war or no war between France and China is fairly sur le tapis. It is not our opinion that there will be a way, but in Europe:
2,
it is quite clear, from recent telegrams, that a struggle between France and China is anticipated. One of the latest of Renter's direct telegrams received here, for instance, states that "the Times publishes a telegram in which it is stated that a rupture is imminent be- tween France and China." This tele- gram is dated the 27th ultimo, and two days later another telegram was despatched announcing that "three French ironclads have been ordered to Tonquin." Ironclads are not exactly the sort of war vessels required for operations in Tonquin; vessels of light- er draught would be more serviceable there, and the despatch of ironclads to these parts may certainly give rise to the supposition that the French imagine their war vessels may be required for other work than operations ou shore. They do not require iron-clads to bring the Black Flags to reason. The force which was to have sailed from Toulon on the 29th ultimo will, however, be scarcely more than sufficient to drive the Black Flags back from Hanoi. According to the latest news from Paris brought by the mail, the total strength of the French expedition will be only 4,000 men and 12 guus.
French operations in Tonquin so far certainly cannot be regarded as having been very successful. The French ap- pear to have committed exactly the same errors as bave brought disasters upon British troops in their recent cam- paigns against half-civilized people. They clearly underestimated the strength of the enemy, and their intel- ligence department seems to have been faulty. It was a brave act on the part of Cominandant Riviere to rush across that narrow bridge, only wide enough for one man, in advance of his troops, but it was not the act of a prudent or able commander. At the other end of the bridge there was a dense jungle, filled, as it afterwards proved to be, with desperate Chinese armed with breech- loaders. As our. Haiphong correspon- dent pointed out last night, it was the clear duty of the officer in command of the column to clear the jungle with artillery before sending a man across the bridge. The proper place for Commandant Riviere was also where he could direct the operations of his men, and not heading such an at- tack. If the men required leading, there were plenty of officers there for the work. The result of the sortie, with its lamentable results, will doubtless be a useful lesson to the French in their future operations in Tonquin.
8
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