Enclosure 276
THE WAR IN TONQUIN.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,]
HAIPHONG, 25th December. Since I last wrote Soatai has been taken by the French, who entered it on the 16th. The bombardment commenced on the 14th, the gun-boats being anchored in a creek off the town at a distance of about one kilometre. About 3,000 troops had marched on the place by land, while another 3,000 were conveyed by water. The bombardment continued for two days and two nights almost without intermission both from the land batteries and the gunboats. The Chinese artillery was almost useless, while that of the French worked tremendous havoc. On the 16th the town was taken by assault, the Tirailleurs and the Legion des Etrangers forming the advance guard and the French the rear guard. The former were therefore the most exposed and suffered the severest losses. They had indeed a hard fight of it. For example, of one company of 150 Chasseurs d'Afrique only 45 returned. The officers all fought gallantly, and lost over thirty killed and wounded. Admiral Courbet himself even is said to have exposed himself far too much. There were three forts to be taken before Sontai itself could be entered. Of those two were taken at the point of the bayonet by the Algerians and Legionaires and the third was evacuated.
One captain of Algerians got a shot through the head. He said "Adieu! ma compagnie. Avancer!" and died. Another had the whole top of his helmet blown away by bullets; each time a shot came he simply remarked "There is another." It appears the Chinese tried their best to kill all the officers they possibly could, and seeing that over thirty fell, their attempt was not altogether a failure.
After Sontai was taken, on the evening of the 16th, the place was given over to the troops for some hours. Over what happened then let a veil be drawn.
The Chinese are said to have lost over 6,000 men, while the French loss is variously stated at from 350 to 1,000. The exact number I have not been able to learn.
The Chinese beat a retreat, and as a reconnaissance did not result in the discovery of any more troops farther up the river it is supposed they have fallen back partly on Hung-Hoa and partly on Namdinh.
I hear the French found a large amount of treasure in Sontai, the amount being estimated by some at over two million dollars, having seen soldiers with their pockets full of small silver bars. The fact of this bullion being found in the place leads me to the belief that the Chinese were firmly of opinion that Sontai could never be taken. If this was their opinion of Sontai, it will probably be found that Bacninh will fall as easily, but at present military operations seem to be postponed pending the arrival of further reinforcements. Sontai was taken more easily even than was expected in the higher military circles. The forty-eight hours' bombardment was too much for the Chinese, and its moral effect upon them, as well as its physical effect upon the town, must have been considerable.
General Brière de l'Isle (likely "Bonet" is a misrecognition), in his report to the Chamber, said everything went to prove that there were Germans in command of the Black Flags, I may say that not a single German was found with the Black Flags, but it is officially stated that there were two Americans. It is also said that a former French captain of artillery was with them; and the Arabs assert when they were at close quarters, only ten yards from the enemy, they distinctly heard the French words of command given.
China would do well to back out before seriously entering on a war with France, as she has no chance in European warfare. I may mention one circumstance which, small in itself, goes far to prove the general incompetency of China in military matters. In Sontai the best Krupp guns were found abandoned by the Chinese, and an examination showed that though the guns were rifled they had been charged with common ball and were thus ruined at the first shot. Sontai was well fortified, and the troops say that had it been defended by European soldiers it would not have been taken.
11.
Enclosure
276
}
THE WAR IN TONQUIN.
. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,]
HAIPHONG, 25th December. Since I last wrote Soatai has been taken by the French, who entered it on the 16th. The bombardment commenced on the 14th, the gun- boats being anchored in a creek off the town at a distance of about one kilometre. About 3,000 troops had marched on the place by land, while another 3,000 were conveyed by water. The bombardment coutinned for two days and two nights almost without intermission both from the land batteries and the ganboats. The Chi- neza artillery was almost useless, while that of the French worked tremendous havoc. On the 16th the town was taken by assault, the Taroos and the Legion des Etrangers forming the advance guard and the French the rear guard. The former were therefore the most ex- posed and suffered the severest losses, They had indeed a hard fight of it. For example, of one company of 150 Chasseurs d'Afrique only 45 returned. The officers all fought gallantly, and lost over thirty killed and wounded. Admiral Courbet himself even is said to have exposed bimself far too much. There were three forts to be taken before Sontaì itself sould be entered. Of those two were taken at the point of the bayonet by the Algerians and Legionaires and the third was evacuated.
One captain of Algerians got a shot through the head. He said "Adieu! ma compagnia. Avancer!" and died. Another had the whole top of his helmet blown away by ballets; each time a shot osme he simply remarked "There is another." It appears the Chinese tried their best to kill all the offloors they possibly could, and seeing that over thirty fell, their attempt was not altogether a failure.
After Sontai was taken, on the evening of the 16th, the place was given over to the troops for some hours. Over what happened then let s veil be drawn.
The Chinese are said to have lost over 6,000 men, while the French loss is variously stated at from 350 to 1,000. The exact number I have not been able to learn.
The Chinese heat a retreat, and as a reconnais- ance did not result in the discovery of any more troops farther up the river it is supposed they have fallen back partly on Hung-Hos and partly on Namdinh.
I hear the French found a large amount of treasure in Sontal, the amount being estimated by some at over two million dollars, have my. self soon soldiers with their pockets full of small silver bars. The fact of this bullion being found in the place leads me to the belief that the Chi. nose were firmly of opinion that Sontai could never be taken. If this was their opinion of Son- tai, it will probably be found that Bacninh will fall as easily, but at present military operations seem to be postponed pending the arrival of fur, ther reinforcements. Soatai was taken more easily even than was expected in the higher military circles. The forty-eight hours' bom. | bardment was too much for the Chinese, aud its moral effect upon them, as well as its physical effect upon the town, must have been considerablo.
General Bonet, in his report to the Chamber, said everything went to prove that there were Germans in command of the Black Flags, I may ay that not a single German was found with the Black Flags, but it is officially stated that there were two Americans. It is also asid that a former French captain of artillery was with them; and the Arabs assert when they were at close quarters, only ten yards from the enemy, they distinctly beard the French words of com. mand given.
China would do well to back out before seriously entering on a war with France, as she has no chance in European warfare. I may mention one circumstance which, small in itself, goes far to prove the general incompetency of China in military matters. In Sontai the best Kropp gans were found abandoned by the Chinose, and an examination showed that though the guna were rifled they had boen oharged with common ball and wore thus ruined at the first shot. Soutai was well fortified, and the troops say that had it been defended by European soldiers it would not have been taken,
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