posts from Langson to Laokai and a harassing border warfare would probably be waged for a year or two to come.
It is intended to send an expedition up the Red River to the latter Black Flag post as soon as the rains will have rendered the upper waters navigable, which will probably be about July, and in the meantime, after Thai-nguyen and some strong position on the Langson road have been occupied, the French Government will probably send in a claim for indemnity for the cost of the expedition. Whether China will pay the bill or fight openly will then remain to be seen. Unless she can put better men into the field and better officers to command them than those encountered at Bacninh it would be wiser for her to pay up at once, as further and more costly operations would only bring up the total and would have to be paid in the end, either in territory or cash.
THE FRENCH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN TONQUIN. (From our Special Correspondent.)
Hongkong, 22nd March.
My last letter from Bacninh, dated the 15th inst., furnished your readers with most of the particulars obtainable of the operations against Bacninh, and the occupation of the evacuated fortress by the French forces. There were a few events, however, which occurred after my departure from Bacninh which will probably prove of interest.
As I mentioned in my last letter, I got up to Lai-cau, within three miles of Bacninh, in a native boat, in company with the special correspondent of The Times, and the journey from Haiphong to Lai-cau was by no means of the pleasantest. Although the three generals in command of the French forces now in Tonquin all expressed themselves favourable to the presence of representatives of the press with the troops during the operations, and did not in any way personally impede our movements,
still the fact remained that we were undoubtedly unwelcome visitors in the camp, and, in the absence of the generals, we were treated by the local jack-in-office at some places, not merely with discourtesy, but often with direct opposition. It is not pleasant to be classed together with the canteeners or liquor vendors who supply the thirsty warriors with adulterated fire-water, but such was our fate on more than one occasion. When we left Haiphong in our little junk we had an order from the commandant there to proceed to the front on a government boat, but as no boat was then available, and we desired to rejoin General Negrier at once, we proceeded on to Haiduong in our native craft. There we found a Government launch about to start for the advanced post with some junks, containing Government stores, in tow and at once applied to the commandant in charge for a passage. This self-important functionary, however, utterly ignored our order from Haiphong as the name of the boat was not specified, and even went so far as to state that we should have to wait at Haiduong until such time as he could receive a written order from the General permitting us to proceed. Of course, this would not have arrived until after the fall of Bacninh, so we were obliged to proceed against the puissant commandant's orders. We took the liberty of hanging on to one of the junks in tow of the launch when she started and so arrived in good time at the Seven Pagodas. Here we were most hospitably entertained by the commandant of the military forces at the post, a naturalized Frenchman of Irish birth, and one of the smartest officers of the Foreign Legion. From this place, however, to Yen-ding, we were obliged to force our way without assistance, much against the will of our Tonquinese boatmen, who required continual supervision to keep them at their work.
At Yen-ding, where we overhauled the flotilla, we inspected the forms held by the
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posts from Langson to Laokai and a har- rassing border warfare would probably be waged for a year or two to come.
It is in- tende i to send an expedition up the Red River to the latter Black Flag post as soon as the rains will have rendered the upper waters navigable, which will probably be about July, and in the meantime, after Thai-nguyen and some strong position un the Langson road have been occupied, the French Government will probably send in a claim for indemnity for the cost of the expedition. Whether China will pay the bill or fight openly will then remain to be seen. Unless she can put better men into the field and better officers to command them than those encountered at Baeninh it would be wiser for her to pay up at once, as further and more costly operations would only bring up the total and would have to be paid in the end, either in territory or Canfi
THE FRENCH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN TONQUIN. (From our Special Correspondent.)
Hongkong, 22nd March.
Tu my lattor from Bacninh, dated the 15th inst. 1 furnished your readers with most of the particulars obtainable of the opertions against Bacninh, and the occupa- tion of the evacuated fortress by the French forces. There were a few events, however, which occurred after my departure from Bacninh which will probably prove of in- Lerest.
As I mentioned in my last letter I got up to Lai-cau, within three miles of Bacninh, in a native boat, in company with the ape- cial correspondent of The Times, and the journey from Haiphong to Lai-can was by no means of the pleasantest. Although the three generals in command of the French forces now iu Tonquin all expressed ¦ themselves favourable to the presence of representatives of the press with the troops during the operations, and did not in any way personally impede our movements,
! still the fact remained that we were un- doubtedly unwelcome visitors in the camp, and, in the absence of the genetals, we were treated by the local jacks-in-office at, some places, not merely with discourtesy, but often with direct opposition. It is not pleasant to be classed together with the cantiusers or liquor vendors who supply the thirsty warriors with adulterated fire-water, but such was our fate on more than one occasion. When we left Haiphong iu er little jauk we had an order from the commandant there to proceed to? the front on a government boat, hut as no boat was then available, and we desired to rejoin General Negrier at once, we proceeded on to Haiduong in our native craft. There we found a Government launch about to start for the advanced post with some junks, containing Goverminent stores, in tow and at once applied to the ! commandant in charge for a passage. This self-important functionary however utterly ignored our order from Haiphong as the name of the boat was not specified, and evou went so far as to state that we should have to wait at Haiduong until such time as he could ceive a written order from the General permitting us to proceed. Of course this would not have arrived until after the fall of Bacainh, so we were obliged to proceed against the puissant com- mandant's orders. We took the liberty of hanging on to one of the junks in tow of the launch when she started and so arrived in good time at the Sevan Pagodas. Here we were most hospitably entertained by the commandant of the military forces at the post, a naturalized Frenchman of Irish birth, and one of the smartest officers of the Foreign Legion. From this place, however, to Yen-ding wo were obliged to force our way without assistance, much against the will of our Touquinese boat- men, who required continual supervision to keep them at their work.
At Yon-ding, where we overhauled the Botilla, we inspected the forms held by the
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