possibly might have failed to save the firing of the town, but at any rate, they might have harassed the Chinese retreat, probably seized some treasure, and they would almost certainly have prevented the cutting of the bridge. As it was, the Chinamen were as safe as they had been the day before in their casemates.
Meanwhile the first column, for which we had waited, was a day late. The General had missed the bad hill-track which was intended for him and taken a worse one which led him up and down hillside like the roof of a house. However, he learnt of the capture of Hung-Hoa in time and detached a column to attack Dong-Vong, a bill fort to the south-west of Hung-Hoa, whither a portion of the garrison was supposed to have fled. More execrable roads led Colonel Coronnat to this place. It was comparatively new and was situated in an ideally bad position. In a hollow surrounded by hills, one might almost have pitched stones on the heads of the garrison from the heights round about. It was a kind of hill chalet of the Annamese General, Prince Hoang-ke-visu, and he had shown his discretion in getting out of it. The place was perfectly empty, except that the wife of one of the Prince's attendants had been unaccountably left behind. Everything except her house was burnt, and the mud walls and bamboo fence were destroyed. A curious discovery, however, was made in one of the houses. A soldier in search of loot came upon several pipes of European manufacture - of French manufacture in fact, the pattern known as the pipe Jacob. There were some packets of French tobacco and some other signs of a white man, notably an old Vermouth case and some empty tins of condensed milk, recalling the cartridges sent up to Sontay through Hanoi. The owner of those properties was presumed to have been an American, on what grounds did not sufficiently appear, and it was concluded that to him was due the credit of the construction of the defences of Hung Hoa.
Meanwhile operations are over for this season. After some consultation it was decided not to march on to Tuyen-Kwan. The place is four days off and the roads would appear to be somewhat bad even for Tonquin. Moreover, some very hot days have given warning of the approach of the warm weather. To-day, therefore, the first detachment of troops marched back to Hanoi. A strong post will be left here and they will have abundance of work before them in building themselves barracks. The prospect does not seem to have been palatable to some of the troops, for there have been several cases of desertion, though where the men have gone to - each with his rifle, complete kit, and a hundred and twenty cartridges - does not appear. As soon as the troops return, a battalion will be sent to occupy Thai-Nguyen, a place which, by the way, should never have been given up; and the rest will be occupied in purging the country of pirates and generally pacifying the land. The most important column will be one which is to march south from Hanoi, through Nam-Dinh and Ninh Bình to Thanh Hoa and possibly on to Hue. It appears that the Hué envoys who arrived here just before the departure of the expedition to Bacninh are not now looked on with so much favour as when they ate lunch in the French Concession and regarded the evolutions of the balloonists with intelligence. On their return journey to the Annamese capital, they visited a number of villages in the Southern provinces, and by a sinister coincidence, shortly after their departure there was a massacre of Christians. It is to avenge these martyrs that the column marches. There is also talk of some gold mines at a place called Mi-Duc, which I cannot find on any map, but which I understand to be near the river Day close to the sea. These mines are said to be worked by Chinamen, and they maintain their position with the aid of Winchester repeating rifles. They are to be moved out of that.
Page 30
1474
45
C
possibly might have failed to save the firing of the town, but at any rate, they might have harassed the Chinese retreat, probably seized some treasure, and they would almost certainly have prevented the cufting of the bridge. As it! was the Chinamen were as safe as they had been the day before in their casemates.
Meanwhile the first column, for which we had waited, was a day late. The General had missed the bad hill-track which was intended for him and taken a worse one which led him up and down hillside like the roof of a house. However, he learnt of the capture of Hung-Hoa in time and detached a column to attack Dong-Vong, a bill; fort to the south-west of Hung-Hoa, whither portion of the garrison was supposed to bave fled. More execrable roads led Colonel Coronnat to this place. It was comparatively new and was situated in an ideally bad position. In a hollow surrounded by hills, one might almost have pitched! stones on the heads of the garrison from the heights round about. It was a kind of bill chalet of the Annamese General, Prince Hoang-ke-visu, and he had shown his discretion in getting out of it. The place was perfectly empty, except that the wife of one of the Prince's attendants had been unaccountably left behind. Everything except her house was burnt, and the mad walls and bamboo fence were destroyed. A curions dis- covery, however, was made in one of the houses. A soldier in search of loot, came upon several pipes of European manufacture-of French manufacture in fact, the pattern known as the pipe Jacob. There were some packets of French tobacco and some other signs of a white man, notably an old Vermouth case and some empty tins of condensed milk, recalling the cartridges sent up to Sontay through Hanoi. The owner of those properties was presumed to have been an American, on what grounds did not sufficiently appear, and it was concluded that to him was due the credit of the construction of the defences of Hung Hoa.
Meanwhile operations are over for this season. After some consultation it was decided not to march on to Tuyen-Kwan. The place is four days off and the roads would appear to be some- what bad even for Tonquin. Moreover, some very hot days have given warning of the ap- proach of the warm weather. To-day, therefore, the first dotachment of troops marched back to Hanoi. A strong post will be left bere and they will have abundance of work before them in building themselves barracks. The prospect does not seem to have boon palateable to some of the troops, for there have begu several caseS of desertion, though where the inen have gone to--each with his rifle, complete kit and a hun- dred and twenty cartridges-does not appear. As soon as the troops return, a battalion will be sent to occupy Thai-Nguyen, a place which, by the way, should never have been given up; and the rest will be occupied in purging the country of pirates and generally pacifying the land. The most important column will be one which. is to march south from Hanoi, though Nam-2 Dinh and Ninh Bình to Thanh Hoa and possi bly on to Hue. It appears that the Hué en- roys who arrived here just before the departure of the expedition to Bacninh are not now looked on with so much favour as when they ate lunch in the French Concession and regarded the evo- lutions of the baloonists with intelligence. Ou their return journey to the Annamese capital, they visited a number of villages in the Southern provinces, and by a sinister coincidence, shortly after their departure there was a massacre of Christians. It is to avenge these martyrs that the column marches. There is also talk of some gold mines at a place called Mi-Duc which I cannot find on any map, but which I understand to be near the river Day close to the sea. These mines are said to be worked by Chinamen, and they maintain their position with the aid of Winchester repeating rifles. They are to bo moved out of that.
Į
30
1474
45
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.