سے آپ کر یہ بات کہ حه له به کار ترانه عید
penetrated the armour plating six and seven in- ches, but the indents were soon plugged up. Twenty minutes firing by the Frenchmen silenc ed two forts: a powder magazine was blown up, and the Chinese soldiers who were not killed by the explosion left their guns and fled to the hills. The Frenchmon continued to blaze away at the forts for fully en hour longer, knocking them to pieces; a large detachment of their men then went on shore and completed the demolition of the forts. In the five-gun fort it is said there was a good-sized Chinese village, and this was hurat to the ground, and here the loss of life on the Chinose side was great. As we have already stated, the Chinese guns could not be laid on the Villars and Lufin, and they came ont of the on- gagement without a scratch, and it is perfectly true that the French did not lose a single man during the bombardment.
FIGHT ON SHORE.
After the French landing party had carried out their work of the destruction of the forts, they marched up the hill behind the five-gun fort, pitched a large tont, and hoisted the French flag. The number of this party is variously stated, some say it was composed of 100 men and others that it numbered over three hundred. They were attacked, on the morning of the 6th, by about 2,000 Chinese soldiers. The French tried to keep them back, but failed, and beat a precipitate retreat to their ships, leaving the tent and a quantity of baggage and clothing be hind them. The Chinese pursued them and fought bravely, but their guns were of ancient date, and their firing was not very effective. The French themselves acknowledge having lost three killed and that twelve were wounded, while the Chinese assert that they placed more than double this number hors de combat. The three Frenchmen who were killed are said to have been talten on board the Villars; at all events they were not left upon the field nor were any of the wounded. A French petty officer was reported to be missing, and it was said that he had boon cap- tured by the Chinose and sliced up. That was the expression of our informant. The loss on the Chinese side is variously estimated, 300, 400, and 500 being given.
The French, it seems. did not lose their flag. They left their camp so hurriedly, that they did not haul it down in the usual way but chopped the staff through a few feet from the ground. When the Chinese came up and carried off the tent, baggage, and clothing, &o.. one of their namber stayed behind trying to pull up the piece of Hagstaff that remained. The French gans were all aimed at him, but he kept at his work, and carried off the stump of the staff in triumph.
THE KEELUNG COLLIEKIES FIRED. On the 6th inst. the Keelung colliery was fired by the Chinese, who used fifty cases of kerosine for the purpose. The machinery has also been destroyed. All the coal ready for shipment was also set on fire, kerosine being poured on it to make it burn quickly. The fire of the collie- ries could be seen from the harbour on the 10th, 11th, and 12th inst.
LATEST PARTICULARS.
The Welle returned to Keelung on the 10th having as passengers from Tamsui, the Cou- missioner of Customs, the harbour-master Mr. Hummel, Dr. Johannsen, Mr. Bentley and & missionary. The sights on shore are described as frightful, the bodies of the killed Chinese still lying in the ruins of the forts. No French- men can go on shore without being shot at, and the Frenchmen in return shoot at the Chinese whenever they make their appearance. It is estimated that there are 15,000 Chinese soldiers round Keelung, and quite as many at, Tamsui. On the arrival of the Welle at Keelung, the captain received the following official dispatch, which we give verbatim et literatím :—
Division Navale des Mere de Chine et du Japon. Commandant en Chef.
A bord de La Galissonniers, Rade de Keelung le 9 Août 1884. 8), I must inform you that I made set of ballige- rent at Keelung. Then if your ship is bound of gans, powder or all kinda of stores for the Chinese Govern- ment, I should be obliged to you to not discharge in this port. If not, I should regret to be in the necessity of impeding it. Yours truly, Bear-Admiral,
J. LKSPRA. We have seen the original dospatch; it is in English, not French as the two preceding ones, and it seems to us to have been written by a Chinese interpreter and signed by Admiral Lespes. The Welle had no cargo to discharge, and she left Keelung for Shanghai on the 13th inst.
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