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Enclosure.
THE FRENCH AT KELUNG.
THE RECENT FIGHTING. From later details to hand with regard to recent engagements at Kelung, it seems that the fighting which has taken place has been of an exceedingly severe character. The Chinese had for some time before been making entrench- ments round the French position at Kolung, and General Lin Ming-chuan had been working with great energy and determination, and animating his forces to a considerable extent with his own spirit. The heights all round Kelang were in the possession of his soldiers, who steadily pushed their entrenchments forward up towards the French lines. From time to time it became necessary for the French to drive the i Chinese from these positions, and on each co- ension they met with a very stubborn resistance. Admiral Courbet, since the arrival of his re- inforcements, has been able to keep the Chinese back with somewhat less dißculty than previously, and he has by degress bean gathering strength to drive the Chinese from the hilis surrounding his position. On different occasions lately accounts have come to hand of his taking different points after some hard fighting, but the heaviest part of the work yet remained to be carried out until the 6th inst. when this last attack was made. The French force at Kelang is still very small. Previous to the arrival of reinforcements there were 1,500 men landed there, and the reinforco- ments only numbered 1,800. From these 3,300, must be deducted the number killed or disabled. In the fighting, and the still greater number who have been placed kors de combat by sick- | ness due to the moist unhealthy climate. Ad- miral Courbet had therefore a force of but little more than 2,000 men at his disposal with which to make the attack on the Chinese posi-¡ tions against forces which, having been swollod by the reinforcements which have evaded the ineffective blockade, were vastly superior numerically to their opponents.
Though
the French troops have been for mouths subjected to the depressing influences of a wretched climato, and confinement in miserable place where to wander any distance from the camp except in strong force meant great risk of mårder from the hostile popals- tion, and perpetually harassed by attacks by the
Chinese
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REC
C. O.
G003
REGP 21 APR 85)
much
Chinese, they behaved with fully as dash and determined courage as their comrades in Tonquin have been displaying in the capture of Langson and Kilua. They encountered an obstinate resistance, but after a very hot fight they succeeded in carrying the Chinese positions at the point of the bayonet. Though the Chinese were driven out, however, the battle was not nearly over, for scarcely, had the French co- cupied the position than they had again to fight might and main to retain possession of it. With a courage and dogged determination which has rarely been seen among Chinese troops, Liu Ming-chuan's forces returned to the attack, and it was only after a most stubborn fight that they were driven back again. Still all was not over; after giving his troops time to recover, General Liu rallied them once more for another attempt to retake their lost positions, and the men an- swered to the call with a fierce and long sustained onslaught upon the French. They were met with the same determination as before, and after a protracted conflict they were again | compelled to retreat. Still the Chinese Com- mander did not despair, and again his braves made a further effort to dislodge the handful of French troops which had onsted them from the hills, but only to be driven back for the third time. This ended the fighting, which lasted altogether forty-eight hours, and General Lia Ming-chuan withdrew with his beat- en forces to the next range of hille inland, loav- ing the French the possessors of one of the hard- est won positions they have yet gained. The slaughter was heavy on both sides, particularly on that of the Chinese. The returns given must be taken for what they are worth, being merely estimates, but the Chinese loss is reported to be not much under 2,000, and that of the French about 200 man.
It seems pretty certain now that, until Admiral Courbet has been considerably reinforced, there will be no attempt made to sapture Tauuni, and no further offensive measures taken by the Franch. The amall French foros now in For- mosa has as much as it can do to securely hold the positions now occupied. The rainy season is upon them also, and that will be succeeded by the tropical summer, so that altogether there is not much prospect of any further nows of import- ance from North Formosa for some time,
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