2
In submitting this Memorial regarding the establishment of a printing office and of a military college, I have the honour to request the issue of your Majesties' instructions thereon.
On the 30th the following Imperial Rescript was issued:--
"Let these measures be carried out zealously so that good results may be obtained. Let the proper Board take note."
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[July 28.]
SECTION 1.
[26213]
No. 1.
Consul Carlisle to Sir Edward Grey-(Received July 28.)
(No. 9.) Sir,
Hanoi, June 23, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 8 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to inform you that another and still more disastrous incident has occurred in connection with the disturbances on the Tonquin-Yunnan frontier, in which two French officers, two non-commissioned officers, and a number of native soldiers have lost their lives. On this occasion, however, the aggressors were not Chinese Government troops, but a band of revolutionaries.
Very few details are known here at present, and the Government is reticent about the matter, but the following facts seem certain:--
About the 16th instant, news arrived here that a large band of revolutionaries had evaded the vigilance of the French and crossed with their arms into Tonquin. Orders were at once given for troops to be sent to locate and disarm them. On the 18th Commandant Lecreux, with a force composed of Tirailleurs Tonquinois, arrived at a place called Yen Binh Xa, about 50 miles nearly due east of Laokay, and sent a message to the revolutionaries, who were heard of in the neighbourhood, to come and surrender. On the evening of the same day two detachments of tirailleurs, who had been apparently working independently, effected a junction at a place called Ban-Mang, which I have been unable to find on the maps, but which is in the neighbourhood of Yen Binh Xa. They numbered in all 150 men, under two French lieutenants. At Bau-Mang they found a party of 150 Chinese revolutionaries with some seventy rifles. The Chinese surrendered their arms without difficulty, and camped alongside the French force as their prisoners. During the night, however, the main party of revolutionaries, estimated at 600 rifles, came up and surrounded the camp and demanded the restoration to them of the arms taken. This, of course, the French officers refused. At daybreak the Chinese opened a murderous fire. Apparently the French force had not camped in a place suitable for defence, for it was practically annihilated. The two lieutenants and two of the European sergeants were killed, and two other sergeants were taken prisoners, and a number of the Annamite rank and file, variously stated as from fifty to 120, were killed. Some of the Annamites were taken prisoners and the rest escaped as best they could.
On the 21st the revolutionaries advanced on the post at Yen Binh Xa, and sent a demand to the Commandant to be allowed to pass. This was refused, and they opened fire. The tirailleurs in the post, however, replied vigorously, and the Chinese broke up and fled into the hills. During this engagement one of the French sergeants and five tirailleurs who had been captured at Ban-Mang succeeded in escaping and rejoining the French. The other sergeant had escaped or been released previously.
It is said that Yen Binh Xa has now been reinforced by a company of the Foreign Legion. Travelling in the district is extremely difficult at this time of year.
The population of Laokay has been somewhat alarmed during these events. The Chinese troops at Hokou are reported to have been putting the place hurriedly into a state of defence, and there seems to have been an idea that the revolutionaries might come down through Tonquin and attack Hokou again from the side of Laokay. "In reply to telegrams from Laokay (where the civilians had taken steps towards the raising of a volunteer force) a company of colonial infantry has been sent up there.
It seems, indeed, that the authorities were somewhat premature in withdrawing all the white troops from the district immediately after the recapture of Hokou from the revolutionaries.
I have, &c.
(Signed) T. FE CARLISLE.
[1865 ee-1]
310
2
In submitting this Memorial regarding the establishment of a printing office and of a military college, I have the honour to request the issue of your Majesties' instructions thereon.
On the 30th the following Imperial Rescript was issued :--
"Let these measures be carried out zealously so that good results may be obtained. Let the proper Board take note."
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[July 28.]
SECTION 1.
[26213]
No. 1.
Consul Carlisle to Sir Edward Grey-(Received July 28.)
(No. 9.) Sir,
Hanoi, June 23, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 8 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to inform you that another and still more disastrous incident has occurred in connection with the disturbances on the Tonquin-Yunnan frontier, in which two French officers, two non-commissioned officers, and a number of native soldiers have lost their lives. On this occasion, however, the aggressors were not Chinese Government troops, but a band of revolutionaries.
Very few details are known here at present, and the Government is reticent about the matter, but the following facts seem certain :--
About the 16th instant, news arrived here that a large band of revolutionaries had evaded the vigilance of the French and crossed with their arms into Tonquin. Orders were at once given for troops to be sent to locate and disarm them. On the 18th Commandant Lecreux, with a force composed of Tirailleurs Tonquinois, arrived at a place called Yen Binh Xa, about 50 miles nearly due east of Laokay, and sent a message to the revolutionaries, who were heard of in the neighbourhood, to come and surrender. On the evening of the same day two detachments of tirailleurs, who had been apparently working independently, effected a junction at a place called Ban-Mang, which I have been unable to find on the maps, but which is in the neighbourhood of Yen Binh Xa. They numbered in all 150 men, under two French lieutenants. At Bau-Mang they found a party of 150 Chinese revolutionaries with some seventy rifles. The Chinese surrendered their arms without difficulty, and camped alongside the French force as their prisoners. During the night, however, the main party of revolutionaries, estimated at 600 rifles, came up and surrounded the camp and demanded the restoration to them of the arms taken. This, of course, the French officers refused, At daybreak the Chinese opened a murderous fire. Apparently the French force had not camped in a place suitable for defence, for it was practically annihilated. The two lieutenants and two of the European sergeants were killed, and two other sergeants were taken prisoners, and a number of the Annamite rank and file, variously stated as from fifty to 120, were killed. Some of the Annamites were taken prisoners and the rest escaped as best they could.
On the 21st the revolutionaries advanced on the post at Yen Binh Xa, and sent a demand to the Commandant to be allowed to pass. This was refused, and they opened fire. The tirailleurs in the post, however, replied vigorously, and the Chinese broke up and fed into the hills. During this engagement one of the French sergeants and five tirailleurs who had been captured at Ban-Mang succeeded in escaping and rejoining the French. The other sergeant had escaped or been released previously.
It is said that Yen Binh Xa has now been reinforced by a company of the Foreign Legion. Travelling in the district is extremely difficult at this time of year.
The population of Laokay has been somewhat alarmed during these events. The Chinese troops at Hokou are reported to have been putting the place hurriedly into a state of defence, and there seems to have been an idea that the revolutionaries might come down through Tonquin and attack Hokou again from the side of Laokay. "In reply to telegrams from Laokay (where the civilians had taken steps towards the raising of a volunteer force) a company of colonial infantry has been sent up there.
It seems, indeed, that the authorities were somewhat premature in withdrawing all the white troops from the district immediately after the recapture of Hokou from the revolutionaries.
I have, &c.
(Signed) T. FE CARLISLE.
[1865 ee-1]
310
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