This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
C
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
SECTION 1.
Consul Carlisle to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received September 17.)
(No. 12. Confidential.) Sir,
Hanoi, August 14, 1908.
IN continuation of my despatch No. 11 of the 31st ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that on the 6th instant three more decapitations took place in connection with the plot to poison the French soldiers here. The men executed comprised one of the cooks who had actually put the poison in the food, a subordinate cook, and a corporal of artillery. On this occasion the heads were not left publicly exposed on posts, as at the last execution, apparently because it had been found that various Frenchmen, urged by an unhealthy curiosity, had insisted on having the heads taken down to examine them more closely and to photograph them. At the same time that these sentences were pronounced two other cooks, who have not yet been arrested, were in their absence sentenced to death, and five persons were sentenced to periods of imprisonment, varying from three years to life. There are other accused now before the Commission.
On the evening of the 1st instant the rumour reached Hanoi that another party of French troops operating against the Chinese revolutionaries from Yunnan, who have taken refuge in Tonquin, had met with a reverse, and that two officers had been killed. This unfortunately proved to be true. A detachment composed of twenty-five men of the Foreign Legion and of sixty-three Tirailleurs Tonquinois, commanded by Captain Fleury, and another composed of twenty-five men of the 9th Colonial Infantry and forty tirailleurs, under Captain Buy, were operating independently between Pho-rang and Luc-an-Chau. Hearing that the Chinese were fortifying themselves at Laug-nu, between these two places, they resolved to combine their forces and make an attack.
On the morning of the 31st ultimo, Captain Fleury sent a lieutenant with some tirailleurs and seventeen of his "légionnaires" ahead to effect a junction with Captain Buy. The armed partisans of the Man tribe, who accompanied the detachments, had meantime engaged the Chinese, and the latter seemed to be retiring. Captain Fleury, leaving his remaining eight "légionnaires" behind as a reserve, advanced with the tirailleurs into the jungle in pursuit and fell into an ambush. He, and the only lieutenant with him, were killed by the first volley, and the tirailleurs broke up and fled in panic. It is said that the eight men of the Legion tried to stop the flight and rally them, but were unsuccessful. One "légionnaire" and two tirailleurs are officially reported as having been killed. The Chinese did not pursue, as they had to meet Captain Buy's detachment, which was now advancing. This officer made a vigorous but unsuccessful attempt to break through the Chinese, and had to fall back at night to Pho-rang with two tirailleurs killed and nine men wounded, he himself being wounded in the head. The two officers killed were afterwards beheaded by the Chinese, and the bodies only have been recovered and buried.
It is said that some sixty Chinese were killed during the day; this, however, rests on the reports of the Mans, and seems unlikely, in view of the fact that the French had to retire with a comparatively small loss of men. Rumour here, coming from military sources, says, however, that the number of tirailleurs killed was considerably greater than has been officially announced.
I hear from what appears to be a reliable source that it has been at last decided to undertake a campaign against the De-Tham, the ex-rebel Chief referred to in my despatch No. 6 of the 18th May last. Operations will probably not commence before the end of September, when the weather will permit of European troops being employed.
On the 6th August M. Bonhoure, the Acting Governor-General, left for Cochin-
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[32335]
37616
IREC
P. 15 001 08
[September 17.]
[1933 r-1]
34
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.].
བཿ
C
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[32335]
No. 1.
37616
IREC
P. 15 001 08
[September 17.]
SECTION 1.
Consul Carlisle to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received September 17.)
(No. 12. Confidential.) Sir,
Hanoi, August 14, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 11 of the 31st ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that on the 6tli instant three more decapitations took place in connection with the plot to poison the French soldiers here. The men executed comprised one of the cooks who had actually put the poison in the food, a subordinate cook, and a corporal of artillery. On this occasion the heads were not left publicly exposed on posts, as at the last execution, apparently because it had been found that various Frenchmen, urged by an unhealthy curiosity, had insisted on having the heads taken down to examine them more closely and to photograph them. At the same time that- these sentences were pronounced two other cooks, who have not yet been arrested, were in their absence sentenced to death, and five persons were sentenced to periods of imprisonment, varying from three years to life. There are other accused now before the Commission.
On the evening of the 1st instant the rumour reached Hanoi that another party party of French troops operating against the Chinese revolutionaries from Yunnan, who have taken refuge in Tonquin, had met with a reverse, and that two officers had been killed. This unfortunately proved to be true. A detachment composed of twenty-five men of the Foreign Legion and of sixty-three Tirailleurs Tonquinois, commanded by Captain Fleury, and another composed of twenty-five men of the 9th Colonial Infantry and forty tirailleurs, under Captain Buy, were operating independently between Pho-rang and Luc-an-Chau. Hearing that the Chinese were fortifying themselves at Laug-nu, between these two places, they resolved to combine their forces and make an attack,
On the morning of the 31st ultimo, Captain Fleury sent a lieutenant with some tirailleurs and seventeen of his "légionnaires" ahead to effect a junction with Captain Buy, The armed partisans of the Man tribe, who accompanied the detachments, had meantime engaged the Chinese, and the latter seemed to be retiring. Captain Fleury, leaving his remaining eight "légionnaires" behind as a reservo, advanced with the tirailleurs into the jungle in pursuit and fell into an ambush. He, and the only lieutenant with him, were killed by the first volley, and the tirailleurs broke up and fled in panic. It is said that the eight men of the Legion tried to stop the flight and rally them, but were unsuccessful. One "légion- naire" and two tirailleurs are officially reported as having been killed. The Chinese did not pursue, as they had to meet Captain Buy's detachment, which was now advancing. This officer made a vigorous but unsuccessful attempt to break through the Chinese, and had to fall back at night to Pho-rang with two tirailleurs killed and nine men wounded, he himself being wounded in the head. The two officers killed were afterwards beheaded by the Chinese, and the bodies only have been recovered and buried.
It is said that some sixty Chinese were killed during the day; this, however, rests on the reports of the Mans, and seems unlikely, in view of the fact that the French had to retire with a comparatively small loss of men. Rumour bere, coming from military sources, says, however, that the number of tiralleurs killed was con- siderably greater than has been officially announced.
I hear from what appears to be a reliable source that it has been at last decided to undertake a campaign against the De-Tham, the ex-rebel Chief referred to in my despatch No. 6 of the 18th May last. Operations will probably not commence before the end of September, when the weather will permit of European troops being employed.
On the 6th August M. Bonhoure, the Acting Governor-General, left for Cochin-
[1933 r-1]
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