FRENCH AND SIAMESE.
Battle in Which the Latter Were Repulsed With Heavy Loss.
PROSPECTS OP PEACE IN MEKONG VALLEY VERY POOR
French
Marines Attack and Capture the Forts at Donthane and Tappan, on the Upper
Mekong—French Merchant man Seized by Siamese at the Mouth of the Menam River
and Sunk to Blockade the Channel.
Special
to the Record-Union.
Paris,
July 17.—M. Delanessan. Governor-General of French Indo-China, telegraphs the
Foreign Office that a detachment of Siamese troops attacked the reconnoitering
force of the Anamite militia on July 5th at Anake. The Siamese were repulsed
with great loss. One Anamite was killed. People everywhere in the Laos
district, which lies to the northward of Siam proper, are, according to the
dispatch, siding with the French.
FRENCH MERCHANTMAN SEIZED
Saigon, July 17.—The troubles between the
French and Siamese on the Mekong river continue. The French marines have
attacked and captured the forts at Donthane and Tappan, on the upper Mekong.
The French lost six killed and several wounded. The Siamese loss was heavy.
The French merchantman Jean Say has been
seized by the Siamese at the mouth of the Menam river and sunk to block the
channel. The crew was badly treated and thrown into prison at Bangkok.
PROPOSAL FOR A TRUCE.
Bangkok, July 17.—The Government of Siam has
consented to withdraw the troops in the Mekong Valley, provided France also
agrees to suspend hostilities.
BITTER
AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN.
Paris,
July 17.—The press of this city is most bitter against Great Britain for her
attitude in the Franco-Siamese dispute. The newspapers generally insist that
France deal sharply with Siam, It is understood Bangkok will only be bombarded
as a last resort.
PARIS NEWSPAPBRS WARLIKE.
Paris, July 17.—The Government has either
received no dispatches from its agents in Siam or is withholding them from
publication.
All
real news has been received through English sources, and this fact is seized
upon by the Anglophobic Paris newspapers as proof positive of English intrigue
in Siam.
These
papers are urging the Government to commit any act of indiscretion rather than
admit a blunder has been made, reparation for which would be tantamount to
humiliating submission to England.
In
the present temper of the press and public the Government would be applauded
for any decisive action except absolute annexation, and the general expectation
is that Siam will be forced to concede territory extending to the right bank of
the Mekong, which France claims once belonged to the empire of Anam.
BANGKOK
OPEN TO TRADE.
Bangkok,
July 17. —This port is open to trade once more. All is quiet and the war cloud
seems to have blown over. The Siamese Government has agreed to make no
discrimination against the ships of the French, promising to treat them like
the ships of other great powers. Rear-Admiral humann says the Siamese forts
fired without warning on the gunboats. The Siamese deny this, and say the
French were the aggressors.
NO
INTERVENTION WILL. BE TOLERATED.
Paris,
July 17.—A semi-official note was published to-day denying the assertion that
France disavowed the action of Admiral Humann in Siam. A council of Ministers,
held to decide on the replies to be made to the interpellations, resolved to
disavow in the Chamber any intention to interfere with Siamese independence,
but to insist that the treaties between France and Siam be respected, and no
intervention on the part of a third power will be tolerated. In case it becomes
necessary to bombard Bangkok, warning will be given to foreign powers.
ENGLAND WAITING FURTHER FACTS.
London,
July 17.—The Earl of Rosebery, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, replying
to a question in the House of Lords to-day, said the Government was not in full
possession of the facts regarding the dispute between France and Siam, but that
Great Britain is fully alive to the responsibility attaching to her.
In
the Commons, Sir Edward Grey, Parliamentary Secretary for the Foreign Office,
made an extended reference to the announced Intention of Carson (Conservative)
to move an adjournment of the House to discuss the situation in Siam. Sir
Edward appealed to the House not to discuss the matter until further
information was received. Everything possible will be done by Great Britain to
arrive at a patriotic solution of the questions involved. Carson then abandoned
his motion.
ENGLISH LEAVING THE COUNTRY.
LONDON, July 17.—A Bangkok correspondent of
the Times says: Many Englishmen with their families are leaving the country,
taking with them all portable property.
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