learn from an eye-witness of the which took place between the and Chinese forces at Keelung from the 3ist January to the 3rd February, that there were in all 1,800 French troops waged, An attempt was made on th first day to turn the flank of the Chines who held " strong entrenched position The French attack would probably have ended in the capture of the position on the 31st had" it been commenced earlier, but as it was, the troops were obliged to withdraw at sunset. On the following day, the attack was renewed and the position eventually taken by xssanlt, the French troops advancing through a perfect swamp, sinking to the knees in mud, and, after scaling the entrenchment, attacking the Chinese troops with the bayonet. During the following two days, the French force advanced and occupied two other tions. Two military mandoring erable rank are ssid to have been found amongst the Chinese dead, clo the spot where the body of the European oticer who was killed withthe Chinese was found, French loss during the four days was two oticers killed and two wounded, and 50 men killed and wounded. The Chinese loss is uncertain, but it is believed to be over 200 kilted and wounded. The Chi are anid to have fought remarkably wel Our informant confirms made by our 'Tamaui correspondent 25 Chinese at Keelung, who wore believed to be carrying on communications with the Chinese troops, have been executed by, order of Admiral' Courbet, All the Chinese prisoners taken from the junks, og well as the Annamite coulles from Saigon, are employed as baggage and pro 1 coolies for the French troops. None of them have been employed mines at Keelung, which have not worked atoll by the Fronch.—China Mail, TONQUIN, is the Feench march on Langeon, Tumenes ent event of the present momen
preparations had to be made for the march, the creator part of the didiculties resting, of couutrse, with the limited moans of transport at the command of the French. Speak 1 little over 10,000 men—had to be requieie tioned by the Breuch, hesi eir own ox carts—about a thousand—and numberless wheelbarrows. It appears, however, that the transport difficulties how been overcome: evident opinion of commande fixed the 4th 4 stant as the day for coman cing the advance, garding the French position and their sh, when their last reinforcements arrived here, about four weeks age, by the chartered transports of the Compagnie Nationale they were disembarked in river transports and steam launches and con: veyed, without any lan straight-on to the front, a French force then was 80 the equally dil throng; whilst the inde, also about 5,000, was distributed to reinforce the posts along the river Lochnan and the hend-quarters at Chin.
Before ordering the advance, General rier wont lo inspect all the different positions, and was also at Kep, where ith three officers he went up in a eapballoon to the height of about 200 metres to gee what the enemy were doing. A rather risky undertaking this for the allant general, I should aay, if for me ice, the twelve coulles who were at-chied to exch of the two ropes had felt inclined to let go!
After his visit to Kep, which the General wanted the enemy to.
mediate advance on the Langson route, he took, with all possible despatch the greater part of the garrisons at Kep and Phulwnthuong along with him to Chin, and then commenced immediately the advance from that direction. Whether h in duping the enemy remains a question for the present, however. 1 it, a8 the Chinese are not likely to make stand against the French at all on thi of Baclé, where they have strongly fosti-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.