Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1884 — FOREIGN. [ARTICLE]

FOREIGN.

A dispatch from Foo-Chow states that the French iron-clads resumed the attacks on the forts on the Min River, between its mouth and the arsenal, at an early hour on the morning of Aug. 2?. The forts at the Kinpai Pass offered a determined resistance, but the superiority of the French gunners soon began to tell on the works. Gun after gun was dislodged, until finally the Chinese became demoralized at the sight of the destruction going on an<f fled from the fortresses, leaving everything behind them. Admiral Courbet then directed his attack on the forts higher up the river and made short work of them, as the garrisons had become panic-stricken at the sight and fire of the fleet, and hastily abandoned the defenses, leaving the French masters of the whole line of fortifications on the Min River up to the arsenal. When the French had descended the river after the attack upon the forts the Chinese looted and burned the foreign quarter. Gen. Wolseley proposes to reach Dongola with the Gordon relief expedition by Nov. 7. He declares his confidence of accomplishing this programme. The relief party will consist of 7,000 men. Four hundred more river boats have been ordered. Seven men were killed in a coal-pit near Paisley Scotland. Gen. Millot, commander of the French forces in Tonquin, telegraphs that the Chinese are preparing an invasion of that region. The Viceroy of Canton has ordered all Frenchmen to leave his province. It is known that important telegrams from Pekin have been received at Shanghai, and there are reports in circulation that China is desirous of coming to an agreement with France. Alphonso Taft, the new American Minister to Russia, has arrived at St. Petersburg. Germany intends to raise a corps of veteran soldiers for colonial service, as the Prussian military system will not allow treops to be sent abroad. The funds required will be furnished by mercantile firms desiring protection. Another large sugar firm has failed in Vienna, with liabilities exceeding those of Weinricb, who failed for 84,000,000 the other day. The clergy of Spain have started a demonstration in every church in the country in favor of the temporal power of the Pope. Admiral Courbet officially reports the complete success of the operations against the forts along the Min River. The French loss, he says, was ten killed, thirteen seriously and twenty-eight slightly wounded. The Admiral commands the gallantry of his officers and seamen. King Alfonso, of Spain, is in wretched health on account of his excesses, and will not live long. The regency of Christine, it is thought, would be the signal for a revolu-

tlon, and this fact is said to be the secret of Alfonso's recent amicable overtures toward the offended Vatican. Frauds aggregating £BO,OOO, in which foreign officials of high rank are involved, have been developed in the treasury department of Egypt. The British expedition for the relief of Khartoum consists of 8,000 British troops, 2,500 Egyptians, and a flotilla of 950 river boats, manned by 400 Canadians, 300 Kroomen, and atout 2,000 Egyptians and Nubians. It is estimated that the cost will be about $40,000,000.