Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1891 — BIG INSULT TO ENGLAND [ARTICLE]

BIG INSULT TO ENGLAND

THE BRITISH COLORS HAULED DOWN IN AFRICA. War in the Dark Continent Between Portuguese and British ( olonlsts—English Steamers Seized—A Number Ki led in an Attack on Commissioner Johnston's Expedition. A dispatch received at London from Lourenzo Marquez, a Portuguese town of Africa, on the north side of Delagoa Bay, says that the British twin screw torpedo cruiser Brick, six guns, Commander Alfred Winsioe, has arrived there and reports that a serious' conflict has taken place between tho British and Portuguese colonists. Commander Wins-* loe says that the troops static ned at the Portuguese military post on the river Pungwe have attacked tho British South Africa Company’s expedition, commanded by Commissioner H. H. Johnston. Seven Portuguese were killed, but the British loss is unknown. . The British twin screw cruiser Magicienne, six guns, Captain J. P. Ripon, and the British composite gunboat Pigeon. six guns, Commander Henry R. P. Floyd, have arrived at Beira, Mashonaiand, a Portuguese settlement in South Africa. It was at Beira that in April the Portuguese authorities seized British mail sacks and refused to allow them to be carried to their destination. These mails were intended for the British colonists in Mashonalaud. The British colonists were indignant at this highhanded proceeding on the part of tho Portuguese, and complained to the Brit sit Government about it. Then Colonel Willoughby applied for permission to proceed to tho Pungwe River in order to pay tho prescribed duties, but, receiving no answer after forty-eight hours, he started without permission, and tho Portuguese opened tire upon his expedition, and seized the two steamers which composed it. The Portuguese also seized the mails and provisions and imprisoned sixteen members of the expedition. Colonel Willoughby endeavored to secure the release of his vessels by payment of the usual customs duties, but the Portuguese officikls who seized the boats refused to accept this payment, and ordering the British flag hauled down, hoisted the Portuguese flag in its place. The Portuguese declare that tho British are excluded from the Pungwe River, which Colonel Willoughby’s boats were navigating when seized.