The French Government has received serious 'news from Indo-China. General
Millot, commanding in Tonquin, has telegraphed that, "in violation of treaties, a French column, numbering 700 men, has been attacked on the march to Lang. son by 4,000 regular Chinese troops." The French repulsed the enemy, but had seven killed and forty-two wounded. The in- cident occurred on June 23rd, and the Chinese had artillery with them. The Government at once ordered If. Paten6tre to proceed to Tientsin in a man-of-war and demand explanations, and Admiral Courbet to sail northwards and suppolt him with the whole Fleet. The Chamber received the news with a certain dismay ; and it is evident that 111. Ferry thinks the rejection of the Treaty of May 11th, which has not been ratified, possible. The fight may, however, have been without orders, as it is scarcely possible that the Chinese Government has again changed its policy. It was, however, affirmed at the time' that Li Hung Chang was considered in Pekin to have stretched his wide powers too far. It is difficult to believe, neverthe- less, that the statesmen of Pekin, after disavowing the Marquis Tseng in such a discreditable way, are now prepared to run all- risks.
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