3-085-850 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

French Aggressions in West Africa: types of French and native soldiery engaged in the advance, 1898. 'A French Sergeant of Soudanese Tirailleurs and his servant with a West African native officer of artillery...French expeditions have...been sent to occupy the native towns of Nikki, Boussa on the Niger, Kiama, and Boria, at which last-mentioned place they have now met a party under British command, and have called upon it to haul down the British flag. This disagreeable incident...took place on Feb. 9. There was a guard of Haussa soldiers, with a non-commissioned officer, at Boria, which had been there for three days, with the Bali or native local chief. A French officer with thirty Sengalese native soldiers in the French colonial services then arrived; the removal of the flag was demanded, and was refused. After some parley, the French withdrew to an encampment three miles distant'. From "Illustrated London News", 1898.