THE FRENCH AT FOOCHOW Eyewitness Account Of The Clashes Between French And Chinese Naval Forces 1884

<p>Tonkin War developed out of a tussle between France and China for influence in Vietnam. Following a number of engagements diplomatic exchanges between Li Hongzhang and Captain Ernest François Fournier produced a tentative agreement that China would withdraw from Tonkin and legally recognise a French protectorate. Negotiations however eventually broke down and the French launched an attack on Fuzhou on 23 August 1884.</p><p><br></p><p>Foreign military observers including the two American authors of this report saw the engagement as a chance to evaluate the success of recent Chinese attempts to modernise the imperial navy. For the Qing empire the Battle of Fuzhou was a disaster the French fleet of eight ships outgunning its eleven vessels all of which were eventually sunk. The defeat paved the way for the dynasty's downfall. </p><p><br></p><p>The eight plates are after sketches made during the battle and show several Chinese ships before and after they were sunk. </p><p><br></p>