438 
THE FRENCH SOUDAN. 
right bank of the Niger), had next turned his column and proceeded to 
Segou-Sikoro, more than 300 kilometres to the north-east. 
But when the Governor requested the officers in charge of districts 
to inform him precisely of the actual localities where he could find 
the officers commanding these two columns above-mentioned, the only 
reply he could obtain was, that Colonel Bonnier and Commandant 
Joffre had departed for “an unknown destination.” The same answer 
met his enquiry as to the whereabouts of the commandant of the flotilla, 
which should have been found at the anchorage of Mopti, the principal 
port of Macina, conquered last year by Colonel Archinard. 
The Governor thereupon telegraphed to the commander-in-chief of 
the troops, as well as to the several commandants of districts and circles, 
that on taking over charge of the government of the Soudan, he there¬ 
with recalled to mind, in conformity with his instructions, that no 
military expedition whatever could be proceeded with unless sanctioned 
by the formal authorisation of the Government. Lieut.-Col. Bonnier 
acknowledged the receipt of this telegram without saying where he was 
or what his plans were. 
In face of this studied disobedience of his instructions, and in order 
to enforce respect for his authority, so defiantly set at nought by the 
superior officers of the Army of Occupation in the Soudan, M. Grodet 
proposed to the new Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, M. 
Lebon, the supersession of Lieut.-Colonel Bonnier from the chief com¬ 
mand of the troops in the Soudan. The answer (which was read in 
the Chamber on Saturday, 10th February), came “ We approve the 
measures taken. Government insists that no expedition shall be under¬ 
taken without its authority, unless of necessity to repress aggression. 
You can count upon my support to make your authority as Governor 
respected.” 
Meantime, M. Grodet continued to telegraph to the heads of districts 
for news of the columns. In reply to a categorical demand, one of 
them at last admitted that the military forces of the colony were, in 
fact, engaged in an expedition against Timbuctou. 
The Governor, in consequence, had just issued an order to stop the 
advance of the columns when he learned of the arrival of the flotilla at 
Kabara and the massacre there of Sub-Lieutenant Aube and his Laptots; 
and, next, was informed officially of the departure of Lieut.-Colonel 
Bonnier for Timbuctou and, finally, of its occupation. 
It was impossible under these conditions to prevent a campaign 
which must involve the open hostility of the Touareg tribes and the 
incidents which, as already related, occurred in due course. The 
Governor could not recall facts already accomplished; the French troops 
being at Timbuctou, they must evidently remain there; at all events 
until the Home Government had been fully informed and given their 
decision on the subject. It was thus that M. Grodet, in relieving 
Lieut.-Colonel Bonnier from his command, named Commandant Hugny 
to replace him, the same officer who was second in command of the 
column, with orders to stay at Timbuctou, and there to hold himself 
altogether on the defensive. 
The Government thought that it was to the interest of the country 
