How many troops were present at the Fashoda Incident?

Despite scouring the internet, I haven't been able to find any definitive numbers as to the troops present at Fashoda when tensions began to rise, the best I can find is of course the two famous commanders who were present and the number of 120 French Troops, however that seems low and I can find no reports as to the British Numbers. Can anyone give me some vague numbers as to the size of the forces?
 
Despite scouring the internet, I haven't been able to find any definitive numbers as to the troops present at Fashoda when tensions began to rise, the best I can find is of course the two famous commanders who were present and the number of 120 French Troops, however that seems low and I can find no reports as to the British Numbers. Can anyone give me some vague numbers as to the size of the forces?

120 French soldiers is accurate. The expeditionary force was very small, I think because the French were hoping to slide them in under British radar. As for British numbers, I can't seem to find much either, though considering that the British forces were part of the Anglo-Egyptian army in charge of reconquering Sudan, I imagine that their numbers were significantly higher. Really the Fashoda incident was a perfect example of a minor crisis blown way out of proportion by the ruling governments.
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
120 is too low? The French force had just marched to the southern Sudan from the other side of Africa. I'm frankly surprised that any of them made it at all.
 

Delta Force

Banned
120 is too low? The French force had just marched to the southern Sudan from the other side of Africa. I'm frankly surprised that any of them made it at all.

With 120 men against a few thousand, all the British commander would have to do is inform the French commander that hostilities have commenced and he advises surrender.
 
Expedition Congo-Nil had :

- 12 french officers and sub-officers (less 2 when finally arrived in Fachoda)
- 150 Tirailleurs Sénégalais
- Thousands of porters (more or less forced to do so)
- Faidherbe steamer
 
With 120 men against a few thousand, all the British commander would have to do is inform the French commander that hostilities have commenced and he advises surrender.

That said, french expedition had fought 3 000 mahdists and won the fight just before Lord Kitchener came (actually it's one of the reasons : British tought that french expedition would be under too much rebel pressure, and that they maintained their position accelerated their reaction)
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
With 120 men against a few thousand, all the British commander would have to do is inform the French commander that hostilities have commenced and he advises surrender.

The British in the 19th Century knew better than to insult the honor of a Frenchman. It would have made more sense to hit a beehive with a cricket paddle.
 
The British in the 19th Century knew better than to insult the honor of a Frenchman. It would have made more sense to hit a beehive with a cricket paddle.

Admittedly, Lord Kitchner tried to defused the situation OTL. While Marchand was about to make a speech "We won't surrender and we're ready to die for...", he basically answered "There's no need to do that, let's wait our governements's answers".

On the other hand, London was ready to make the crisis a rupture between Franco-British relations and didn't wanted to concede something immediatly (while, once the crisis was defused, UK supported France's claims to Sahara and Morocco, against Germany in the last case).
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
Admittedly, Lord Kitchner tried to defused the situation OTL. While Marchand was about to make a speech "We won't surrender and we're ready to die for...", he basically answered "There's no need to do that, let's wait our governements's answers".

Right, and they even sat down and had lunch together. My point is that, even vastly outnumbered, the French would not have given up the post without a fight. And if shooting takes place and soldiers on both sides get killed and wounded, everybody loses. Except Germany, I guess.

On the other hand, London was ready to make the crisis a rupture between Franco-British relations and didn't wanted to concede something immediatly (while, once the crisis was defused, UK supported France's claims to Sahara and Morocco, against Germany in the last case).

True. The world has Theophile Delcasse to thank for preventing the incident from turning into a war.
 
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