THE WAR IN BURMAH.

The Rangoon correspondent of the Times, writing in the middle of February on the condition of Burmah, stated that ,ifc had been ascertained that Wuntho Tswabwa was personally implicated in the rebellion, and it had been decided to permanently occupy his territory, this step being deemed absolutely necessary for the peace of Upper Burmah. The Mandalay Herald published the following account of the insurrection in Wuntho :—: — " On the night of the 13th inst. a large force from Wuntho, under the command of the Tswabwa's father, invaded our territory, and has to all intents and purposes proclaimed war against the Queen in a style that has not been done since the annexation. He and his force attacked and burnt down two military outposts, after driving out their garrisons, killing four men and seriously wounding eight others. He also destroyed the telegraph office in his attack on Kawlin. The subdiyißional officer at Kawlin wires that the military police have become thoroughly demoralised, and he has telegraphed for European troops, as the country i 8 in a state of open war. He himself has retired on Htigyaing for safety, leaving Kawlin probably to the mercy of the rebels."

The Mandalay Herald attributed the outbreak to the objection of the Tsawbwa to a proposal to continue the Moo Valley railway line through the Wuntho territory. This (saya The Times correspondent) is a mere pretext, as the intention to carry the line through Wuntho has been known for two years, and a portion of the line running through Wuntho was surveyed more than a year ago. Little weight can be attached to the opinion of the Eurasian subdivisional officer at Kawlin relating to the alleged disorganisation of the military police. He appears to have precipitately abandoned Kawlin himself. Captain Smith, R.A., commands the force in the Wuntho district, which now includes some 400 European infantry and mounted infantry. The same correspondent, writing on the 23rd February, says :— The force despatched against Wuntho now reaches 1500 men and. four guns. When Wuntho has been occupied the province will be thoroughly disarmed The territory now by the Tsawbwa is about 140 miles long by some 60 wide.

The firat batch of reinforcements, consisting of 150 military police under Captain Keary, commanding the Shwebo battalion of military police 50 Sepoys, arrived at Kawlin on the 19th inst.j raising the garrison there to 270 men. The reinforcements arrived in the nick of time. Captain Keary found that a strong attack from three sides was being made on Kawlin by a considerable body of insurgents. This was the fourth time that

Kawlin had been attacked. The insur- J gents had captured the courthouse when Captain Keary who arrived unperceived, I charged the insurgents, driving them ! back into the jungle, where they held an entrenched position. It required three attacks to dislodge them from this | position. In the fortifications 25 dead • were found, including the leader of the 1 Tsawbwa's troops. Many of the insurgents were wounded. Our loss in this affair was two killed and 10 wounded. The insurgents are reported to be concen- ! trating at Wunchotown.. „The Tsawbwa's troops have burned several frontier villages in our territory. s Brigadier-general Wolseley, C.8., left Mandalay to take command of the operations in Wuntho. The column from Shwebo attacked the rebels near Okupho, killing over 50 and wounding many more and capturing a quantity of rifles and \ ammunition. Our loss was three Europeans killed and 10 wounded. Our force now at Kawlin numbers 600, including 200 Europeans. It advances immediately on the town of Wuntho, which is said to be held by 700 men. The Tsawbwa is reported to be stockaded with another body of men four miles from Wuntho. Another column marches to attack the Tsawbwa to.day. Many of the villagers from across the Wuntho border, who were ordered by the Tsawbwa to stockade' their villages, have asked leave to come in to Kawlin. Captain Hastings, of the 4th Burmah regiment, has inflicted a severe punishment on the Panehaung Chins, who recently committed numerous raids and attacked the Yawdwin post. Several villages were captured, three Burmese captives recovered, and 22 Chins were killed and two Sepoys and two coolies injured by the Chins, who rolled down boulders and fired the grass. A Rangoon correspondent reported on 25th February as follows— Wuntho has been occupied by Major Smyth's mounted infantry without opposition. Major Smyth reports that when the troop 3' arrived there the Tsawbwa'a palace was being strongly stockaded. It has since been set on fire and destroyed. The villagers are now returning in large numbers and laying down their arms. The Tsawbwa is believed to have fled to Pinlebu, whither the column is now proceeding. Captain Hutchinson, advancing to Kawlin from Yeu, found himself confronted by a strong stockade, held by the rebels, near Okham. An assault was ordered, and the position was captured after five hours' fighting. The enemy lost 27 killed. Captain Hutchinson was severely wounded in the thigh. Dacoits have attacked a village six miles south of Bhamo, inflicting considerable damage and carrying off four women.