A DASHING EXPLOIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9160, 15 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A DASHING EXPLOIT.

The recapture of Monifrom the rebel leader Twek-nga-lu in the beginning of May is a good example of what rapid and determined action will do with a semi-civilised enemy. The relieving party under Colonel Sartorius, of the Ist Beloochees, started at daybreak, in a downpour of rain, from a village in the hills to the west of Mont-. About two miles from the town Mr. Scott, the assist-ant-superintendent of the Shan States, with Lieutenant Fowler of the Beloochees and eix men of the Ride Brigade, mounted on officers' ponies, went off from the main column to make a dash on the palace. Mr. Scott had been in Mont- several times before, and was able to take the party by a jungle-path round the south of the town. From there they galloped straight on the palace, disregarding the armed men in the streets. The eastern gate was fortunately ajar, so that it was not necessary to dislnount. The clatter of the hoofs brought to a window. Mr. Scott knew him by siejht, and with the assistance of a soldier, had the rebel tied to his own bedpost within two minutes of entering the palace enclosure, which is over a hundred yards square and full of detached houses Twek-nga-lu had a repeating ritle loadexi with sixteen cartridges lying by his bedside, but had not time to seize it. Ihe tour gates were then closed and guarded by one man each,and anotherguarded Twek-nga-lu. Mr. Scott and Mr. Fowler, and the corporal of the party, then went to meet the bodyguard of twenty men all armed with guns. Mr Scott demanded the name of die leader, whoprovedtobeTwek-nga-lu's chief fighting man. He then announced who he was, and called on them in Shan to sit down, advancing all the time. Kun-sang, the leader, refused; whereupon Mr. Scott promptly knocked him down, seii'.cd the gun of the man behind him, and shouted out that he would shoot anyone who did not sit down immediately. The corporal and Mr. Fowler each covered his man as lie came on. Bo fore the Shans could realise the situation rive had been disarmed and the rest then Lrave in. Messrs. Scott and Fowler each collected all the guns and swords, the corporal kneeling in the Hythe position ready to lire. In rive minutes the palace was completely in their hands and the main column was heard firing to the north of the town. A quarter of an hour later they marched into the palace and found everything settled. Twek-iiLra-lu bound and his chief leaders under guard. When it is considered that the town was held by 400 men and that the force inside the palace outnumbered the capturing party by nearly ten to one, the affair may be considered as successful an example of prompt daring as is to be found out of a lady's romance. The capture of Twek nsra-lu is likely to have the most satisfactory results. The disturbances which broke out in the Southern Shan State? during April were mainly due to his advance and his intrigues, and now that he and his [chief leaders have been captured, the complete establishment of peace may be anticipated. The interest of our readers in this story will net be diminished when we add that Mr. Scott was the writer of the amusing and informing articles about Burmah which appeared" over the signature "Shway Yoe" in the St. James' Gazette some time ago.—St. James' Gazette.