THE OLDEST ADMIRAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19698, 26 July 1927, Page 6

THE OLDEST ADMIRAL.

HALF CENTURY AFLOAT,

SIR EDMUND FREMANTLE.

NOW IN NINETY-SECOND YEAR..

' MEMORIES OF ASHANTI WAR*

[from oub own correspondent.] LONDON, June is. Sir Edmund R. Fremantle, Britain's oldest admiral, who sailed the seas for hal! a century in frigate and iron clad dreadnought, has entered upon his 92nd. year. He spent his birthday, on June 15, at his home in Lower Sloane Street, surrounded by friends both old and young, who brought him beautiful flowers. In the afternoon he entertained a number of intimate friends to a birthday party. He was greatly delighted by two Union Jacks which fluttered from an upper window of a neighbouring house. " T wo little boys who live next door have hung them out in my honour,"- he said with a happy laugh. "It is my birthday surprise.** Sir Edmund talked of the great campaigns in which he served against the Maoris, in Burma, and on the coasts of Africa. " Since you ask me for my proudest reminiscence," he said, " I tell you of the Ashanti War. It was the basis of my reputation, and my service when the war was brewing won for me the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, as well as the C.B. and C.M.G." It was 54 years ago—in 1873—when Captain Fremantle set sail for Africa in the paddle-steamer Burracouta with a handful of bluejackets and a hundred | marines aboard to face 40,000 Ashanti warriors. Gladstone had not wanted ! war, but there had been great anxiety about the position m the House of Commons, and public feeling had been strong. " Finally the . Government announced that * ample protective measures ' would ba taken at once," he went on, " and my little expedition was the result I arranged a landing to take place on June 13. I offered command of it to three officers, and each of them declined to accept, saying that they were sick.The admiral leaned forward, his eyes sparkling, and hit the table at his side with hia clenched -fist. " But I knew better," he said. " Two of these officers, when they saw afterwards that things wer« going well, recovered quickly.'* Ha described the stratagem by which ha led the Ashantis to charge his force of marines across an open plain, and recalled that their indiscretion cost them 7000 lives, against the British loss of two killed and seven wounded. " After that we held the coast for twenty miles inland until Sir Garnet Wolseley came out in October to take command,'* the veteran added. " The Ashantis neveir dared to molest us again.'!