WEST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3706, 5 April 1899, Page 3

WEST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN.

Amongst tho passengers by the West Africp.ii steamer which arrived at Liverpool ou March 2nd were Major Reacle, Captain Marsh, and nine non-commis-siouocl officers from tho Niger, and Captain Blakenev from Siqyra, Leone. The Benin left Forcaclos River on January 11. After tho severe fighting at Utah, when a number of the Niger Company’s officers wore wounded, there was a continuance of hostilities for two or three

weeks. The Niger Company's forces, which then numbered about 400, were reinforced by a company of the "West African Frontier Force, under the command of Captain .Marsh, and including several white non-comnnssioned officers. From December S until Christmas pay there were continuous operations against ibo, Ouitisha, Jdomie, Kuka, and two other places, all of which were burnt down. Ibo was the town which gave the most trouble. The British troops found the road to the town blocked by strewn trees, stones, and other obstacles. The place was attacked for three days in succession, the troops on each day attacking and destroying different part* of jt. ° Tile destruction of Ibo was complete, not a vestige of the place remaining after the third day’s operations. Kuka was afterwards destroyed as well as Ouitisha,. Ilornie, and the other places. The loss sustained by the enemy could not be estimated, but was believed to be very heavy. During the. whole three weekA operations the British had only four casualties. Two days afterwards the King of Ibo surrendered to the British, together with his followers. Ho said ho thou knew the British power, and wanted to come hack to his town and live in peace. Ho promised good behaviour for the future, and was simply fined by the British. It was thought that the Ihoes, who had for a long time been warlike and troublesome. would now live at peace. The whole of the district had been subdued. When the Benin loft Siena Leone on January 15) her Majesty’s ship Humbler was the only warship in port. Information had come down of the lighting on the Melia River on the borders of the Liberian territory between the men of the West African Regiment and Frontier Police, and: the native Libcnans under the ch'**i Kafra, v.vio hud invaded British loiritory. Iho fr>ice was under Captain Atkins a-id i upturn Blakenev, the latter of whom is district ■ commissioner at Panguina. Four large towns were taken and destroyed. Kaira was not captured, but ho and Ins men wore driven into Liberian territory, whore the British could not follow them. One corporal of the Frontier police was killed and two men wore wounded. The friendlies also sustained some loss.