THE BURMESE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1778, 19 December 1885, Page 8

THE BURMESE WAR.

The British Cabinet held a meeting at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury on November 10, and after King Thee* baw's ultimatum was read, declared war against Burmah with the Queen's sanction. The French Government and Burmese Minister resident at Paris notified that all foreign subjects remaining in Burmah are required to come into the British lines. The first military operation will be the bombardment by one ironclad of flotilla of the Neambla Forts. Adyices from Calcutta of November 11 state that King Theebaw had ordered all Englishmen in Burmah to be exterminated. It was feared that all Europeans at Mandalay had already been massacred. The

Burmese had blocked the Irawaddy River at Minhla. The of France makes a violent attack on England, saying that the British expedition to Burmah is really aimed at France, and urges M. De Freycinet to unite with Russia to stop England's territorial aggrandisement. Advices from Mandalay of the 12th state that the Burmese have detained a steamer at that place to bring away Europeans. They have threatened to burn her if she attempts to leave, and foreigners are not allowed to go. King Theebaw has issued a proclamation that he will not accept the absurd propositions of the Indian Government, which were as follow :—(1): — (1) Reception with all honour of an envoy to discuss the difficulty with the trading company, (2) suspension of all proceedings against the company until the dispute has been investigated by the envoy, and (3) that he the King shall receive at Mandalay a permanent Biitish Agent with a suitable guard. He therefore declared war. He promised personally to lead his troops, and called upon his subjects to fight for the defence of their country and religion. Europeans would not be molested till the invaders crossed the frontier, when all would be slain. Many Europeans left Mandalay unmolested. The British Consul remained. The British expeditionary force, tinder General Prendergast, crossed the frontier of Burmah on Sunday, November 15. The flotilla comprises 45 steamers, flats, and floating batteries, the latter being fitted out upon six of the largest barges. Each of the floating batteries carries two 60-pound howitzers, and is attended by armed launches. Twelve 25-pound siege guns are mounted on the steamers. The force numbers 1000 men, 7000 camp followers, 500 mules, and two elephant batteries. Armed steam launches from the British steamers Kathleen and Irawaddy captured one of King Theebaw^s vessels on the 15th, opposite Fort Sembaurgwick, after a sharp encounter with the works thereon. A few British officers were wounded. A slight skirmish had also taken place between a small body of British troops and the Burmese frontier guards. The latter fled< No casualties occurred. It is said that when the British opened fire upon the* Burmese war vessel 200 of the crew jumped.overboard.

Despatches from Rangoon state that the inhabitants of districts where -no large garrisons are maintained are greatly alarmed over the reports tha£ King Theebaw has subsidised 1500 Dacotas to cross the frontier and begin plundering and murdering at the first note of war. The Dacotas are robbers who work in large gangs, and are noted for their bold exploits. On the 19th the British force carried the forts in the vicinity of Minhla, and captured 'the city after three .hours' fighting between the floating batteries and armed launches and heavy guns on board the steamers. The British lost four men killed and 27 wounded. Some shells accidentally, s,et fire to the town, and it was partially destroyed. The place was strongly garrisoned by General Prendergast. As Minhla was the most strongly fortified position on the river, by its capture the way was cleared for the British advance to Mahdalay, as the forts of Ava, 12 miles 'from the Burmese capital, are only slight structures in comparison. , The latest despatch" from Rangoon on November 2 states that the British expeditionary torces had captured Mogwe, a town of Burraah on the Irrawaddy, 135 miles above Prome. Among the prisoners taken were three Italian officers serving in the Burmese army. General Pre'ndergast is now at Menibo, and fighting is expected at Sagaing.