KING PREMPEH'S VISITORS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5463, 15 January 1896, Page 2

KING PREMPEH'S VISITORS.

STORIES OF THEIR VOYAGE TO ASHANTEE. "A CORPORAL'S GUARD OP ARCHANGELS." [FROM OUE LONDON CORRESPONDENT]. London, Dec. 6. The correspondent of the Central News who went out to Ashantee with the first batch of officers and stores for the campaign against King Prempeh, has -sent the following amusing letter home. Writing on .board the Angola, he says : — Upon this ship there are about twenty officers, every one of whom has seen active service, some in India, others in Afghanistan-, others again in. Egypt. They are all ardent and seasoned, and were re-vaccinated four years ago. Nevertheless, forth went the order, which was, of course, plaintively obeyed. One gallant gentleman, the nephew of a distinguished judge, who received, his marching orders late, found himself witti juss time enough to secure his kit before starting for the Mersey. There was no time to go to the hospital, but still, true to an. .English officer's fidelity to discipline, he used his last hour in Liverpool to be vaccinated. All this was very well for a day, but, oh ! THE EXQUISITE TORTURE . of the day following, when the subtle forces of the vaccine began cunningly to declare themselves. The Angola left the Mersey on Saturday, and on. Sunday the curious, if not pathetic, spectacle was witnessed of a gallant colonel, a full major, a. dozen captains anda group of lieutenants biting their moustaches in; muffled anger as each rubbed his left arm gently up and down.- With mutual sympathy the colonel and the major condoled with: one another; the QaptaMs iii,a rebellious: mood, born; of inability to get squarely into their jackets,' talked of " : . rediape' " | ands lieutenant con-, deinnißd'.fo sl bed on»€h.B's6fa-l>eeAuglit tko doctor to if give me something to stop this infernal plague." - ifc was generally agreed all round that if Sir Evelyn Woodand the Army medical officers : could <be only just sent to sea in a West African coaster inbad weather, in. unavoidably . overcrowded cabins, and suffering from, the after-effects, of vaccination, . there would henceforth <be one," fad " the fewer at the War Office. ,Of the pioneer force of . non-commissioned officer? under Captain King, nine are ;tomperance men, . All the officers drink water, with but a handful of exc6ptums, and these are satisfied with a small bottle of beer ; at lunch or dinner, or a. whisky hot before turning in. Local option, in short, is in full swing, here. There is AN- AMUSING BTORT ; : ' on board concerning Sir Evelyn Wood and, ,a certain gallant officer who is not with us,' though his name is on the passenger list. He was actually appointed to an important position, but demurred at some purely, technical point of seniority. Sir Evelyn. ■Wood was not in the humour to hear 4ny, quibbling of that or any other character,, so he replied with an* emphatic thump |0n the table, "By heaven,. sir, you shan't go now ; no, not if a corporal's guard of • arch-i angels came on your, behalf." > And there, the spirited interview- ended. ■ The officer' left the roonvof the-Quartermaster-General, ' and someone else is coining out in the next or succeedingboati %•. . ; •..'-■'.-. • Alluding to Prince^ Henry of , Batt«n^ : berg, the ,Qhrov!ich says he goes, out to Ashantee purely as a volunteer, without rank, pay oir' allowances. He is, in fact, ] going, as the- army saying has it, "ifor , a medal , or (Sr ; bullet." ■•: But (adds the ' CHroni^li) h& would 'appear td come under.' ±ha War; Office, decision/ invented'f or the :. speciftlbehobfof correspondents, /that medals'; cannot b© given to' gentlemen who join an | expedition, "for. their .own purpose*,.'* ]