THE ASHANTEE WAR.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3927, 15 October 1873, Page 3

THE ASHANTEE WAR.

The Colonial Office has not shown to advantage in its preparations for the Ashantee war. There has been a lack of information, and a tardiness, wliich might have led to great disaster but for the bravery of the few troops, who drove back the invaders, although outnumbering them by ten to one. All accounts say that the Ashantees at Elmina fought with skill as well as courage. The general who commanded them has been superseded, and since beheaded, aa is the common fate of unsuccessful generals in that country. Prince Ossoo Ansoll, an uncle to the Ashantee King, but educated in England, has supplied to "The Times" an account of the organisation of the King's army : — "The present King is named Koffee Calcalli, and is eighth of his dynasty, a light man, scarcely darker than a Spaniard, and of some ability, but no ediacation. He can bring into the field about 100,000 men, commanded usually by their own princes, under a kind of feudal arrangement, but he has trained generals also, who accompany him in his battles. His men are armed with long muskets, short carbines, and pikes, are divided into regiments, and are fed usually by the King, who has enormous wealth in the way of provisions. The King's revenues -are derived principaUy from his gold-mines, and a royalty over

the gold belonging to his subjects." By the latest accounts, he was still within 12 miles of Cape Coast Castle.