The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-11-21 00:00:00

KING THEEBAW TO BE DEPOSED.

A Renter's despatch from Rangoon, dated Satur-
day says:
A British proclamation to the Burmese people has
been issued.
It assures them that none will be molested in the
enjoyment of their privileges, in their commercial
pursuits, or in the exercise of their religious duties.
Buddhism will remain the religion of the country.
All native civil and military officers will be retained
provisionally, on condition that they continue faith-
fully to discharge their duties.
_ _

Xt the same time all are warned that the killing or
maltreatment of any British soldiers will entail a
heavy fine.
The district officers are instructed to look no longer
to the Hlootdaw or the Mengyees at Mandalay for
orders, and they are assured that no harm will befall
them through compliance with these instructions.
Theebaw, concludes the proclamation, will never
rule the country again.
General Prendergast has arrived at Thayetmyo.

The Indian regiments which have been diEem-
barked at Rangoon for the campaign are the 2nd
(Queen's Own) and the 11th Bengal Native infantry,
which have been brought from Barrackpore and Cal-
cutta, and five battalions of the Madras Army— tho
Ist Pioneers and the 12th, from Bangalore; the 21st,
from Trichinopoly (ordered some time since to
Toungoo,.in British Burmah) ; the 23rd Wallaiahad
Light infantry, from Seetabuddee ; and the 25th,
lately stationed at Bellary. All save the last corps
have had campaigning experience, the Pioneers having
served in the Pegu campaign of 1852. Two mountain
batteries of Puniaub and Bombay artillery and some
Madras Sappers complete the native force specially
employed. These, with two European batteries and
the three European battalions specially engaged,
added to the European and native troops forming
the ordinary garrison, make the full total of General
Prendergast's command about 11,000 men.;
A number of " sinkers " have been despatched from
Calcutta to blow up the obstructions on the Irra-
waddy. These are being replaced by a reserve supply
from Woolwich. The "sinkers" consist of gun cotton,
enclosed in water-tight cases of iron. These will be
fired by electricity from the shore. The British
attacking force against Burmah will consist of 10,000
troops, including 7000 infantry, the remainder being,
made up of Royal Artillery, Commissariat and Trans-
port, Royal Engineers and Naval Brigade. A tele-
graph troop will also accompany the force and keep
up communication with the Government. At present
it takes two hours to transmit a message from Ran-
goon to London, and four hours from Thaya Myo, the
military frontier station 350 miles from Rangoon,
where a considerable number of British troops are
already stationed.

CAPTURE OF A BURMESE WAR STEAMER
The following is a copy of a telegram received on
Sunday at the Admiralty from Captain Woodward,
H.M.S. Turquoise, dated
"RANGOON, Nov. 15 (7.20 a.m.)
(Urgent:)
" No. 3 King's war vessel captured at Simbourgweh
by armed launch Kathleen and Irrawaddy under
Clutterbuck, after sharp encounter with Fort.
"Robert Hutchinson, Turquoise, wounded."