The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-11-28 00:00:00

THE WAR IN BURMAK

The following despatch has been received at the
India Office from the Chief Commissioner, British
Burmah. It is dated Nov. 21 :

"No further news from General Prendergast. Press
correspondents telegraphed from Magwe, 20th, taken
chiefly by Chitterbuck with naval brigade, after
slight resistance. Three Italians captured. Army
proceeding up river. Headquarters reached Membo.
Next engagement expected at Sagaing."
(Iteuter's Telegram.)
-4' RANGOON, Nov. 21.
A naval brigade has been landed at Magwe, and
has captured two': Italians named Commotto and
Barberini. The British headquarters have been trans-
ferred to Menbo.

•
The following telegrams were issued from the thdia
Office:

"From Viceroy, Nov. 21, 1885.
"Expedition reached Yenangyaung. Little oppo-
sition beyond Minhla."
"From Chief Commissioner, British Burmah, Nov.
23, 1885.
"Expedition reached Silemyo on 21st. No sign
of enemy. No further casualties reported on our
side."

"From Chief Commissioner, Rangoon, Nov. 23,
1885.

"A correspondent telegraphs: Health of troops
excellent. Wounded officers doing well. Garrison
left in Yenangyaung forts. Wounded Burmans in
our hospital. Villagers returning to their houses."
(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

CALCUTTA, Nov. 23.
It is now officially denied that any restrictions have
been placed on the dispatch of Press telegrams from
Burmah.

The meagreness of the news which reaches India is
accounted for by the defective state of the telegraphic
communications owing to heavy rains, and the rapidity
of the British advance.

Nov._ 24, 7.30 a.m.

The Bombay Gazette to-day states that the Indian
Government is making arrangements for the conduct
of the Administration of Burmah after the annexation,
and has also ordered the necessary plant for the
consttuction of railways throughout the Provinces

The Central News on Wednesday said :—"Up to
last night no further news of importance had reached
the India Office from Burmah. The Anglo-Indian
forces are expected to reach Mandalay within the
next 48 hours. No serious opposition is anticipated,
the city being completely commanded by an un-
fortified hill. In anticipation of the speedy conclu-
sion of the war, Lord Dufferin has made arrange-
ments for immediately carrying on the government
of the country. An understanding has likewise
already been arrived at with China, whereby the
facilities for English trade through Burtrah will be at
once afforded."

Sileymo, on the Itrawaddy, where the British force
has now reached, is very nearly half-way between
Thayetmyo, on the British frontier, and Mandalay.
It is close to the ruins of Pagan, one of the ancient
capitals of Burmah. The city was destroyed by the
Chinese in 1284 by an invading army descending the
Irrawaddy. The advance of our force thus far has
been very rapid, and with nothing worth spelking of
in the way of opposition. Yenangyaung, which has
been passed by the expedition, is on the left bank of
the Irrawaddy. The name means the "stream of
smelling water," from the oil which gets into it from
some petroleum wells in the neighbourhood. These
wells are worked by the natives in a very primitive
fashion, and the oil is sent away in boats.