The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-27 00:00:00

THE OPEREITIONS IN BIIRMAH.

A special correspondent in Burmah telegraphed
from Mandalay on Monday: General Roberts and
Sir C. Bernard have agreed to increase the armed
police. Special Burman levies, with two mili-
tary officers, in the East district will be raised.
There will be more Indian police also. Upper
Burmah has fewer police than are neces-
sary, even if it "ere in a regular and settled state.
The policy of starting an Administration has been
finally thrpwn overboard. The real cause of the
delay in pacifying the country will thus be remove'
No permament effect can be secured by the mere
passage of flying columns, the friendly Burmans
dreading the vengeance of the Dacoits when the
troops depart. General Roberts's policy is to have
10 or 12 columns of each brigade moving constantly,
and forming posts everywhere which the police must
occupy hereafter. The Dacoits are already feeling
the effect. They only tight in the densest jungle.
One hundred military posts are now held. More are
being created daily. There is a growing tendency on
the part of the Burman leaders to surrender, seeing
the troops everyw;Jere. It is said that the main body
of the Shuns are friendly. The predatory borderers
are still troublesome.

The following telegram has been received at the
India Office from the Commander-in-Chief at Man-
dalay: "In a night attack at Bbamo on the 14th inst.,
36,428 Gunner hail° Petty, sth Battery, Ist Brigade,
Southern Division, MA., killed; 16,297 Corporal
Laston, R.E., reported missing same night, body since
found in river much cut up ; 979 Private Hughes,
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, missing since afternoon on
14th inst.

MAND %LAY, Nov. 20.
The general health of the troops has begun to show
distinct signs of improvement.
At a conference yesterday between Sir Frederick
Roberts, Sir Charles Bernard, and Colonel White, it
was agreed that additional Indian police were neces•
sary, with a larger number of military officers, who
should be empowered to enlist and drill the local
police levies raised with the object of assisting the
Indian police in garrison work in the more unhealthy
stations. _

General Roberts inspected the TSlandalav Police to-
day, and was pleased with the appearance of the
newly-raised Burmese levies, who are already fairly
drilled. A hundred Shan police recruits were also
inspected, and it is expected that they will be valu-
able when used in concert with the Indian police.
Ihe system of operations for the winter was also
agreed upon. Flying columns will be sent out to
break up organised opposition wherever it shows itself,
but as this would afford only temporary relief, the
country relapsing into disorder as soon as the troops
had departed, a number of additional posts will be
formed, to be held by the police where these are
available, otherwise by the military pending their
arrival. . .

Captain Jones is better, the bullet having been ex-
tracted.
Colonel Stewart reports that a gang of Dacoits
have been sarrounded by mounted infantry and
cavalry, and it is expected that the whole body will be
captured.
The Forty-fourth Assam Regiment will occupy
TUIIIIIIII aud Kendat, thus freeing the garrisons on
the Chindwin river.
BnAmo, Nov. 14 (viA Mandalay, Nov. 21).
Two hundred men of the Welsh Fusiliers have left
for Katcha.
An attack was made on one of the stockades here
at midnight. A body of about a hundred men,
composed of Shan, Kachins, and Chinese,
suddenly rushed forth and carried the furthest
corner of the stockade. They killed the sentry,
and, entering the barrack, set fire to the guard-room.
The men were soon got to arms, and the assailants
repulFed. Our ca.ualties were two European soldiers
kith d and one missing, and two Sepoys killed. The
_eraiii..-left four killed and two wounded behind

purrivanced guard of the Ruby Mine Column
have had a skirmish with the enemy near Sagadaun.
Two Sopoys were severely wounded. The road is
reported to be very bad, ani it is improbable that
any advance beyond Sagadaun can be made before the
sth of December.