The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-02-21 00:00:00

THE MARCH ON COOMASSIE.

Tle Sprciel Correepondent of The 7 imes has lent the VI
lowing telegram, dated from Fomana, Jan. 58

The Ashantee meseengers were sent back by Sir G.
NVoleeley yesterday afternoon with a letter from the
Gmeral to the King. This letter, it may be assumed,
acknowledges the receipt of the European captives,
and announces the General's intention to enter Coo-
massie.

As this proceeding will be distaste fol to the Ashan.
tees, it in by Co meann improbable that they will offer
resintance. The captives inform in that in every house
in Cuomassie slaves are busy making slugs cut of
stones. It is said that the enemy have not much
powder, and the fighting, if thtre be any, can scarcely
be serious.

The amount of indemnity epalanied by Sir Garnet
bas not been made known. Toe King says that he wid
make Amangnatia pay it; hut it ought to be larger
than Amanquatis could possibly pay. The pecuni ery
reenrces of Asbantee cannot be est.mated ; but Mr.
Rsmeager believes that two horses could not carry the
g ,Id ornaments pommeled by the King and his noblee.
Mr. and Mese Rarusag-r are on their way to Cape
Coast. Mr. Bonnet will remain wth the Expedition.
I went on this morning with the Irregular troops to
Dompassie, the next village, about three miles distant.
A few Anhantees were there, but they ran away an
soon as the heed of the column appeared, under Colonel
Macleod, 42ofi Regiment, Brigadier to Wood's and
Ruseell'e Irregular Regiments, and the Houma Artillery.
They are now stationed at Dompassie. At ',omens are
the Naval Brigade, commanded by Commodore Hewett,
and the Rifle Brigade; at Wu, the first wine
of the 42nd; and at Moinsee the second wing and 100
men of the 23rd Regiment. They move on to-morrow
to Quisa, which is half a mile from Fontana. Thus, it
will be seen that the day alter to-morrow, if the
transport be In readineee, the march on C00M113310
alight be commenced. In any cage there cannot be
long delay, and in a week or ten days the whole affair
ou,Lt to bent an end.

It having been reported to the General that an
it...hintee chief we collecting troops in a village near
romans, Lord Gifford and the scouts, sureoned by
Regiment and detachments of the Naval and
Rifle Briganes, were sent to dlorige them. The
Ashantees tired on the sci rits without effect, but two
of the enemy were kil.ed and two taken prisoners.

(REPTEMS TELEGRAMS.)
CAPE COAST CASTLE, J 9.9. 29.

Sir Garnet Wolseley and the Naval Brigade erossed
the Prah on the 20th inst., the other battalions follow-
ing
them. 'I hey have reached Font ma, a large and
to portant town 30 miles from Co Jalli• ir:e, which they
expect to enter on the 1.. t of February. Lieutenant
Lord Gifferd orcupi.d the Arians' Hull. on the 17. h
teat. A party ot A.hantees in possession of the
crest AlLinch n 1 it without making any resiatmce,
p isition is one of gi e t importance, and has
beau made a stronghold for the concectrati m of
troops and supplies. The Ashantess flee from
the towns and villaves as the troops approach.
Herr K oboe arrived from Cuomassie on the 23rd
ir at. The other E aro' can captive. reached Fomeen•
the same day. The Aahantee Kicg sent messages
to them sung for peace, and promising to snake
Amehquatia pay the expenses of the war if the Prri-
tish would not go to Coomaseie. The captives say it
is impossible for the King to make any serious rt-
sistacce. The Azhantee cmtains think that some
stand should be made rathrr than submit to the
diehonour of surrendering the capital. The Ash antee
Army was dirmissed the day aft-r it returned to
Coomassie, and 270 celbas, supposed to contain re-
mains of clece.axed captains and other important
Ashantee personane from the Protecterate, were
carried to the King. The great Feiieh tree in
Coomwaie, under which all the human sacrifices
have been made for genera.i.ms' fell the same day
as Sir Garnet Wuliteley's first letter arrived in the
capital.
It is expected that the war will be terminated in time
toralow the white troops to re-embark at Cape Corset
about the let of March.
. . . . . _

reported to have had a SBA
bru,h with the enemy at • village beyond Fomsna
in which three Ashantees were killed and seven
captured.
Ciptain Mice, of the Druid, died of fever and dy•
min tery en the 2ich and was buried on shore with
all due honours. minute guns being fired by Her M.
jvaty's ship Actire and the fort.
All the troops have now been landed.

The n,t receipt of mnit fintv the year aided the
Slat of biareh hat was L7,644,17'6, beteg au increase of
At 73,11110 ou She previous year.

At A meeting of the National Anti.lncome Tax
League, held at the (. flices, 5, C:asing cross, London, on
Tuesday 'alerts lon, It was mowed by Mr. Sham, and seconded
by Mr. Buford, that at the earl lest possible moment a depu
t ‘tion Walt upon the Governmsnt to Impress upon them Is.
necessity for the repeal of the InCOMPtei Into nu sealed
unanimouly,