The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-01-08 00:00:00

THE OPERATIONS IN -BIIRMAH.
OCCUPATION OF THE RUBY MINES.

MANDALAY, Jan. J.

General Stewart telegraphs that the Ruby Mines
column reached Mogouk on the 29th ult. without
opposition, and that the troops are now encamped on
a ridge commanding the 'village. They found that
the village had been recently looted by the Shane
while retiring from their positions in the passes.
The despatch adds that the inhabitants of Mogouk
are peacefully disposed and are returning in large
numbers. General Stewart has received no report
regarding the mines.
MANDALAY, Jan. 2.

The Kjimindine Prince, who after his defeat by
Brigadier-General Lockhart in November last escaped
with followers, has been surprised in his camp near
Meiktela by Major Jeffreys with 100 rifles. The
Prince and 40 of his followers were killed acid a
number of tents and arms captured.
General Roberts to-day inspected the Burmese,
Shan, and Goorkha Police, and expressed himself
pleased with their appearance and the progress they
had made under European drill. The Commander-in-
Chief at the same time urged the necessity for active
recruiting.
The disarming of the natives is proceeding slowly.
Brigadier-General East will leave for Byouksai on
the 4th inst. in order to organise small columns to
scour the country south of Mandalay, to disarm the
villagers, and to hasten the progress of the railway
survey.
Colonel Fryer, Assistant-Commissioner at Tha-
yettny o, is about to start for Manipur, to discuss with
the Political Agent there the advisability of placing
part of the Chindwin district under his supervision.
Captain Elliott, with a force of Mounted Infantry
and Bombay Lancers, recently attacked and pursued
a large body of dacoits near Maithila. Fifty of the
rebels were killed and 60 captured.
Mocoux, Jan. 1.

Villagers continue to come in, and the attitude ot
the ruby merchants is friendly. A proclamation has
been issued, ordering all persons to surrender their
arms within live days, failing which coercive measures
will be resorted to. Doubts are entertained as to
whether the troops will be able to remain here, as
there is a great scarcity of food and fuel, and fever is
very prevalent among the men.
The column before reaching this place performed
a most difficult march through a defile, ascending to
a height of !Am thousand feet. They found the
enemy strongly scockacled at several places on the
roads leading to the mines. At one point the enemy's
force threatened the flank of the British advance
guards, and General Stewart thereupon ordered their
position, which was concealed by the dense junzle, to
be attacked, and it was successfully carried by Colonel
Skene with the loss of one man. The enemy's loss, as
far as ascer'ained, amounted to four killed. The re-
maining stockades were abandoned as the column ad-
vanced. _ _ _

Mr. G S. Streeter and Mr. Charles Bell, of Messrs.
Streeter and Company, and Mr. Robert Gordon, civil
engineer, who have accompanied the column, are all
in goad hea!th.

MANDALAY, Jan. 3.
A party of 604acoits attacked the police-station at
Payagale, in the district of Pegu, on the 30th ult.
Two of the police were killed and three others
wounded, while the da,coits had three killed, includ-
ing one of their leaders.