The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-16 00:00:00

TLI PERSIAN EXPEDITION.

THE intelligence of the conclusion of peace having
reached Sir James Outram immediately after the
cipture of Mohammerah, orders were at once given
for a suspension of hostilities. The troops not having
permanently advanced beyond the town of Moham-
merah, they will, unfortunately, be eantoned during
the heats of summer in that pestilential town.
The same telegraph which brought this acknowledg-
ment announced the sad news of the suicide of both
General Stalker and of Commodore Etheridge, R.N.,
under a fit of mental aberration, induced by over-
excitement and the 'eat of the climate.

The verdict on General Stalker's body was, that
he came by his death from a pistol-shot inflicted by
his own hand in a fit of temporary insanity ; but
there was no paper left to indicate this, and he was
merely heard to complain that the 3rd Cavalry was
not given him, and he was also uneasy about the re-
sponsibility of sheltering the European troops during
the approaching hot weather.
The verdict on Commodore Etheridge was, that
he destroyed himselt with his own hand while suffer-
ing under mental aberration, brought about by long-
continued anxiety connected with the duties of his
command. 0

The details of the expedition against Moham-
merah appear creditable to all engaged. The
force, including about 3,300 men, of all arms,
lest only ten killed and wounded ; but there
was little shore fighting. The Moharnmerah
batteries were silenced by the fire of the steamers
and gunboats, assisted by a mortar-raft, carrying five
mortars. The following description is taken from a
camp-letter, dated Mobammerah, March 2901:
On the morning of the *2 lth all the steamers, with their
tows, got under way and steamed up the stream. A
magnificent sight it was on this noble river. The Arabs
on the Persian side came down th the banks and greeted
us as we passel with shouts of welcome. The four-gun
battery which the Persians had constructed at Buerieh
had been removed, so that our vessels passed on without
opposition, and came to anchor before the Arab village of
Hurteh, about four miles below Mohammerah. At eight
p.m. a boat was despatched to reconnoitre a small low
island, in the centre of the river, to the west of the northern
fort, with a view of planting a mortar battery there ; but
they found the spot so swampy that the project was aban-
doned. Next day, however, a strong raft was made, and
during the night was towed by the Count and planted in
position, with three bi-inch and two 8 inch mortars, under
the command of Captain Worgan. All this was effected
without attracting the attention of the enemy, and the
greatest praise is due to the officers and crew of the little
Comet, whose services in this instance, as well as through-
out the expedition, hay.: been most useful. At daybreak of
the !Itith the mortars opened fire, and great must have been
the consteication of the enemy, who could see nothing
before them to give notice of ouch a ' good morning " but
a boatload of pressed hay, moored so as to protect the raft.
Within an hour the war steamers moved up one by one,
two of them taking the Clire and Falkland in tow, and as
they came within range the batteries opened a raking fire
upon them. This was nut returned till the vessels had got
into the best position for commanding their works ; then
they blazed away in earnest, and at the distance of two miles
the scene looked like a grand display of fireworks. The
enemy fought bravely and well, hat in about two
hours their fire slackened, and the signal was hoisted
on Commodore Young's ship for the advance of the trans-
ports. One of our shells now fell upon a magazine near
the northern fort, which exploded amid the cheers of our
crews and soldiers. As the troopships and steamers
moved onward they were fired upon by two field•pieces
which the enemy had planted in the date groves below the
southern fort and also by hands of matchlockinen. A
ball from the latter came in close contact with Sir James
Outram's foot, but a lucky hookah saved it. One native,
however, was killed by a round-shot on board the Seindian,
where Sir James and his staff were. The troopships and
steamers now passed the lona, and anchored close to the

475

' banks to the south of Jaber's fort, and disembarkation of
the men, artillery, and horses was effected with great
despatch and without any opposition. A party of Scinde
Horse, only fortptive in number, under Captain M. Green,
then proceeded to reconnoitre, while our small force, con•
sisting of not more than 4,00 U men of all arms, advanced
' to meet the enemy. We passed two standing camps full
of public and private property, but the enemy was nowhere
to be seen. The Scinde Horse had .xime upon their rear-
guard in rapid retreat, and found the ground literally
covered with castaway property of all kinds. Not having
cavalry to pursue the flying Persians, our troops bivouacked
for the night on the banks of the Karam, and, learning
from a second reconnoitre that the Persian army was still
retiring, we returned to the enemy's encampment, which
we are still occupying.
The loss of the Persians in killed and wounded is esti-
mated at 200, among whom was Agha Jan Khan, a Serteep
or brigadier, whose death from the explosion of a shell in
the northern fort seems to have spread a panic among the
Persian soldiers. The Shazsdah, on hearing of it, is said
to have immediately prepared fur a retreat. Agha Jan was
a brave soldier, and the enemy's artillery was fought well ;
they stood no chance, however, against the heavy fire of
our ships.
In addition to the above loss, the enemy have left
eighteen guns and one mortar in our possession ; one of
the former bears an inscription to the effect that it was
presented to Shah Abbas by the Emperor in ISIB. They
only succeeded in taking away five pieces with them.
Seven or eight large magazines of ammunition were blown
up by the enemy over and above those which were fired by
our shells. Large sores of wheat, barley, and flour have
also fallen to us, besides two standing camps, which in
their precipitate retreat the Persians could not remove.
Through the exertions of Captain Kemhall and the Rev.
Mr. Badger. Sir James's Arabic interpreter, the Arab
tribes had been induced to remain neutral in the fight, and
they are now sending in their submission one after
another, apparently delighted at their change of masters.
It will require some tact, however, to heal their fends
among themselves. One fellow has just come in who
offers 1,000 horsemen to aid us against the Persians, but
Sir James seems loth to engage their services.
On the whole, the loss of 3lohammerah will be a severe
blow to the Persians, much more sn bee iuse the sove•
reignty of the place was in dispute between them and the
Turks, and they may fear that we shall make it over to
the latter. Besides this the loss of such accumulated
stores must be seriously felt. to say nothing of the fact
that our occupation of Mobammerah will most probably
bring the whole of the coast from this to Bushire under
our supremacy. Then, again, if Brigadier Jacob gets an
opportunity of beating the enemy before Bushire (a
chance he is not likely to lose if it comes in his way ), we
may hope that the Shah will come to terms, and that this
war will speedily come to an end.
As far as I know, it is proposed, as soon as baggages
cattle can be procured, and other necessary arrangements
made, to move this force to Akwaz, a healthy locality
bets een this and Shuster, and there to settle them for the
hot season. Every facility is available there fur housing
the men in mud huts, and our advance in that direction
will give additional confidence to the Arab tribes, and
produce a corresponding effect upon the Persian Govern-
ment.

Three small river steamers, with 300 riflemen, have left
this day for Akwaz, and should the report be favourable the
march in that direction will speedily take glace. Should
the Persian forces have taken up a position there, we may
yet have a chance of defeating them, and such a result
will, it is to be hoped, soon put an end to the present
expedition.
The advancel guard, we learn by the latest
despatches. had returned to Mohammerah, and the
intelligence of the conclusion of peace at once put a
stop to all further hostilities.