The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-26 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 26, 1853

EXCESSIVE MORTALITY AMONGST THE

TROOPS IN BURMAH.

TO THE EDITON. OP THE EXPRII3II.

SlR,—The question as to the prudence of the war
in Burmah is now absorbed in the greater question,
in what way this war is to be terminated. It ap-
pears to be now admitted by all parties, that the
acquisition of territory on that side of India where
Burmah is situate is of no advantage to us, and can
only be retained at an expense which can never be
reimbursed by the conquered country ; and whether
the war in its origin was either politic or just, there
can be no question that its conduct hitherto has been
such as to reflect no credit on our arms, has caused,
by the procrastinating spirit of its commander, the
destruction of vast numbers of our soldiers by the
evil effects of climate, and has placed this country in
a difficulty so great, that to advance or retreat is
equally embarrassing.
The natives of the East possess little courage and
less truth, but they are supple, cunning, pertinacious;
and they have never failed to take advantage of any
check in the progress of our arms. It is to be greatly
feared that the conduct of the war in Burmah has
produced the usual effect on the mind of the enemy ;
and that in the recent negociations between the
agents of the King of Ava and the East India Com-
pany, no other object was intended by the Burmese
but to enable them to make preparations for more
effectual resistance, while the inevitable effects of
climate should continue to work destruction amongst
our troops. But the great question still presses—
What is to be done ? It is reported that the Gover-
nor-General has directed that we are not to advance
unless attacked. This can
hardly be believed.
The Governor-General cannot be ignorant that

in the twelve months ending an the 31st
day of March 'hat, the three regiments of her Ma-
jesty's soldiers now serving in that pestilental cli-
, mate lost, by its effects alone, 26 per cent. of its
mean strength—that in these three regiments one
man on the average died every other day, and that
the number of men who have died in these regiments
alone during this period amounts to morn than
seven hundred, whilst many of the officers are com-
pelled to live in places little better than pigsties, at
an expense equal to the rent of palaces. Nor can the
Governor-General be ignorant that this fearful mor-
tality is not much more than half what obtained in the
Burmese war of 1824-26, whilst the climate is pro-
bably exactly the same as it was 29 years ego. Again,
then, it must be asked what is to be done ? To suffer
our troops to remain where they are is to subject them
to misery and destruction. They will not be attacked
probably until the enemy believes them to be so
much weakened that their destruction will be easy.
To go on to A% a will be difficult, as the country, is so
impracticable, and the Burmese now know how to
take advantage of it, and keep clear of us in places
where discipline and science give us the advantage.
Still there appears to be no extrication from the
dilemma but to proceed, and we must again adopt
the policy which has so long prevailed in India, of
deposing the present king, who is so unreasonable
as to refuse his sanction to our holding the most valu-
able portion of his kingdom, and setup another in
his place, who will at least promise to reim-
burse us that portion of our expense which
gold can restore. Having committed the error
of beginning the war, are we to proceed ?
Are we to shut our eyes to the morality of the ques-
dire, and es in many other cues set up a crea-
Imre of the company as a prince in name only, to be
approached with signs of reverence, but who will not
rthe slightest authority in the government of
egseeistry over which he will seem to preside ? At
all mats something must be done, and that imme-
diately. The old gentleman who now commands our
forces in Burmah must be relieved from his duties,
the force must be augmented, and some measures
taken, either by advance or retreat, which would re-
lieve our troops there from the certain progress of
disease and death.—Yours, BENGAL EE