The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-30
Tho Scene Of Conflict.

Advlces from Cachar, India, the scene OF the
British army expedilonary muster, dated in the
early days OF December. 1871, speak OF the L0oshai
country. which the British were about to invade,
IN the following words:-The Loosnai country ID
as much terra fncognitG as Abysslnla as wild as
and more denselv wooded than New Zealand, and
as pestilent as Bhutan. I hope that the success
which followed us IN Abyssinia, te duce Nag
ddia, may not fail US here, the same leader hav-
Ing planned the Operatlons and that the disasters
OF New Zealand and Bhutan may nave no parallel.
The Looshas are not likely to emulate The Maoris,
who fought their tomahawks against English bay
onets; and In Bnutan 1t was pestilence and famine
rather than the Bhuteas that did battle against
ENGLISH COMMIssARIAT CARE.
Warming has been taken from the events
OF our two former campaigns In thaG
''devll's country" Bhutan Each English
soldier has been supplied with good
sized waterproof sheet, Two of which joined to-
gether by the eyelet holes, with which
they are furnished, can De made into q
tent d'abf. after the French fashion, sufficiently
large to hold three or four men, the sheet OF the
third man forming waterproof nocr The coolies
have also been supplied with large sheets In the
proportion OF one to four men. This will have the
best effect in keeping the men In health and spirits;
for nothing damps the ardor OF men on army SER
vice more than neavy rain, and heavy rain Is to be
expected about Christmas.
COOLIE ALLIES AND CONTINUED PREPARATIONS.
Cachar Is all alive with the hustle of preparation
for a smart British campaign.
The Fortyfourth Assam light infantry has arrived,
coming up the river In boats from Sylher
several detachmenJs Of coolies have come In
looking well and fl for work, most OF the men being
well set up, powerful fellows. capable Of carrying
with ease the very moderate load assigned to them,
1t cannot be said that government has erred on the
side OF economy in not attempting to overload
these men. Instead or fOot-sOre, weary overloaded
wretcbes eager TO get away and ready to
drop from fatigue. they Will have body
OF active men, SO lightly laden that their
days work will be as nothing 10 what they are &C.
customed to at home. 1t will be done with cheer.
1uness ana alacrity, and the chance is that not
man Will break down. This in the end will prove
to be real economy and the transport service ought
to go on smoothly and pleasantly.
1t is intended that as much as possible of the
heavy stores, reserve provisions and ammunition
Shall be sent up the river by boat to
Mynadhur, the British frontier outpost;
ana from thence-n depth of water
and the Looshais permit-to TIpai Mookh, where
the advanced English depot IS to be established In
the first instance. WsrlKe spirits among the Euro
Dean officers predict that tney shall find this post
strongly stockaded and stOutiy defended; but '.the
wish" Is PROBABLY 'father to the thought" and
people VINO know or profess to know, the Looshas,
think such an event extremely unlikely. Indeed,
already deserted, and that the people are taking
refuge in the junges. either from fear or more
THE EUROPEAN ADVANCE.
written despatch, dated at point still near
to the scene Of batte-ln the last hours OF
the month OF DecemDer-repOrts The left or
Cachar column, under General Bourchier, ap-
pears to have had the toughest work. To-
thickest jungle The elephants could not move un-
I'll the Goorkhas mad cleared the way. The police
corps are placed under the General and so disposed
throughout The district 10 prevent surprise Mr.
Edgar, the commissioner, sent messages to a
friendly Looshai CHIEF, but could get no answer.
column, had pushed on beyond Demagir Falls to
the Syloo country, and would probably turn to the
northwest TO unite with General BOurchier.
rhe only trouble appears to have been the loss OF
coolies by cholera, Tor which the Bengal govern
without medical oversight on two river flats I'M
suited for the accommodation of more than half the
BouRcuIER's UNIFORM IN THE FIELD
General HOurcnier and the officers OF his staff were
photographed in all the glories OF spiked helmets
now all these brave adornments have been
ruthlessly packed away until their return
day. neat costume OF Norfolk Jacket and
knckerbOckers made OF brown canvas, with yellow
leather seams and lnnumerabe pockets, the waist
encircled by plain brown belt stuck full OF pistols
and daggers Is now the correct thing; It is chasue
In the extreme and combines In one garment
little OF Fra DavOl0 with strong touch OF the Eng
lish cOaheaver.
Add to this a close-cropped head and stubbly
chm and there stands the typical o1icer OF the
British LOoshai Field Force
THE TELEGRAPH.
At present O telegraph line as far as Tipai MOokh
ONLY has been decided upon; but the field party is
provided with thirty ad tional miles OF light WIRE
and 1t to be hoped that full line OF field tele-
graph will be found practicable. People unac-
quainted with these districts will hardly appreciate
the difficulties that have had to he encountered in
obtaining boats, coolies and transport AMI tele-
graphs generally.
THE COST
The original estimate OF fl0o,000 as the cost OF
the English expedition has already grown into one
OF Goo, 700 or f25000