The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-20

has made almost superhuman efforts 70 render
emcient aid to the column under Sir Garnet;
FOR no i've ofacers on Sir Garnets stan could
have done half 40 much as Glover has done
stngie-handed, and Dir Garnet Wolseey, brill
ians - ne may be, could not have done
more. The best General In the British service
placed In che same circumstances as Glover found
bimsef-retarded oy native procrastin alton,
against which ssta6 OF ten onlcsrs found It hope
less to contend, yet commanded by Sir Garnet per-
emptoriiy to be at certain point at given date
could not nave done more than Captain Glover has
done. Twenty-Five thousand native Atrtcans are
not to DO moved by ten Englishmen with thu
punctuality with which Sir Garnet Wolseley ana
$50 onicsrs can move 1000 Europeans. Sir Garnet
woiseiey needs but to telegraph to Sir Archibald
Allison. In charge OF the European brigade ,Bring
up your brigade to the Prah by such an hour. and
Sir Garnet Woseey may retire to bed confident that
the hour be. named would behold the european
brigade marching before his headquarters. Bus
neither kilograms, letters, peremptory commands
nor stormy threats would avail Sir Garnet against
$4,000 native Afr.caps, even though his $50 orcers
assisted him In the writing OF them. rl4,a 7.
AN ESCORT AND INVASION. ai si f,-
Sir Garnet sent the Ashantee Ambassadors early
this morning across the Prah, In charge OF the
naval brigade, who were in complete marching
order. After escording them some distance ON
their road the brigade was halted short time, and
then marched bacx 90 Its camp on this side. hav.
ing sufficiently performed the act OF invasion In
presence of the Kings messenger who would. no
doubt, bear speedily 70 the King the unpleasant
tidings of white men being on Ashantee soil This
act may impress the King with the necessity for
instant action. or induce him to listen with willing
ear to the terms Of the ultlmltum which
the English General has despatched to King
KofYee by his messenger II he dectfes on iu-
slant action Sir Garnet will have drawn down
on him the enemy before he Is prepared to receive
him. while every man capable OF bearing arms will
be Impressed throughout the Ashantee kingdom
for hnal effort of resistance either at the Adansi
hills or around Coomassie. The General may have
acted wisely in having permitted the Ambassadors
to return. We who are in the dark respecting his
intentions fail to see the wisdom OF the act at
present. general less respected Tor his military
skill and his keen penetrative faculties tnan Sir
Garnet Is might be credited with lack OF con.
ndence In himself for resOrting to such tricks 90
demonstrating the mechanical powers Of the Cat
ling and sen ling the Ambassadors home to terrify
the King with an exaggerated description OF the
formidable weapons the white men possess; he
might be said to be slightly discouraged by the
failure OF his transport and the wholesale desertioa
OF his carriers and to hope by vhis means to avert
catastrophe or che chance OF one. But Sir
Garnet nas the confidence OF us ALL and he may
commit the absdrdest things without incurrtng the
contempt or the distrust OF any one.
POSITION OF THE BRITISH TROOPS. -
sff Garnet has, however, done more than dts
NAV his stsee army for che benent OF the Ashsntes
Ambassadors on tx other side Of the Prah. His
advance force is at EssiSman thirteen mites beyond
the Prah, under Major Russs., apd Lieutenant Lord
CHORD who have orders not TO halt autl they have
surrounded the Adanst hills. The latter 0mcers
who has distinguished himself already BY his IRE
less energy nils the dangerous but honorable post
OF chief of the scouts. The day before yesterday,
as his men plunged through the bush, he encoun-
tered few Ashantee spies. which resulted In the
death OF one Of the enemy and wound received
by one OF his Kassu scouts. They rested at Essia.
man last night establishing post, and to-day will
move on to Akrofroom. ten miles beyond, stock.
aiding each station as they arrive as convenient
and suitable places. ,ti. --.r.s r.
redoubt is being constructed at the other end
Of the bridge, as tete- dupont and the bridge,
am happy to say is an accomplished fact An
ample piece Of ground is to be cleared On the other
side OF the Prah, and the telling OF gigantic trees
with their after-consumptiOn by nre, affords In
teresting sight.
"CHEER. BOYS. CHEER"
The sailors OF the naval brigade are the happtest
fellows IN camp. II one may Judge BY the hilarious
sounds which issue from their quarters at night.
They have q copious repertoire OF ballads and
songs with which they charm evenings which
otherwise would be exceedingly dull They are
marched in couples through the camp during the
day for many purposes, but the mere sounds OF
their regular footsteps are cheering, while they
sometimes enliven their work with q welI-sung
song and chorus. .. u,..
THE TRANSPORT BUSINESS
daily assumes more serious proportions. Colonel
Eviyn Woods regiment and the Second West
Indians have been converted into carriers while
an o1hcer mas gone with detachment Of police to
stir up the chiefs assist the General to procure
supply bearers. Two advancing white regiments
have been halted on the road and the Twenty third
Fusileers have been ordered not to disembark.
Any way we look az it, the failing OF our transport
Is serious, aud 1t absorDs the attention
OF the General and his stan You will recolect how
often my letters have touched upon this subject Of
transport in Africa. Only travellers who have I'M
dergone the same annoyances can appreciate the
importance attached to the transport question.
Sir Garnet placed mis- whole faith and reliance In
the Fantees. He mustered, after considerable
trouble, q force Of 5000 bearers; he fed and paid
them by the day, but he gave no further heed to
them; he never thought 1t necessary to see that
they did not desert him. ANY traveller In Africa
couid have told him that 1t was mistake to pay
the Fantees by the day; that the natural indo-
lence OF the natives would prove serious impedi-
ment to their permanent employment when
tney had the means to support themselves
without labor for long time after receiving
o few shillings OF their pay. Any traveller
could have told him that unless he unremittingly
kept watch over them Sir Garnet could never re-
tain them after impressng their services for hard
labor distastelul TO the native nature. ANY trav-
eller could have told Sir Garnet that he could
never be OF their services II he did not either
chain them in gangs or set aside q force Of armed
men 10 superintend them who would be held re-
sponsible for any desertion. And any traveller