The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-13
And Threatens to Burn the Steamer Sent to
Mandalay for the Purpose Of Bring
ing Away Foreign Residents.
Fighting Strength and Peculiar Char
acteristics of the Burmese Army.
King Thebaw Declares War and Announces
that Invasion Will Be Followed by
Massacre of Europeans-Cab Notes.
THE WAR IN BURMAH.
The Burmese Refuse to Permit Europeans
Leave the Country.

The Burmese Refuse to Permit Europeans to
| Leave the Country.
| RANGooN, Nov. 12.-Advices just received
| from Mandalay state that the Burmese have de-
| tanned the steamer which sent to Mandalay
| to bring Europeans, and threaten to burn her if
she attempts to leave. The foreigners are not
allowed to leave Mandaay.
| The British expeditonary force under General
| Prendergast will cross the frontier of Burmah
on Sunday next The Aotilla is now ready, and
comprises forty five steamers fats and floating
batteries, the latter being fitted out from six of
| the largest barges. Each Of the floating bate
| ries carries two six-pounder howitzers, and
attended by armed launches. Twelve twenty
| fve-pounder siege guns are mounted on the
steamers. The force numbers 10. 600 men, 1000
camp followers, 500 mules and two elephant
batteries.
| 1t is stated that the strength of the Burmese
| standing army is about 10, 900, which, however,
| can be considerably increased by irregular and
| temporary levies. The army is almost altogeth-
| er without cavalry The constitution of the reg
ular force is somewhat like the linked battalion
| system of the British infantry. two bodes each
500 strong, being linked into something equal to
''bogyi," under whom are officers termed blood
drinkers These officers are very deficient in
| military training. When in the field the Bur-
mese army is rapid in movement, and quickly
forms intrenchments, excavating holes to obtain
shelter both from the enemys fire and from the
weather. The Burmese are regarded as adopts in
river fighting. There are number of war boats
on the Irrawaddy, mainly supplied by towns
and villages along the river, which are under OBJ
legation to provide certain number of boats,
with their crews of rowing and fighting men,
from fifty to seventy of whom are carried by
each boat
In the last Burmese war great deal of annoy
ance was caused the English by fre-boats
freighted with highly infammabe material.
Comparatively little difficulty in dealing with
the river craft is now experienced Transport
was provided by the Irrawaddy Flotilla Com
pany, all of whose available steamers AID flats
were hired by the British government The
steamers are paddle wheeled, of 500 tons burden.
shallow in hull and light in draught, with high
upper decks, on which guns are carried. These
vessels were constructed in parts on the Clyde,
and put together at Rangoon. The steamers
tow couple of flats, one on each side; the lat
ter, with their corrugated iron awnings. resem-
BILE huge floating sheds, and are each ca
pablo of carrying nearly 600 men.
with a large quantity of stock.
| the passage from Raneoon to Mandalay in ten
| days. The distance is SOP miles; from Rangoon
| to Thayetmay, 240 miles three days.; Thayet-
| may to Ava. 250 miles; Ava to Mandalay. twelve
| miles The river swarms with craft. and is
| igable only by daylight For nine miles above
| Thayetmay the river is mile and half broad
| with villages and houses lining the banks of the
| winding stream. Minhla, which contains 5000
| iEha btants completely commands the river, and
| until it is taken no advance beyond the town
| can be made. A fort of modern construction
| and scientific design occupies a high, command
| ing position. and its wellformed earth works
| are tolerably well mounted with guns of m odern
| caliber. Above Minha the river gradu ally
widens to much as four miles, but it is very
| shallow, and the navgable channel is known
| only to experienced pilots