The Nuneaton Times. — 1875-12-25 (Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England)

THE FIGHTING IN PERAK.  The following has been received at tbe Colonial Office:—" Troops and blue jackets moving up Perak river, reached Blanja 13th without opposition. At every place white flag hoisted on our approach. Ismail and his party had left Blanja for Kinta by jungle-path; troops followed. When three • miles from Blauja Dr. Randall shot through thigh. Results of advance on Kiuta not yet known. The following details of the operations in Perak subsequent to the murder of Mr. Birch have been received Mr. Birch's mutilated corpse was brought in from the jungle by a Buggise and was buried on the 6th inst. at the back of the Residency. On the following day (Sunday) a small force, in number about 60 men, went from the Residency up the right bank of the river with the intention of destroying a stockade, which was known to exist., though its actual position had not been ascertained. Proceeding in single file, which was the only mode of progress the nature of the jungle would permit, they came unexpectedly upon the stockade, from which the Malays at once opened a well-directed fire. Captain Innee fell shot through the heart. The native police were useless. Some of thef white troops assert that they were fired into by the Seikhs in the confusion. The other two officers—Lieutenants Booth and Elliot—both being badly wounded, nothing was left but to order a retreat, which the men unwillingly effected with perfect order. Captain Innes and a private who was killed now lie buried by the side of Mr. Birch. In consequence of this disaster more troops were sent for, and the governor left Singapore for Perak. remaining there but a few days. The mouth of the Perak river was blockaded by the police steam launch, and at Dorian Sabatang, about 40 miles up the river, the highest point to which large vessels can go, the gun boats Fly and Thistle were also blockading the river. Preparations were made at the Residency for a strong expedition against the stockades, which the Malays had considerably strengthened in the meantime. The expedition, which was planned by Major Dunlope, Queen's Commissioner; Captain Stirling, of her Majesty's gun boat Thistle; and Captain Whieln, of the 10th Regiment, started about four o'clock on Monday morning, the 16th inst., and proceeded up the river in boats poled by most unwilling coolies, to within a mile of the stockade when the troops were landed, and both forces, naval and military, proceeded towards the stockade, the first rocket being tired from the boats at 9.30 sm., drawing an immediate reply. The Malays at first made a stand, but the rockets and shells proved too much for them, and when the artillery under Lieutenant Monckton brought up their 12-pounder and fired two shots the Malays fled,. . .  carrying their dead and wounded. The resistance at the next two stockades was so slight as not to be deserving of the name. Burning every house along their line of march, the troops proceeded towards Passir Sala' where the Maharajah Lila was supposed to be, the boats also advancing along the river. A well-directed fire, but luckily harmless, was corn. menced by the rebels, the boats replying with shells and rockets, of both of which the practice was admirable. The resistance here was brief; the troops rushed forward with a cheer into the now deserted stockade, the blue jackets landing about the same time. A small stockade surrounding the Maharajah Lila's house was tired at by the artillery, and his house also was bombarded. Looting and burning were then permitted."