The Press. — 1857-05-16 (London, England)

TLI PERSIAN EXPEDITION.  THE intelligence of the conclusion of peace having reached Sir James Outram immediately after the cipture of Mohammerah, orders were at once given for a suspension of hostilities. The troops not having permanently advanced beyond the town of Mohammerah, they will, unfortunately, be eantoned during the heats of summer in that pestilential town. The same telegraph which brought this acknowledgment announced the sad news of the suicide of both General Stalker and of Commodore Etheridge, R.N., under a fit of mental aberration, induced by overexcitement and the 'eat of the climate.  The verdict on General Stalker's body was, that he came by his death from a pistol-shot inflicted by his own hand in a fit of temporary insanity ; but there was no paper left to indicate this, and he was merely heard to complain that the 3rd Cavalry was not given him, and he was also uneasy about the responsibility of sheltering the European troops during the approaching hot weather. The verdict on Commodore Etheridge was, that he destroyed himselt with his own hand while suffering under mental aberration, brought about by longcontinued anxiety connected with the duties of his command. 0  The details of the expedition against Mohammerah appear creditable to all engaged. The force, including about 3,300 men, of all arms, lest only ten killed and wounded ; but there was little shore fighting. The Moharnmerah batteries were silenced by the fire of the steamers and gunboats, assisted by a mortar-raft, carrying five mortars. The following description is taken from a camp-letter, dated Mobammerah, March 2901: On the morning of the *2 lth all the steamers, with their tows, got under way and steamed up the stream. A magnificent sight it was on this noble river. The Arabs on the Persian side came down th the banks and greeted us as we passel with shouts of welcome. The four-gun battery which the Persians had constructed at Buerieh had been removed, so that our vessels passed on without opposition, and came to anchor before the Arab village of Hurteh, about four miles below Mohammerah. At eight p.m. a boat was despatched to reconnoitre a small low island, in the centre of the river, to the west of the northern fort, with a view of planting a mortar battery there ; but they found the spot so swampy that the project was abandoned. Next day, however, a strong raft was made, and during the night was towed by the Count and planted in position, with three bi-inch and two 8 inch mortars, under the command of Captain Worgan. All this was effected without attracting the attention of the enemy, and the greatest praise is due to the officers and crew of the little Comet, whose services in this instance, as well as throughout the expedition, hay.: been most useful. At daybreak of the !Itith the mortars opened fire, and great must have been the consteication of the enemy, who could see nothing before them to give notice of ouch a ' good morning " but a boatload of pressed hay, moored so as to protect the raft. Within an hour the war steamers moved up one by one, two of them taking the Clire and Falkland in tow, and as they came within range the batteries opened a raking fire upon them. This was nut returned till the vessels had got into the best position for commanding their works ; then they blazed away in earnest, and at the distance of two miles the scene looked like a grand display of fireworks. The enemy fought bravely and well, hat in about two hours their fire slackened, and the signal was hoisted on Commodore Young's ship for the advance of the transports. One of our shells now fell upon a magazine near the northern fort, which exploded amid the cheers of our crews and soldiers. As the troopships and steamers moved onward they were fired upon by two field•pieces which the enemy had planted in the date groves below the southern fort and also by hands of matchlockinen. A ball from the latter came in close contact with Sir James Outram's foot, but a lucky hookah saved it. One native, however, was killed by a round-shot on board the Seindian, where Sir James and his staff were. The troopships and steamers now passed the lona, and anchored close to the  475  ' banks to the south of Jaber's fort, and disembarkation of the men, artillery, and horses was effected with great despatch and without any opposition. A party of Scinde Horse, only fortptive in number, under Captain M. Green, then proceeded to reconnoitre, while our small force, con• sisting of not more than 4,00 U men of all arms, advanced ' to meet the enemy. We passed two standing camps full of public and private property, but the enemy was nowhere to be seen. The Scinde Horse had .xime upon their rearguard in rapid retreat, and found the ground literally covered with castaway property of all kinds. Not having cavalry to pursue the flying Persians, our troops bivouacked for the night on the banks of the Karam, and, learning from a second reconnoitre that the Persian army was still retiring, we returned to the enemy's encampment, which we are still occupying. The loss of the Persians in killed and wounded is estimated at 200, among whom was Agha Jan Khan, a Serteep or brigadier, whose death from the explosion of a shell in the northern fort seems to have spread a panic among the Persian soldiers. The Shazsdah, on hearing of it, is said to have immediately prepared fur a retreat. Agha Jan was a brave soldier, and the enemy's artillery was fought well ; they stood no chance, however, against the heavy fire of our ships. In addition to the above loss, the enemy have left eighteen guns and one mortar in our possession ; one of the former bears an inscription to the effect that it was presented to Shah Abbas by the Emperor in