THE WAR IN ACHEEN.

Evening Star, Issue 3274, 18 August 1873, Page 3

THE WAR IN ACHEEN.

From the Java papers we obtain a few particulars respecting the war in Acheen. According to the Java Bode of the 21st May, the total strength of the Acheen expeditionary forces was 144 officers and 3,425 privates. Of these, four officers and llfty-two privates were killed, and twenty-seven officers and 411 privates wounded. The total loss was thus 494, or about fourteen per cent of 3.509 men in about a week’s desultory warfare. The fleet conveying back to Java the Acheen field-force arrived in Batavia on the evening of the 9th of May. Part of the troops were to land there on the 11th inst., and the remainder were to be conveyed to Saraarang and Sourabaya. The Bode further says : —‘ ‘ The Sultan of Acheen has addressed a letter to the Governor of the Straits Settlements, in which he informs the Governor that the Netherlands Indian troops had depatted, and that, ou the return of the latter, the A chit, ese will defend themselves to the last man, and that they will not give in, but that the Acheen is, however, naly to submit to Britain, and calls in the assistance of that kingdom.” An Acheen correspondent of the SamxratKj Conrant of the 16th May thus describes the Achinese mode of warfare “The men are powerfully built and very handsome. Their dress is pa;t;colored, and they are astonishingly brave. They come rushing upon closed squares as well as against breech-loaders in line, for the rapid fire from which they don’t seem to care in the least. Their champions (those who tight in front), dressed in white or in ticry red, have in each hand a long heavy sword and a long knife in the mouth. They have, besides, sharp spears which they throw with sure aim from a distance of fifteen, paces, swords like those of their champions, blunderbusses, a multitude of lillas, cannon, and fowling-pieces. In their cartridges, which we found on the slain, is twice and thrice as much powder as in ours ; their bullets are mixed with earthenware, glass, and rice grains ; from their large cannon they shoot out glass, bottles, chains, small iron bullets, stones, etc. Their priests, who everywhere lead them on, have always the Koran with them. We have found cannon here in lofty trees, slung on anchor ropes, and excellently handled.”