ENGLAND'S LATEST WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 3299, 16 September 1873, Page 3

ENGLAND'S LATEST WAR.

THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA

At a time when we aro receiving frequent telegrams relative to the A shantee war, the following article, from the Saturday Heview, May 17, giving an account of the origin and prospects of the war will prove interesting

It is, however, on the Gold Coast that the attention of the few who take an interest in West African affairs is at the present moment concentrated. Besides the settlements on the coast occupied by us, a considerable tract of country inhabited by the neighboring tribes was years ago formally received under our protection. These tribes are collectively styled Pantoes, or the Fantee Confederation. The Confederation, however, owing to discouragement received by us, is little more than nominal, and is only an agglomeration of independent clans, friendly to each other, and loosely united from fear of their hereditary foe, the King of Ashantee. The Colonial Office has formally approved of the principle of a confederation, but baa done nothing to promote it; and, rightly or wrongly, ithe Fantees are under the impression that their 'project is viewed with contempt by the local authorities. The Fantees, however, with wits sharpened by the instincts of self-preservation, foresaw the imminence of the danger which their so-called protectors failed to recognise, and the event has justified the note of alarm which they sounded. The Asbantees, indeed, are a formidable enemy, and have on two pre ■ vious occasions given us much trouble. Formerly they held sway over the Fantee country and over the maritime district which we now occupy, and it was our wresting from them the seaboard, and denying the sovereignty over the Fantees, which brought about the war of 1821. Some rather sharp fighting took place, and ultimate success was only purchased by the expenditure of much money, and the loss of Sir Charles Macarthy, the Governor. For nearly 40 years a sort of armed trace was observed, but, in 1803, the King of Ashantee again declared war r-a war which cost us LIOO,OOO, and one_ in which for months our troops endeavored, with much loss from sickness, to bring the enemy to action, but in vain. Since then we have pursued a policy of conciliation, not to say subserviency, sending presents with the messengers who proposed—or as rendered by the natives, “sued for’—peace. All our efforts have, however, failed, and now, for the third time within half a century, we are at war with this fierce and untameable race. What the cause of the rupture was no one seems quite able to say. The general belief is that the cession of Elmlna to us by the Putch had something to do with it. Mr Knatchbull-Hugessen is of this opinion. It appears that the Dutch used not only to give a yearly sum of money to the King of Ashantee, but also to pay him so much per head for the captives he made in war. These captives were sent to serve as soldiers in other Dutch settlements, and certainly gained by the change of masters. When we took over Elmina, we made inquiries concerning this subsidy, and learning that it was given not as tribute but merely for the encouragement of trade, determined not to continue it. Of (Jourse head money for slaves, under any circumstances was out of the question. Irritated at such a sensible diminution of his revenue, the King of Ashantee, misinterpreting our conciliatory behaviour, presumed on our supposed weakness, and snatched at what he considered a favorable opportunity for driving us into the sea. Early in January last the Ashantees, in four divisions, and with numbers variously estimated by those on the spot at 60,000 and 80,000 men, crossed the Fantee frontier. Recent advices, however, tend to show that their strength has been exaggerated, and that the main body, at all events, is not more than 30,000 strong. The border is only three days’ journey from Cape Coast Castle, yet it does not appear that tho Administrator took any steps to obtain trustworthy information. He never even noticed the invasion till the 3rd of February, and then he contented himself with a mere proclamation announcing the invasion, and prohibiting the supply to the invaders of munitions of war. The Ashantees in the meantime had themselves announced their arrival in the mpsf energetic manner, haying marched through the country plundering and burning in every direction. Taken by surprise at first, only 4,000 or 5,000 Fantees could be collected to oppose the enemy, before whom they were of course obliged to retreat. At length, however, tho different chiefs managed to assemble an army of some 30,000 men, and a battle whose dimensions would have been considered respectable even ia Eu-

rope took place. The numbers were about equal on each side, but the Ashantees possessed the advantage of being under a single commander, while the Fan tees were a mere collection of clans, each _ obeying only the order of its immediate chief. The fight was well contested, having lasted some eight or nine hours. At length, the Fantees, having lost 1,000 men, and being short of ammunition, were obliged to retire, falling back, however, so steadily that the victors contented themselves with occupying the abandoned position. At this place, only seventeen miles from ( ,'ape Coast Castle, the Ashantees, who, though the conquerors, lost, it is said, 2,000 men in the battle, remained for some time waiting for reinforcements. We learn that the King_ of the Ashantees— his euphonious name is Carie-G'arie has sworn to drive the English into the sea, and that he is expected to head the reinforcements asked for by his coramander-in-chief. Whether these reinforcements have arrived or not we do not know ; but the invaders on the 7th April resumed the offensive. The Fantees had in the meantime been reinforced, and were encouraged by 120 of the Houssa police, under Lieutenant Hopkins, who had been tardily empowered to afford them substantial aid. A battle which lasted six hours took place, the Houssas fighting gallantly and losing two men killed and fourteen wounded. The Ashantees, however, gained the day, and Lieutenant Hopkins fell back with his detachment to the coast. The Ashantees must have bought their triumph dearly, for not till the 14th did they again engage the beaten, but still stubborn, Fantees. On this occasion the fight lasted fourteen hours, at the end of which time the Fantees were completely routed. The first battle was fought at a spot about seventeen miles from Cape Coast Castle; the second action took place apparently at the same place, but the scene of the last engagement was no doubt nearer to Cape Coast Castle. At all events, it is said that the whole country is now in the hands of the invaders, and that we cannot be said to hold an acre of ground save what is commanded by the fire from the forts on the coast. The fortifications of Cape Coast Castle consist of an earthen work adjoining the road which leads to the town, a strong masonry fort on the shore, and a martello tower in which is kept the ammunition of the garrison. Unfortunately, this tower is isolated, and the fort itself is overlooked at a distance of 300 or 400 yards by some high hills. Cape Coast Castle is, however, sufficiently strong, both as regards fortifications and garrison, to defy the dusky warrior, who is as unlikely to fulfil his oath as w'as his predecessor Quacoi Duah, who vowed, in 1863, to cut off the Governor’s head, and didn’t. The outlying settlements are in a somewhat critical condition, their works being out of repair, ammunition being short, and the garrisons weak. Accra, for instance, was a short time ago only occupied by thirty uegroes of a West Indian regiment, without an officer. It is to be hoped that the reinforcements which have been despatched from Sierra Leone and Lagos will be employed to strengthen these forts, for there seems to be no intention of carrying on any operations in the open' field. The force at the disposal of the Governor consists of three men-of-war, or gunboats, and 840 armed police, black soldiers and volunteers. Had it been desired, ten times that number might have been raised from among the Fantces, who, if well armed and led by Englishmen, would probably fight well. Fighting would, however, interfere with the moral force policy which seems to be in favor. Besides, Lord Kimberley denies that we are under any obligation to protect the protected tribes. It is not, he lately said, British, but only British-protected territory which has been violated, and we have never pretended’ to defend it against aggression in the same way as British territory. To unsophisticated minds it would seem that here is a distinction without a difference, and that the meaning of protection is to defend the protected against aggression. To calm any apprehension that might be felt, he asserted that the Ashantees, who numbered only 4,000, were at the back of the protected territory. Information obtained from non-official sources gave the number at 30,000 in one body, and, indeed, it is now officially admitted that the Colonial Office has been misinformed, and that the enemy numbers from 30,000 to 40,000 men. Convinced at last that we have to deal with no mere raid, but with a very substantial and formidable invasion, Lord Kimberley has sent out in hot haste a rocket battery and some marines. It is probable, however, that these reinforcements will arrive somewhat late, for by this time the rainy season has commenced, and operations in the field must have perforce come to an end.