THE SURRENDER OF BURMAH TO THE BRITISH.

Kumara Times, Issue 2878, 19 January 1886, Page 2

THE SURRENDER OF BURMAH TO THE BRITISH.

The London correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writes, under date December 3:— The campaign in Burmah is over. King Thebaw has made an unconditional surrender, and Genera! Prendergast has been allowed to occupy Man. dalay. After the capture of Minhla, the town of Ava was the only place where a serious resistance was expected. The British force reached Ava on November 26, but before Geueral Prendergast's arrival there, Thebaw •sent envoys io him asking for an armiatice, no definite time being specified. General Prendergast said, in reply, that the only terms he would hear of were the surrender unconditionally of the King himself, of his army, of all his munitions of war, and of the country at large. To these term 9 an answer must be given at an early hour the next morning. Acceptance was not notified, and at ten- o'clock the troops were being got ready for disembarkation and an attack on the A.va defences. This was evidently noticed by the Burmese, and caused some excite-' merit and hesitation, which, however, did uot last loug. A complete sur- j

render was then agreed to, and the force went on shore simply to occupy instead of to attack (he Burmese works. These were very extensive, and included, besides the forts, extensive batteries and rifle-pits along the line of the walls of the old city of Ava. The Burmese soldiers laid down their arms as our troops entered the various redoubts and batteries and appeared no less relieved than delighted at the sudden turn affairs had taken. The following day General Prendergasfc advanced to Mandalay and entered the city. There was no resistance, and all the Europeans were found safe. Colonel Siaden, one of General Preti■lergast's staff, has been appointed by .Lord Dnfferin to administer the government of the country. BRITISH ENTRY INTO MANDALAY. Writing from Mandalay, on November 29, the special correspondent of the London Standard says: The whole of the troops landed here vesterday, and marched with colours flying and bauds playing through the two miles of suburbs which lie between the city and the river, entered the walled town, aud so on to the Palace, which was occupied without resistance. General Prendergast waited for au hour in the outer court-yard of the Palace, iu anticipation of an interview with the King, which, however, was postponed till the following dav. Colonel Boscawen Siaden, the Civil Commissioner, however, as a former Resident at Mandalay, an excellent Burmese scholar, and an acquaintance of the King's in the days when he was a Prince, entered along with the Kin Woon-Mio-Gyee, and arranged that Thebaw should leave the following day, under guard, for Rangoon. Meanwhile, everything in the city, as well as iu the extensive suburbs outside the walls was perfectly quiet. The people seemed to be, on the whole, quite pleased with the occupation, and did not object to the curiosity of the soldiers. Through the influence chiefly of the Kin Woon-Min-Gyee, the Chief Minister now, as in the days of the late King, the Europeans here were not illused in any way. The troops in the Palace were disarmed immediately, and a number of guns were found, some mounted for defence, others simply stored up inside. At one o'clock to-day General Prendergast and Colonel Siaden had an itilerview with King Theebaw, the Chief Queen SooPayah-Lat, and her mother the Ala-Nan-Daw Pavah. At this interview I was present. The King was in great terror that he would be killed by his ovvn people for havin« thus meekly surrendered. He made mmy stipulations for a proper guard, the Queen all the time whispering suggestions to him, which he afterwards formulated. The interview was granted in a small gilded house at, the back of the palace. The Koyal family were almost alone in the vast building All the bodyguards, retainers, and privy councillors had fled. I saw the sacred white elephant close by, in a magificent palace of his own. The only white about him is in two small dirty spots-, which are almost imperceptible. The Palace is a wouderfully effective building, with its taper seven-roofed spire. From a distance it seems a mass of gold and carving, but a closer inspection shows that it is very tawdry. It had been much looted by the King's own people. The General entered by the royal doors on the eastern face, and walked tip the broad central staircase. This had never been doue before by any except the King himself, or those of the pure blood Royal. Kin" Theebaw himself is dignified and stately in manner, but has a heavy, unintelligent face. In figure he is stout and undersized. The Queen is slight and very young. She is good-lookiug, and has a clever face. Her appearance, however, is marred by a very evil month. The Queen-Mother is the ordinary type of old woman. The King wore no jewels, but Soo-Payah-Lat, the Queeu, had on a magnificent diamond necklace. Nothing ' definite has been arranged yet as to the administration of the country. Late in the afternoon a procession was formed of open bullock carriage*, aud in these, escorted by General Norman's Brignde, the King, the Qu-en, and the QueenMother left the Palace, and made their way down to the steamer which was to convey them to British territory. But few attendants, mostly women went with them, and the populace generally seemed petfectly unmoved.