SPANISH EXPEDITION AGAINST THE PIRATES. (From the Straits Times Extra, March 11.)

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 208, 27 May 1848, Page 2

SPANISH EXPEDITION AGAINST THE PIRATES. (From the Straits Times Extra, March 11.)

By the arrival here on Monday night, of the Spaniih war steamer Reina de Castilla, particulars have been received of a most gallant attack on the Balangigni pirates. On one or two occasions the Governor General of Manila had written to the Sultan of Sooloo, to exterminate the pirates at Balangigni, but the Sultan having neglected to do so, the Spanish Government very properly undertook the task and has ably performed it. The Manila authoritiet resolved to punish the pirates who for years have made descents on the coast of Leuconia and carried away into captivity Spanibh subjects. The expedition left Manila Feb. 5The Spaniih expedition comprised — 3 War Steamers 2 War Schooners 6 Gun Boats 8 Small Ditto 600 Infantry 50 Artillery, with two field pieces. On arrival at the chief haunt of the pirates, the Is'and Balangigni, the placo was taken by assault, after a most obstinate and daring resistance, the work of extermination continuing from February Jsth to the 25ih. Two fortreises, ably defended, were arsaulted and taken. The attacking force loat one infantry captain, and twenty privates slain, also ten officers and one hundred and fifty men were wounded. Of the pirates more than four hundred and fifty men were killed ; their resistance was most determined — in vain were they offered quarters -they resolved to perish. At one of the forts assaulted, called Sippac, the pirates finding no chance of escape, commenced slaying their wives and children, lest they should fall into the hands of their attackers > on this the General commanding interposed, and humanely saved three hundred women and children who were about being put to death with the kris. About two hundred slaves were liberated, some of whom were taken from the Philippines about two years previously, others were Dutch subjects ; the General commanding offering to convey the latter to Java, but they preferred to go on to Manila, The Spanish took one hundred and twenty-four guns, chiefly brass ; also fired and destroyed about one hundred and fifty piratical prows— called panco» and vintas —razed seven villages and four fortresses called Ba* langigni, Sungap, Sippac, and Bucontingal. About seven thousand or eight thousand cocoa-nut trees were alto destroyed, and all possible means employed to reader the island unfit for hab.tation. Some of the pirates managed to escape, favored by the occurrence of a severe storm of wind ; but we have reason to believe that the pirates of the island of Balangigni, huve been annihilated. Great praise is due to the Spanish for the manner in which the expedition was carried out. The above, which is authentic, is all that we have received on the subject.