THE RELIEF OF KUMASSIE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 87, 24 September 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE RELIEF OF KUMASSIE.

"When Governor Sir Frederick Hodgson, li s wife, and half-a-dozen English officials, with their escort, walked into Kum:;o.si, on April 1, 1900, in Ashantiland, on one of his ordinary tours of inspection, he walked into a veritable trap, and was surrounded by forty thousand Ashantis, all ready for revolt. Kumassi Fort was garrisoned by two Companies of negro troops; and, tliere>for», the Ashantis, considering the rainy season conung on when they " botli'.ed up" the Governor, reckoned on plenty of time and complete immunity from interference in carrying out their intention of capturing their old capital, and throwing off the British \oKe. Help was at once hurried forward. On May 15, Major Morris, after a wonderfully rapid march, forced his way into Kumassi from the north, after a couple of battles, when the Governor managed to get a message through to tlie coast, his last communication with the outside world for six weeks. Col. (now Major-General) Willcocks was appointed to command the Kumassi Relief Expedition, of the Imperial Black troops —the West Africans, Central Africans, and West Indians. On June 23, the Governor, and all the girrlson except 100 men under Capt. Bishop, Lieut. Ralph, and I)r. Hay, broke their way through the cordon that encircled them, and after much suffering, fighting, and struggling through flooded country, reached and crossed the Opir River, into friendly territory on the 30th, reaching Cape Coast Castle on July 11. Col. Willcocks marched on July 2 to relieve the little garrison of Kumassi, and on July 10, after severe fighting, he reached Hekwai, a few miles south of Kumassi, where be received a tiny scrap of paper from Capt. Bishop, with the words "Help us-'' On the 13th Willcocks begin his final march on Kumassi by a flank march to the west, and on the 14th reached Ekwanta, twenty rnJes west of the capital, after thirty-four hours of arduous marching and lighting. That night the Colonel said to his officers, •' Let. it not be said that we allowed that gallant little garrison to peri' h. Come what may, we must —we shall—be in Kumassi to-morrow night." The march was resumed at four on the morning of the loth, and twelve hours later they were suddenly attacked on aii sides, and a stubborn battle ensued, till C\ . Willcocks y>rdere da charge with the bayonet, which earned the enemy to cease firing and retreat. At six in the evening of Sunday, July 15, Col. Willcocks entered Kumo-si, relieving it on the very day he had arranged for.