The Collapse of Burmah.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 142, 20 February 1886, Page 5

The Collapse of Burmah.

Ttieru is something very improssivo to the imagination in tho audacious calmness with which the conquest of Burmah has been carried through. From first to last the Indian Government has acted as if it were doing a piece of work which had fallen to it in the ordinary way of business, and which hardly required discussion, fay less than any unusual strain or eflort. It bore with the Court of Burmah, its bizarre insolence, its not unfrequent outrages, and its perpetual intrigues, for moro than thirty yoars, until it becamo dangerou3 ; and thon tho Viceroy, hardly lifting his hand, and almost in silence, struck tho dynasty of Alompra down. Even -nhen the decision had been taken, theGovornment of Indiaindulged in no fanfaronade, uttered no men ace 3 issued, no proclamations, raised no extra troops, but quiotly ordered an efficient oiucer of no high rank to submit an ultimatum to the King, and on its rejection "to take Burmah." It mado no exaggerated preparations. Some 3,000 Europeans and 4,000 Sepoys wore considered sufficient to conquer an empire ; their transport to Kangoon was cflected liko that of an ordinary relief, and when King Theebaw issued his declaration of war, Gen. Prendorgasfc was ready to strike straight at tho heart of tho Burmese Kingdom. Ho steamed at once for Manriahy, captured almost without loss the only forts on the river which barred his road, and within fifteen days of quitting tho frontier ai rived at Ava, the ancient; capital. There the Burmese might havo boon expected to make their final stand ; and though tho heart was out of thorn, they did make some effort to obtain terms. In a lottor which whines audibly, they complained that the British were too prompt, and asked on what terms an armistice would bo granted. The reply, alike in its quiet form and amazingaudacity, was thoroughly characteristic. Gen. Prendergast, who had been dropping garrisons along his road, by this time had scarcoly 2,000 Europeans with him ; ho knew the Burmese Army was still IS, OOO strong, and he had two groat capitals to take, both of them fortified in a "way, and ono still containing a population of 100,000 men, who, for a century and a half, have con feidored themselves, with much justice, one of the dominant races of Asia. Nobody fights better than a Burman when ho sincerely intends fighting. Nevertheless, the Genoral asked them all. If the Burmese would surrondor their King, their army, their remaining fortresses, and their capital, he would grant f»n armistice, but not otherwise ; and when the astounded negotiators hesitated, he got up steam to start at once for Mandalay. That quiet, pitiless persistence, as of a man wielding a force with which it was folly to contend, broke down all resistance. King TheebaAv " had heard the sound ot the great guns at Minhla," and, under special orders from the palace, the Kingdom, with its resources still untouched, was laid quietly at the General's feot. Tho troops fiung away thoir armp, tho forts around Ava wore thrown open, and on November 29th Mandalay was occupied without a shot being fired in its defence. The Burmese Empire has, in fact, fallen, like Jericho, before the soundof an attack, — "London Spectator,"