THE HERO OE THE MANIPUR COMPLICATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2239, 11 August 1891, Page 4

THE HERO OE THE MANIPUR COMPLICATION.

Lieutenant [now Major] Grant who is recovering from the effects of his wound, has (says the Calcutta correspondent of the Timers, telegraphing on May 11th) given an interesting account of the doings of his little force, from which I send you some extracts. He left Tamti on 23th March with 50 Pimjabce Sepoys of the 12th Burmah regiment, and 40 men of the 43rd Ghoorkas. The former were armed with Sniders and carried 150 rounds each, but the hitter had Martinis and only 50 rounds each. Fighting began within a few miles of Tamu, and continued till the force reached Thobal on the 30th. There Lieutenant Grant entrenched himself in some deserted compounds—not in a fort as stated and held out against the entire Maiiipuri army till 7th April, when a peremptory order of recall reached him. The Manipuris opened negotiations several times, and tried to induce him to withdraw, Mr Williams their only European prisoner, being *■ employed as a messenger on one occasion. Lieutenant Grant made a point of receiving emissaries at some distance from the position in order to conceal the smallness of their force, and he represented himself as Colonel Howlett, borrowing two stars from a Jemadar's shoulder stray to carry out the ruse. It deceived Mr Williams as well as the Manipuris, and effectually prevented the only danger Lieutenant Grant feared —namely, an attempt to rush the camp by an overwhelming force. To all messages lie replied that he would not withdraw unless all the prisoners were released, and an officer of high rani: was sent as an hostage. He describes the Manipuris as arrant cowards. Even when thsy brought the guns and began to shell him, they boon retreated on finding the gnpTiors picked oil' by the iivv from Jiart nis E i-j low only amounted to o.ae kills:! ;-;d tw: bsepoyo and one amioieei' woun-isd. Lieutenant Gmrl attribute- his jvikc m to tli3 maguiiicet't courage .and coolness of the men, both Punjabi-". ;vud Ghurk"„s. The men oil i,h::ir par I .'. r,;:o no h;;-;s v.'ilP.'ig to do javlx; to Lho aad •.■ea.Hues.y of .;f rheii'young co]>i]n-:i:d'.:i', and tlioy ara rooortoj to have fi:di"i when .vikod abo'."'. Umia dohiga, " ...or.v could wo be beate;u/icioa Qj-iiiit Sahib I Re is a tiger ia Oua of fho most iatoreatiag items ex hibiied in the .Bri&.i JYhi«eum h v.. copy o" ■1 cutiMy:! the " ;}iua;,;d of Puaaagea in Iairll;-meat," for February o, IfJ-io-O. Thr.'oui if; giv.jii an account of the execution of Ohavloa l.,bogi:miug thus: —•■' Tuesday, January 39. This day tha king was beheaded ovv.v against the bau-cpioiting-houso by Whitehall." The article ends : —" TJio King, making a pause noon ihe scidrold, looked very earnestly on the block, and asked Colonel iiacker if there were no higher, and then j spoke, directing his speech to the gentleman upon the scaffold."