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Enclosure 13. in No. 114.
SENIOR NAVAL OFFICER to GOVERNOR, Straits Settlements.
The Residency, Bandar Bahru, December 4, 1875.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 2nd December 1875, forwarding a copy of a letter addressed by you to the Major-General Command- ing the Forces in Perak, relative to the rising in Sunghy Ujong and the report of the hostile feeling on the part of the Malays in Malacca, and to inform you that I have ordered the "Thistle to proceed at once to Singapore and embark the troops asked for by you, and I have directed the Commander of that vessel to call at Malacca and communicate with the Lieutenant-Governor for further information.
The "Fly" is blockading the Bruas and Juro Mas rivers, the "Modeste" the Din- ding rivers. I have ordered the "Philomel" to proceed to Laroot to assist in landing the troops and stores and, after communicating with the Brigadier-General Command- ing the Forces and the Commissioner appointed by you, to land a party of seamen for co-operation with the troops.
I have, &c. (Signed) A. BULLER,
His Excellency Sir Wm. F. Drummond Jervois, K.C.M.G., C.B., Governor,
Straits Settlements.
819
Enclosure 15. in No. 114.
From COLONIAL SECRETARY, Singapore, to GOVERNOR, Penang. "RAINBOW" chartered; Sepoys on board; Peyton knows, and specially asks for them.
December 3, 1875, May they go? "Rainbow takes two howitzers and ammunition, also supply Martini cartridges. Murray, Hinzman, Daly, Vaughton, Plunket all write in tone of serious apprehension. Myself believe 500 men at least required at Malacca and Sungie Ujong. Have misgivings about Klang. Commandant considers garrison here should be strengthened. Daly reports narrow escape at Terrachee, rescued by armed force, 50 men. Fought their way back. Hinxman reports #hole country up in arms; threatened attack, 1,000 men. Linghie road and river stopped. Relative of Datu Klana reports Rumbow, Jobole, Sri Menanti, and Moar all combined; 1,000 men at Terrachee; many thousands coming from Johole.
Captain and Senior Naval Officer,
Straits Division.
SIB,
Enclosure 16. in No. 114.
IRVING,
Singapore.
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SIR,
Enclosure 14. in No. 114.
MAJOR DUNLOP, R.A., to GOVERNOR, Straits Settlements.
Bandar Bahru, December 4, 1875.
I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I received your private letter of the 2nd instant at 9 p.m., informing me that your Excellency had requested the Major-General Commanding to furnish 100 infantry and 20 artillery for service in Sungie Ujong with the least possible delay, and enclosing a copy of your Excellency's letter to the Major-General Commanding.
The Major-General invited me to confer with him and the Senior Naval Officer on receipt of your Excellency's despatch, and after carefully considering our position here, more especially under the circumstances which, after reading your Excellency's private letter appear possible, I agreed with the Major-General that it would be inexpedient to weaken the detachment here by drafting from it a body of men for service in Sungie Ujong.
From the information which we have received thus far, it appears probable that a force going up the river from this will meet with resistance before reaching Blanja, whilst it will be necessary to detach bodies of men to occupy one or more positions above this, to keep our communications open and to forward supplies to the front.
I would submit that from the nature of Ex-Sultan Ismail's late communications with your Excellency it is not unreasonable to expect a greater resistance than we had hitherto calculated on.
Under these circumstances I trust your Excellency will consider that I was justified in concurring with the Major-General's views.
As the mail will leave this at 4 a.m. 1 may be permitted to mention another subject in this letter, viz., that the stores for all troops and others are, I consider, insufficient for an emergency. I believe there are not provisions here for more than 12 days, whilst I think there should be sufficient for one month.
His Excellency Sir W. F. D. Jervois,
K.CM.G., C.B., Governor,;
Straits Settlements.
I have, &c. (Signed) S. DUNLOP, Major,
Commissioner, Perak.
GOVERNOR, Straits Settlements, to Brigadier-GenERAL Ross, C.B.
Penang, December 5, 1875.
I ENCLOSE for your information copies of letters which I have recently addressed
to Major-General the Hon. F. Colborne, Commanding the Forces, in order that you may clearly understand our present position.
Owing to the alarming nature of the reports which I have received respecting the dis- turbed state of the country in and about Malacca and Sungie Ujong, I feel myself com- pelled to ask that additional troops beyond those for which I have already applied to the Major-General Commanding may be sent to that part of the Malay Peninsula.
I would, therefore, beg to suggest that you should detail 300 of the Goorkhas and 20 artillery for the purpose of being sent to Malacca as speedily as possible in the "Malda."
I have requested Colonel Anson, the Lieut.-Governor of Penang, to proceed with these troops, in order that he may, in conjunction the Acting Lieut.-Governor of Malacca, inquire into the truth of the reports which have reached me, and ascertain whether there is any real necessity for the employment of troops in the parts of the Peninsula referred to.
Should the services of the additional force in his judgment not be required, these troops should return here in order to be available for service in Perak.
I have, &c. Brigadier-General Ross, C.B.,
(Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
&c.
&c.
&c.
Enclosure 17. in No. 114.
مل
GOVERNOR, Straits Settlements, to BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROSS, C.B. SIB,
In reference to my letter of the 5th instant, suggesting that a force of 300 of the
Penang, December 6, 1875. Goorkhas and 20 artillery should be sent to Malacca as speedily as possible in the Malda,” I have now the honour to suggest that the number of the artillery should be increased to the number of 34, and so complete the half battery unit. This half battery should take with them two guns, a Codhorn mortar and 50 rockets. The half battery can be conveyed to Malacca in the S.S. “Abyssinia," which will also have on board the 200 men of the 3rd Buffs, which are in reserve and which will be still available for ser- vice in Perak. These troops should return to the Dindings in the S.S." when the half battery has been landed, unless it be found, which I do not anticipate, that Abyssinia," their services are urgently required in Sungie Ujong.
Brigadier-General Ross, C.B.,
&c.
&c.
8cc.
have, &c. (Signed) WM. F. DRUMMond Jeavors,
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TILLICO. 882
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SIR,
220
Enclosure 18. in No. 114.
GOVERNOR, Straits Settlements, to MAJOR-GENERAL COLBORNE, C.B.
Penang, December 6, 1875. In reference to my letter of the 2nd instant, requesting that in consequence of reported disturbances in Sungie Ujong and the States round Malacca, 100 infantry and 20 artillery should be sent to Malacca in a vessel of war, I have the honour to inform you that I received on the following day the enclosed telegram, from which it appeara that the reported disaffection is on an extensive scale, and that reinforcements are urgently required.
On the following morning, the 4th instant, I communicated with Brigadier-General Ross, who had arrived with the remainder of the force from India, and I requested him to detail 300 of the Goorkhas and 20 artillery for service in and about Malacca and Sungie Ujong.
I enclose a copy of the letter which I addressed to Brigadier-General Ross on the subject.
I have, &c. (Signed)
Major-General, the Hon. F. Colborne, C.B.,
&c.
&c.
&c.
WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
P.S.I have just received your communication apprizing me that you had given orders for 100 men to be sent from Singapore. I am of opinion, however, that the garrison of Singapore would become too weak were such a strong detachment withdrawn. I have telegraphed, therefore, to stop the troops leaving Singapore for Malacca.
After conferring with Brigadier-General Ross 350 Goorkhas will set out in the S.S. "Malda" this afternoon for Malacca. Half the battery of artillery will also be sent in the "Abyssinia," in which are also 200 of the 3rd Buffs. It is not probable that the services of these 200 men will be required in Malacca and Sungie Ujong, and they will be disposable for service in Perak.
I have received further intelligence which confirms the reports previously received respecting the disturbed state of the country about Malacca and Sungie Ujong.
Enclosure 19. in No. 114. MEMO. for COLONEL ANSON.
Penang, December 4, 1875. ALARMING reports having reached me from Singapore with respect to a general rising in the States about Malacca and Sungie Ujong, and to an unfriendly if not hostile feeling in the Settlement of Malacca itself, I have thought it advisable to ask the General to send a body of troops, with a vessel of war, to Malacca to be placed at the disposal of the Acting Lieut.-Governor. Annexed hereto copies of the telegrams I have received. They are of so alarming a nature, that although I think the reports communicated to our officers are probably very much exaggerated, yet I have thought it advisable to send down a further force to preserve the peace and to take active operations if required.
At my request 100 infantry and 20 artillery have already been ordered to Malacca in a vessel of war, and 300 of the Goorkbas and 20 artillery with rockets just arrived will be sent down to Malacca in the " Malda " as soon as possible.
It is desirable that these troops should be accompanied by an officer in whose judg- ment I can place reliance, and with whom I can consult and advise before his departure, so that he may be acquainted with my views and wishes, and exercise the same control as if I were personally present, and could make the inquiries, which I desire to be made for inyself.
You can quite understand that I do not wish unless it cannot be avoided, to have another hostile expedition to provide for whilst the Perak matters remain unsettled.
I should be glad therefore if you would make particular inquiries as to whether there
is any absolute necessity for the 300 Goorkhas before even landing them.
You will put yourself in communication immediately with the Acting Lieut.-Governor and ascertain whether, in his opinion, these troops are required, and if so, where and the grounds he has for believing their employment necessary, and if no satisfactory
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intelligence can be obtained there I would wish you to go to Sungie Ujong and ascertain from the officers there, as well as from those at Malacca, what grounds they have for the information they have furnished, and how far it may be relied upon.
My desire is that, if even matters should be as reported, the troops for the present should only be used for defensive purposes, unless information is obtained that prepara- tions are being made to attack us, in which case it would be desirable to strike a blow if it can be done with advantage.
If the troops are not required, you may return with them immediately.
I should be glad if, in your communications with the Acting Lieut-Governor and Captain Murray, you would request them to keep De Fontaine's men well in hand.
If it can possibly be done, Mr. Davidson would be glad if a gun-boat could look in upon him at Klang.
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I do not know that there are any further definite instructions that I can give; much must depend upon circumstances as they arise, and I confidently rely upon your judgment. Should active operations be undertaken, I should wish you to remain with the troops during the time, and take such measures as you may deem advisable for distinguishing between friends and foes, and avoid punishing the innocent along with those who are acting in hostility towards us.
(Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND Jervois.
MY DEAR ANSON,
Enclosure 20. in No. 114.
GOVERNOR to Colonel AnsoN.
In my memo, of yesterday's date I have given you general instructions respecting
Penang, December 3, 1875. the inquiry you should make with reference to the reports I have received as regards the present aspect of affairs in Sangie Ujong and the States about Malacca. I have also given you generally my view as to the circumstances under which it might be desirable to undertake active military operations.
There are points, however, not referred to in my memo. with which it is desirable should be made acquainted.
you
Owing to some disturbances which took place in Sungie Ujong more than a year ago, resulting from rivalry between two chiefs named the Datu Klans and the Datu Bandar of that State, Sir A. Clarke intervened, deposed the Datu Bandar (who, I understand, was a co-equal authority with the Datu Klana), set up the Datu' Klans, and placed a British officer as Assistant Resident in the State.
The Datu Klana, I understand, holds bis position through our support only. Not long ago four of the neighbouring States, viz., Sri Menanti, Rumbow, Johole, Moar, which, together with Sungie Ujong, used to form a species of confederation, desired to elect an Eam Tuan Besar, or head over the whole.
The votes of the heads of all the States being required for such election, and the Datu Klana of Sungie Ujong not being willing or not being asked to give his vote for the candidate proposed, some of the other States proceeded to depose the Datu Klann supported by us, and nominated another Datu Klana.
There seems to be hostility against a British representative being in Sungie Ujong, but there we are, and I do not see that it is possible for us to abandon the position taken by us. Probably there may be a feeling in States adjacent to Sungie Ujong that their recent deposition of the Datu Klana supported by us is likely to lead to hostilities, and it may be that with this view they have armed, and, if as reported, it has been represented (see last para. of this letter) to these other States that we are about to make an inroad upon them, it may be that this has led to arming on their part also.
If, on inquiry, you should have reason to arrive at the conclusion that the States in question have only armed in self-defence, or if likely to attack, that they can only attack in small force, it is probable that the force of 200 infantry and 20 artillery already in Malacca and Sungle Ujong may be sufficient. If, on the other hand, you have reason to believe that attack in large force is likely to be made by any of the States in question, either upon Malacca or Sungie Ujong, it may be desirable to station in Malacca a sufficient body of troops to be capable of meeting such contingency.
In the latter event it would be a question whether such body of troops should be stationed wholly in or near the town of Malacca, from whence they could diverge to any threatened point, or whether several detached bodies should be stationed at points at or near the portion of Malacca, along which there is communication by road. Probably
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