CO882-(2-3) — Page 705

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :---

PILICO.

882

3

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON:

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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Q. You were so close to him, do you think Mr. Birch was killed?

A. I think he was.

Witness

Before me Interpreted by me (Signed)

·

-

(Signed)

(Signed)

T. F. ABBOTT, Sub.-Lieut.

EDWARD BACON.

J. T. KEYT.

Sub-Enclosure 8. in Enclosure 1.

Mustapha, Mr. Birch's cook, states:-At half past 8 this morning Mr. Birch called to me and asked for soap and a towel to go for a bath. I gave them. breakfast, and I went to prepare it.

My master ordered I saw a number of sepoys and boatmen, while I was cooking, rush into a sampan panjanj, which capsized. They swam to another sampan panjanj. I joined them, and came down the river to Banda Bahru.

By Mr. Abbott. Did you hear any firing, or did you see any one stabbed or wounded. A. No, I did not.

(Signed) T. F. ABBOTT, Sub-Lieut.

MUSTAPHA.

Before me -

:

Witness

(Signed) EDWARD BACON. Interpreted by me

(Signed)

J. T. KETT.

Sub-Enclosure 9. in Enclosure 1.

Kaleh Khan, private of the Resident's guard, states-Almost all the Sepoys were on shore, and I was among them. A Datu came twice to the boat and spoke to Mr. Birch. Arshad, the interpreter, posted the proclamation near the goldsmith's shop. The first time it was torn down I told Mr. Birch. He spoke to Arshad, and Arshad explained they were taking it away to show to Datu Saga. Mr. Birch ordered Arshad to post another, and it was done. Then Mr. Birch went to the bathing-house to bathe. Several Malays were on the spot, all armed. I was standing on one of the logs of the floating bath-house, with Mr. Birch's revolver in my hand. All at once the other proclamation was torn down by a man who I will recognise if I see him again, and there was a rush upon us with spears and knives. I saw some Malays get into the bathing-house where Mr. Birch was. I afterwards fell into the water; the water was very deep, and I could get no footing, but I saw one of our boats at some distance going down towards Banha Babru, and I hailed it, and told our men to fire. The Malays were firing from both banks. I succeeded in getting into the boat afterwards and came down here. If I see the Datu again I shall know him. I saw him at the Residency often, but do not know

(Signed) T. F. ABBOTT, Sub-Lient. Interpreted by

(Signed) J. T. KEYT. (Signed) J. ROZELLE.

his

name.

Witness

·

SIB,

Before me.

Sub-Enclosure 10. in Enclosure 1.

Bandhar Bahru, November 9, 1875.

I HAVE the honour to report to you the following circumstances which have occurred since my last communication, dated November 4. Mr. Swettenham arrived and took civil charge of the Residency.

On the morning of the 5th That day we planned an attack on the enemy, the idea being to divide the Sepoys. taking them along both banks and putting both the guns (12-pounder howitzer and 9-pounder Vavasour) in boats, to use them to annoy and divert the enemy's attention during an attack from the troops.

However, in the evening I heard from Captain Innes, R.E., Acting Assistant Com- missioner, imforming me of the arrival of the troops in the C.S." Pluto," and decided to #wait their arrival, which we were afterwards glad of.

On the morning of the 6th inst. we proceeded to prepare the boats for the transport of guns. I proposed that spars should be placed across the boats and bamboos lashed under them fore and aft outside (to give greater stability and flotation to the small river

249

boats we had at command), the whole being covered with planks to enable the polers to

walk fore and aft.

About noon Captain Innes arrived, accompanied by Lieutenants Booth and Elliot, with a detachment of 60 men of the 10th Regiment.

In the evening I took the boats with the guns out for a trial and found them answer well in everything, except that the guns were stationary, having no bost-slides, and consequently we had to depend upon the polers for direction.

About 6 o'clock this evening the body of Mr. Birch was brought down the river by Hajah Dam. Upon examination he proved to have received 10 spear wounds or stabs.

It was interred with military honours on the island behind the Residency.

The plan of attack having previously been determined on at 6 o'clock on Sunday, November 7, the troops were paraded.

At 7 o'clock the embarkation commenced, but owing to want of transport the whole party was not landed on the western bank, about a mile and a half above the Residency, until 10.30 a.m. We immediately started in the following order of march :-

Twenty Malays, under Mr. Swettenham, as scouts: 4 men 10th, under corporal Anderson, advance guard; 21 men, under Lieutenant Booth, leading half-company; 4 seamen of "Thistle," with Coolies carrying rockets, under me, accompanied by Captain Innes; 47 Sepoys and 27 police under Superintendent Plunket; 25 men of the 10th, under Lieutenant Elliot, bringing up the rear.

We advanced rapidly, showing as large a front as possible, but often having to break into single file from the nature of the country.

We had marched about 2 miles, when suddenly a heavy fire was heard in front, and the leading troops formed in skirmishing order across an Indian corn-feld, the corn about 8 feet high, moving forward steadily. As soon seamen to commence rocketting, which they did as fast as possible under a heavy fire. I as I saw the stockade I ordered the may here mention that the rockets were of an obsolete pattern (9-pr. tail, shell) and used in wooden troughs, with paper primers stuck in one of the holes in the base, and ignited by a common match, this being the only means I could devise of using them. The Sepoys and police were huddled together behind a large tree close to the river, and proved utterly useless, and rather dangerous from their wild firing, which wounded some of the troops.

Shortly after the beginning of the action Lieutenant Booth was wounded in the foot, and had to be placed under shelter.

Lieutenant Elliot took command and we slackened our fire, not being able to see any enemy, though they could evidently see us. The seamen threw in a few rockets, but

too high, owing to their inefficient fittings.

Then it was agreed that after two rockets had been fired there should be a general

attack.

I told the seamen to advance in the centre.

After the second rocket a rush was made forward in line, and we placed ourselves close under the stockade taking advantage of every shelter, keeping up a heavy fire at it, as the enemy was invisible. The men were falling fast, the "retire

and "assembly sounded, so we fell back.

21

Captain Innes was carried in killed. After a hurried consultation it was unanimously agreed to retire, as it was useless losing men without any visible result.

The Coolies having all deserted we were obliged to detail some of the troops to carry

the dead and wounded. The remainder were formed into a rear guard, Lieutenant Booth commanding. Mr. Swettenham and I remaining, we retired slowly and in good order to the boats, which occupied about an hour and a half, when we embarked and arrived at the Residency about 3.30 p.m.

This evening Captain Innes was buried, with military honours, beside the late Mr. Birch's grave.

The affair cost us altogether - one officer killed, two officers wounded, one private (10th) killed, one Sepoy killed, three lance-corporals and four privates severely wounded, and one corporal and one private slightly wounded; one Sepoy severely wounded.

The Malay scouts, under Mr. Swettenham, proved very useful and showed great courage; one of them was killed.

The inefficiency of the Sepoys may be partly attributable to want of discipline, and to no officer being acquainted with their language.

For the police there is no excuse, particularly as Mr. Plunket did all that was possible

to encourage them and the Sepays, but without success.

Though unable to discover the loss on the enemy's side we heard from reliable autho- rity that the Malays had abandoned their stockade shortly after we left.

I i

06867.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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882

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