CO882-(2-3) — Page 716

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

270

I regret that our loss has been heavy, as far as I have been able to ascertain as follows:-

10th Regiment.—2 killed.

Police.-1 killed.

9 badly wounded.

2 slightly wounded.

Serjeant Bird and 2 badly wounded.

Arab Force.-15 killed, wounded, and missing. Irregular Force.-3 wounded.

The loss of the enemy was, however, very severe. It is proved almost beyond a doubt that Tuanku Antar, Datu Moar, and all the great fighting men were present, several of these have been killed or wounded (Antar is reported among the latter), and from 60 to 80 have been seen dead by Chinese and others.

At least 10 dead were found in the stockades, an occurrence that rarely happens in Malay warfare, as they almost invariably carry off their killed and wounded.

The lesson has been a severe one, and the cost is also heavy, but the moral effect will, I trust, repay us. The position was one of the greatest strength; every house, say 20 in number, was a fortification, and numerous breastworks contributed to render it most formidable.

The enemy were few in number, variously estimated at from 300 to 600 men, but they were under perfect cover and encouraged by the presence of the greatest men in the country.

Great credit is due to Mr. Skinner for his exertions in getting up the gun and placing it in position, to which must mainly be attributed the successful termination of the affair. We returned to Sungie Ujong the same evening, and on the following day sent parties to thoroughly destroy all the stockades.

I do not anticipate the return of the enemy to Paroe, but propose to daily patrol the country in that direction.

Before any future operations are undertaken it would be well to have reinforcements, inore especially rockets or light guns.

I understand two mountain guns were despatched to Malacca for our use, but for some reason detained there.

I have just received reliable information that the Datu of Rumbow has refused to join the movement, and forbidden his people to do so on pain of death.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary,

Singapore.

1 have, &c. (Signed) P. J. MURRAY,

Acting Assistant Resident.

Enclosure 2. in No. 130.

From LIEUTENANT HInxman, Commanding Detachment 1/10th Regiment, to the BRIGADE MAJOR, Straite Settlements.

SIR,

S. Ujong, December 8, 1875, 1 o'clock p.m.

I HAVE the honour to report for the information of the Commandant, Straits Settlements, that on the 6th instant Captain A. M. de Fontaine with 87 Arabs joined my detachment. On the morning of the 7th December we all paraded to attack the enemy's advanced position. After three hours hard fighting we took their stockade (by a rush) at the point of the bayonet. The Malays stood to the last and we had a regular hand-to-hand fight, and I am glad to say the enemy could not stand cold steel, and we drove them out of their position, burnt the village and stockades. I regret to say our loss was great, 2 soldiers killed, 12 wounded, 5 Arabs killed and 10 wounded, Serjeant Bird wounded, and several police killed and a good many wounded. I have not yet got a return of the casualties in the police force. Our whole attacking party consisted of 45 of the 1/10th Regiment under myself and Lieutenant Peyton, Captain De Fontaine with 85 Arabs and about 25 native police. The enemy's loss was evidently I now hear that we severe by the number of dead bodies we found in the stockade." killed Rajah Lang Laut, the Punghulu of Sri Menanti, Punghulu Rajah Antar, and several other head men. I enclose a nominal roll of my detachment signed by Dr. Hoysted showing the killed and wounded,

271

I have not time to send a more detailed report, but hope to send full particulars soon.

I want more men and a mountain gun or two.

SIR,

I have, &c. (Signed) H. C. HINXMAN,

1st Battalion, 10th Foot.

(Signed) H. C. H.

I beg to state our present fighting force are now hampered with wounded men,

Enclosure 3. in No. 130. From LIEUTENANT II. C. HINIMAN, Commanding Detachment, 1/10th Regiment, to the BRIGADE-MAJOR, Straits Settlements.

S. Ujong, December 9, 1875.

I HAVE the honour to forward for the information of the Commandant, Straits Settlements, this

my detailed report of the action and capture of the stockade and village at Parace.

Captain A. M. de Fontaine with 85 Arabs joined my detachment on the evening of the 6th December.

I consulted with the Resident, the Hon. C. Plunket, Captain de Fontaine, and Lieut. Peyton, and we decided to attack the enemy's advanced position, and endeavour to drive them back at all risk. My reasons for coming to this conclusion were,-

1st. The enemy had dared to come within 900 yards of the Klana's residence. 2nd. They were gaining confidence every day in consequence of the retreat of my reconnoitring party on the 4th instant. 3rd. From reports and good information I felt if the enemy were not checked I should be attacked at night by a large force.

At daylight on the 7th December I paraded all the force I thought I could take into. action, at the same time leave troops to defend Rassa. Our party consisted of Lieutenant Peyton, 2 serjeants, and 44 rank and file, 10th Regiment, Captain de Fontaine with 85 Arabs, Serjeant Bird, and 45 native police. When we reached the Resident's house, Captain Murray, the Hon. C. Plunket, and Mr. Skinner (in charge of a 9-pounder brass gun belonging to the Klana) joined us. When we reached the Klana's, Lieutenant Peyton, with I serieant, 4 picked men, 10th Regiment, and 4 Arabs advanced as scouts. The main body following about half a mile in the rear of Lieutenant Peyton and his

party.

About a mile from the position occupied by the enemy, two paths diverged to the right and left of the main path. There halted and detached Mr. Robinson with 20 Arabs to the right and an Arab serjeant and 20 more Arabe to the left with instructions to make the best of their way through the jungle and swamps to threaten the enemy's flanks, and in case of the front attack succeeding to cut off the enemy's retreat. I now advanced slowly to the point marked A, shown in the accompanying eye sketch, drawn by Lieutenant Peyton on the day after the action. As the main path emerges from the jungle it crosses a small bank at A about 20 yards long, and about 170 yards from the centre of the enemy's stockade at point D. Between A and D there is only a naITOW track over an almost impassable swamp, with a deep stream running through the centre of it.

The enemy's stockade, shown by a red line in sketch, extended across the valley, its flank resting on two hills with dense jungle. The two stockades marked B and C flanked the swamp and path. Behind the stockade there were numerous houses, strongly barricaded and loop-holed.

I waited behind the ridge at A until I heard my flanking parties engaged. I then extended my men as much as possible behind the bank, and opened fire on the enemy's front. The action commenced at 8 o'clock a.m. Sometime after opening fire, I found■ good many men wounded, both of the 10th Regiment, Arabs, and "police. I consulted Captain De Fontaine and Lieutenant Peyton about what was best to be done. We came to the conclusion that undisciplined troops like the Arabs would be unable to protect our retreat, and as I was hampered with the wounded!, I decided to charge the enemy's position in the direction on sketch, as shown by yellow line from A to B. Several men, I regret to say, dropped during the advance across the swamp. We took the stockade marked B, the occupants of which showing a most determined resistance were cut down and bayoneted. I now found that I had only Lieutenant Peyton, 10 of the 10th Regiment, Captain De Fontaine, and six of his Arabs with ine, and our position was

• Sketch will be sent by next mail,

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882

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