21 DECEMBER 1895, Page 3

The news from Ashantee is so far satisfactory, except upon

one point. The troops have arrived safely, there has been no outburst of disease, the native chiefs under our protection are heartily willing, and the supply of carriers is enormous. The only difficulty is to keep them from bolting when attacked. On the other hand, the attitude of Samory, the Mahom- medan negro chief who has resisted France, is becoming doubt- ful. He is hovering with a force behind Coomassie, and if be strikes in against us, the Expedition will have severe fighting to encounter. It is too late now to alter arrangements, but we wish the Expedition numbered more Europeans.