The news from Ashantee this week has been of a
mixed char- acter. We have elsewhere analysed the despatches recounting a successful expedition by Sir Garnet Wolseley from Elmina, but must here add that another was organised by him against the Ashantees at Alaupon, some miles beyond Dunquah the fortified camp, about which a great amount of doubt appears to exist. It was entrusted to Fantees and West Indians only, but commanded by Colonel Festing, and well supplied with European officers, and was to have been supported by Sir Garnet himself and his Europeans, who, however, did not arrive in time. The expedition, guided by a stray Ashantee, surprised the camp, and the Ashantees rushed out, leaving everything except the weapons in their hands. The camp, which contained stores of gunpowder, was burnt, and all was successful ; but the Ashantees re-forming, charged, and poured such a galling fire upon our men, that the officers were compelled to expose themselves most rashly to keep them from -flight. Colonel Fasting, afraid of nightfall, deter- mined to fight his way back to Dimquah, which; with the aid of a rocket tube managed by Housias, he did, " having had to fight every inch of the way," having five officers woUnded, him- self included, and losing 48 men, chiefly wounded._ Sir Garnet ordered another expedition for next day, but the Fantees refused to go, and he had, therefore, to return to Cape Coast Castle. We have followed the Daily News' account, which looks true, but are bound to say that, while the Times and Standard had no accounts at all, the Telegraph had a triumphal narrative, which, however, seems to have been written by some one with Sir Garnet, and unaware of the terrible fight Colonel Festing had to maintain. It seems certain that the Ashantees are concentrating on Coomassie, that we must follow them there with white troops, and that 2,000 soldiers will be immediately on their way. There is no time to be lost, for though every day is a gain as regards the discipline of the natives, every day. is a loss as regards the health of the white men.
