FIGHTING THE REBELS IN BURMA [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I enclose a letter written to me by a friend from the rebel area. It gives a first-hand account of the sort of thing that has been going on recently in Burma. I thought it might interest your readers : " . . I had a fight up the Pogu River with the rebels since last I wrote, and am rather lucky to be writing this, as they had two shots at me with e.g. at fairly close range. We killed Bolt Mya Aung No. 2 in the rebellion. He came after Saya San. There was Rs. 2000 reward on his head. I find I am rather popular here as a result. Wo captured two of the gang after, and a prisoner during the action, so I know the whole story now. It was rebel H.Q.'s on the move. I got 4 English guns, a box of dynamite, 110 12-boro cartridges, 9 electric torches, and in fact all their kit.
"They had wonderful clothes, silk shirts, khaki shirts, heaps of everything all brand now. I am sending you some things by Subedan Mahbub Khan, who is returning in a few days. They include Mya Aung's cherry stick, dabs, &c. Mr. F.--, of the Foresters, in command of the Karen Irregulars, and I were working a combined show together. He was driving the Tomas with his men and I was blocking all exits on the Pegu aide by inten- sive night patrolling. One morning, after having been out all night, I thought I would change direction of the march, and we hadn't gone very far before I heard a noise in the jungle like bam- boos being cut. My Ado guard stalked this noise through the jungle while I followed with the main body. In a short time my Subadar came running hack to me to say there was a but in front which seemed to contain a lot of men. I went up at once and saw on the edge of a paddy field three small huts in which there were three or four men wearing Gurkha hats and khaki shirts for the most part. I didn't know who they were. They might well have been Civil Police or Karen Irregulars. I had China with me whom they had never seen before. So to give them every chance I went out of the jungle so that they could see my topi. They had two shots at me as soon as I arrived and my men then let them have it. After firing a few shots they (the rebels) bolted to the jungle, which was only a few yards away. I am. sorry I didn't kill more of them. Tho Chins did splendidly, but the target only lasted for a few seconds. The Smoke from the rebel guns being black powder looked quite effective in the early morning air, but the way these young Ilaka recruits went forward in their first show was magnificent, and particularly pleasing to me, who am a strong supporter of the Hake. Chin. The rebels are splitting up now. I hope alt this won't boo,
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