The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

THE ASHANTEE EXPEDITION.

The outline of the contemplated operations on the Gold Coast is now complete. Sir Garnet Wolseley takes with him, besides his staff, most of whom served under him in the Red River Expedition, twenty officers who have volunteered for the service, and who will organize and take the command of the Fantees and Houssas who are to form the bulk of the expedition. With these Sir Garnet Wolseley will march upon Coomassie, the Ashantee capital, in order to destroy it and teach King Coffie Calcalli a lesson which he will not be likely to forget, but as it may be found that English troops are necessary, two battalions of regulars will be placed at the disposal of the General. Since, however, there is no reason for exposing them sooner to a climate fatal to the health of Europeans, their departure will be timed so that they will arrive at Cape Coast Castle as nearly as possible at the moment when the organization of the native troops is completed, and they are to be ready to march into the less unhealthy interior. But if in the course of organizing and drilling the natives, it should appear that they are likely to be able to do the work alone, the English battalions will not be sent at all. A submarine cable is being laid down as far as the Cape de Verde Islands, so that Sir Garnet Wolseley will be able to communicate with this country with a delay of only six days voyage.