The Indian Government is setting itself seriously to work to
suppress disorder in Mandelay. It is forwarding more Ghoorka and Bombay troops, has introduced a temporary Bill for the more rapid trial of prisoners, and has divided Upper Burmah into four great Commissionerships, each with its own organisa- tion. It has chosen an officer accustomed to Burmese work in Arrae,an as Commissioner of the capital, and he will at once commence the establishment of an effective system of criminal justice. All this is excellent ; but there appears to be a necessity for some change in the military depart- ment. It cannot be necessary to split the regiments into minute fractions, or to allow small detachments to fight so many indecisive skirmishes. If soldiers are employed, they should win ; and the Sepoye win so seldom, that the Burmese, never great believers in Indian prowess, have lost all awe of them. On June 27th, a party of Shane, armed only with hatchets, attacked a post ten miles north of Mandelay, wounded the officer in command, and were with difficulty driven out. That ought not to have happened with men armed with rifles, and shows a defect somewhere, either in the organisation of the defence or in the spirit of the troops employed.
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