§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is true, as stated in The Calcutta Press of March 19, that the Reports from Burmah were then very unsatisfactory; whether raids by Burmans upon British outposts continued, and in some recent ones the police stations were burnt, the telegraph wires cut, and some of the policemen killed; whether the Lingadaw post was attacked in great force; whether numerous petty actions are also reported, showing that the pacification of the country is far from being established; and, whether the whole of the population of Mandalay, without exception, have refused to pay the House and Land Tax?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)The Reports from Burmah, which have been received by the Secretary of State, are not unsatisfactory. Attacks on outposts have taken place in some parts of the country. We have news of one station having been burnt, and one telegraph wire having been cut; but not of any policemen having been killed in any recent attack. Lingadaw was attacked on March 11 by 300 dacoits, who were beaten off with heavy loss to themselves and none to the defenders of the post. In order to pacify the country it has been necessary to break up the bands of dacoits, and in this operation many petty actions have necessarily taken place. No information has reached the Secretary of State that the population of Mandalay has refused to pay the House and Land or any other Tax.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHasked, whether the hon. and learned Gentleman could give the House any information as to the news telegraphed to the newspapers about Burmah yesterday and to-day?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTsaid, he had not seen the newspaper reports in question, and he was not able to give any information on the subject?