Relief of Kumasi

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1901 Excerpt: ... CONCLUSION REMOVAL OF HEADQUARTERS TO KUMASI AND FINAL OPERATIONS ARGE quantities of stores, and shells innumerable for the 75-m/m guns, having been collected at Bekwai in anticipation of the general and final advance, all the Adansi country to the south, and Kokofu to the east, having been conquered and traversed so satisfactorily that the lines of communication up to the furthermost depot were safe, and no particular grounds existing for anxiety as to the clearing out of the enemy between the southern boundary of the Ashanti territories and their capital, it was decided to move the whole of the Headquarters Staff and the advanced base to Kumasi, the subsidiary point between it and Kwisa being placed at Esumeja. It was indeed a big undertaking, but at this stage of the campaign imperative, inasmuch as Bekwai was no longer a suitable or desirable centre from which to operate. It was necessary, therefore, to get men, guns, and stores into the heart of Ashanti proper, and punish that country in a similar manner to that in which the domains of their insurgent allies had been treated. It would then be possible to penetrate in a northern direction, until all had been subdued as far as the peaceful Northern Territories, with which once more communication would be opened up. There were yet posts in those regions, and by now they must be, without doubt, in need of supplies. The general plan was to send all the stores, carriers, and troops vid Pekki, as had been done on both previous occasions, which would reduce the chance of attack and loss to a minimum and simultaneously for a fighting column, hampered with the smallest possible transport, to proceed by the road through Kokofu, eastward of the main road, to attack and take Ejesu. The two flanks cleared, it was ri...