INDIAN FRONTIER WAR

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 257, 5 November 1897, Page 3

INDIAN FRONTIER WAR

DESPERATE FIGHTING.

Later details of the fall of the Saragari post on September 13th show that the position only fell after repeated assaults by the enemy in overwhelming numbers, avlio succeeded in excavating a hole in the wall at the angle which it formed with the flanking tower. The corner where this had been done fell in, and the enemy thus effected an entrance. One hundred' and eighty of the enemy Avere killed. On September 17th a search party sent out from Fort Guhstan discovered on the Shinwari road, one mile from the fort, the dead bodies of two camp followers who had been missing. The unfortunate men, avlio were Sikh cooks, had gone out unarmed to collect Avood. They had been captured by the enemy, tied hand and foot, and burned to death. A despatch from Hangu on Monday stated that two more bodies of Sikhs killed on tbe capture of the Saragari post had been found. They had been literally cut to pieces. A force of tribesmen, whose strength waß estimated at 2,000, attacked the camp at Sadda late on September 16th. The enemy collected Avithout being observed in the dAvarf palm jungle hi front of the camp, and in a deep nullah on the right Hank. It was from this quarter that the attack Avas begun. Tbe darkness enabled the enemy to rush forward unseen and rapidly build up small shelters of stones, from behind which they could fire Avithout exposing themselves. About midnight a large number of tribesmen collected on our right flank, and a rush seemed imminent, but apparently the enemy's courage failed them at the critical moment. They could be heard abusing each other for hanging back. Eventually the attack ceased at one o'clock on the morning of September 17th, and the enemy retired. Our losses were -—One havildar of the sth Punjaubis killed ■ a Sepoy of the sth Goorkhas, a Sepoy of the 15th Sikhs, and a sowar of the 18th Bengal Lancers Avounded ; and one camp follower killed. Colonel Richardson had a narrow escape, his head being grazed by fragments from a ricochet bullet. Blood-stained letters Avere found on the fields from which the dead Avere removed.

The enemy lost heavily in the affair of Sept. 16th with General Jeffrey's brigade, Captain Ryder's company of Sikhs Avere dead beat after their heavy climb, and had no water Avhen the tribesmen attacked them in great numbers. Their ammunition soon ran short, and they then retreated, fighting their Avay gallantly towards the Guides, avlio had taken up a position to cover the Sikhs. The enemy's sAvordsmen Avere actually amongst the Sikhs when an Afridi havildar of the Guides filled a canvas cartridge carriage, and dashing up the bill reached the Sikhs and gaA'e them the ammunition. When the guns missed the main column during the retirement, and took up a position in the village, Lieut. "Watson, R. £~ with five Bull's, gallantly cleared off a large party of the enemy avlio Avere attempting to get into the village again at tbe rear. Ooing back alone Lieut. Watson brought up more men, and attacked another party. While so doing he Avas wounded in three places. Lieut. Harrington's condition was very critical. All the other wounded officers are doing well, and all the wounded men except three arc also progressing satisfactorily. A sowar of the 11th Bengal Lancers Avas the means of bringing aid to General Jeffreys while the force was being hard pressed by the enemy on the night of the 16th. He pluckily rode along with a letter from Major Worlledge to the general under fire, and, passing through numerous parties of the enemy, brought back a reply asking for immediate aid. He was thus the means of saving the guns. On September* 18th General Jeffreys, Avith four guns and 15 companies of infantry and one of sappers, moved out from Camp lnayate to attack the enemy near the village of Damodota. The enemy held the village and fought well, but Avere soon driven up into the hills. Their toAvers were then demolished, and our troops retired, carrying off 400 mule load 3of supplies. Immediately the British force Avas ordered to retire the enemy showed again in force. The Guides covered the movement down the hill, and their steady retirement, as Avell as the smart manner in Avhich Major Campbell handled his regiment, excited the admiration of all. Near the bottom of the hill, the Guides bavin" retired through the Buffs, the Sikhs and Dogras, the Buffs formed the rearguard, and the whole force moved [aAvay from the hills Avith a total loss of two killed and six AA'ounded, all belonging to the native ranks. This small j loss Avas due to the skill with which the brigadier handled his troops. Communication by heliograph Avas established between General Westmacott's and General Sir Bindon Blood's brigades on September 18th. The plan of operations Avith AvhichGeneral Sir Bindon Blood's division Avas entrusted has been changed. This division has now been ordered to operate against the Mamunds in Bajaur territory, General Ellcs's division advancing along against the Upper Mohmands at Jarobi. General Westmacott's brigade crossed the Nahaki pass into the Upper Mohmand country,, on Sunday, after the sappers and pioneers bad been at work for eight hours preparing the Avay. The pass, which is 400 ft above the plain from which the brigade advanced, and GOOft above that into which they descended, is simply a series of stepping-stones worn into steps in the water causeways. As soon as the summit had been cleared by blasting, No. 3 British Mountain battery moved over, and Avas followed by the rest of the brigade and the baggage. ' The descent Avas most severe. At some places it was almost sheer. The difficulty of the passage may be gathered from the fact that the brigade took no less than five hours to accomplish the ascent and descent. Nevertheless, it Avas a fine military achievement. A force of betAA*een 1,500 and 2,000 men Avith six guns and two Maxims, then brigaded on | the Kamali plain. ATTACK ON GENERAL BLOOD'S CAMP. General Sir Bindon Blood Avas attacked at NaAvagai on Sunday night by 1,150 of the enemy. A body of 150 swordsmen charged to Avithin 50 yards -of the Queen's Royal West Surrey, avlio received them steadily, pouring withering volleys into their midst. The fine discipline of all ranks was admirable. When the tribesmen were repulsed they resorted to sniping from a distance. The enemy's loss Avas heaA'y, as they Avere under a cross fire, and Avere rendered plainly visible. The British casualties were one man of the Queen's killed, and one wounded. Nawagai camp Avas again attacked on the folloAving night, the 20th, the lighting lasting from nine p.m. to one a.m. The enemy numbered about 3,000 tribesmen, including Shinawaris. They appeared to be well trained, their formation Avas good, and their mode of attack was made by rushes under cover of fire from supporting bodies. They several times made a concerted charge on three sides of the camp. Our troops Avere very steady, and the artillery again rendered valuable assistance, firing shrapnel,' case, and star shell as required. Several of the enemy were armed with Lee-Metford rifles. As soon as the attack began tents were struck, but the enemy had evidently marked doAvn the general officer's tents, and specially directed their fire upon these. General Wodehouse, while ordering the defence, was wounded in the knee :

Jby one of the enemy's bullets. So de-' j termined were the rushes that the tribesmen advanced close to the muzzles of the mountain guns, and the bodies of many Avere picked up only a feAV yards outside the square. Tavo squadrons of the Ist Bengal Lancers had seven men Avounded and 19 i horses hit. The total casualties sustained by the force, Avere one killed and 19 Avounded. The results of the fighting slioav that the neAV Dum-Dum Lee-Metford , bullet ansAvers all requirements, and is effectual in stopping rushes. On Tuesday General Blood's camp was again attacked, and again the enemy Avere driven off Avith loss. On Wednesday General Westmacott's brigade advanced up the valley towards tbe Bedmanai Pass, held by the Hadda Mullah. The 13th Bengal Lancers, which i formed the advance guard, found fhe enemy occupying the villages on the loay spurs of the hills. The cavalry lost one horse killed. SUCCESS OF GENERAL JEFFREYS. The General Officer commanding moved out from lnayate on Sunday to attack the tribesmen gathered on the west of the valley. The Jirgahs came out to meet the force, but they were informed that they Avould not bo beard until the tribesmen had surrendered all their arms. General Jeffreys attacked the enemy on Monday at the village of Ziaghai, on the east side of the Mohmand valley. The enemy Avere not at first in great strength, but quickly collected, and Avere exceedingly well armed. The village of Ziaghai lies at the foot of the hills, and is flanked on both sides by deep ravines and boulders, Avhile in the rear are precipitous hills. The Buffs, Dogras, and Guides formed for the attack, with the Sikhs in support, and the 11th Bengal Lancers covering their left (lank, the guns being on the left centre. The action commenced at ten minutes to nine o'clock. The enemy Avere quickly driven out of the village, but opened a hot lire on the covering parties. Having gained the village, the attacking party began to demolish the enemy's towers. While this was being done some hundreds of tribesmen appeared on the left flank, but they made a long detour to avoid our cavalry, and so arrived too late to take part in tho light. The retirement of the brigade was a very line sight, the enemy coming on as usual in great force. The Bull's Avere pressed the most, but they fell back very slowly and steadily over exceedingly difficult ground. Numerous figures in Khaki uniforms Avere seen watching, and in some instances apparently directing the enemy's movements from the hills. Firing ceased at half-past 12 o'clock. A most remarkable feature in the fighting at lnayate has been the accuracy and range of the enemy's fire. Lieutenant Crawford Avas killed by a shot fired at a range of over 1,000 yards. The enemy displayed great courage, and the rapidity Avith which they moved over rocks and nullahs was astonishing. The political officer has arrived at a settlement with the Lower Mohmands. The terms arc the payment by the tribe of a fine of 5,000 rupees, arid the surrender of all Enfield and brocchloading rifles, 300 ordinary guns, and 300 swords, these conditions to be fulfilled within seven days. This should ensure quiet along the line of communications. It is reported from Abbotabad that there is danger of the Black Mountain tribes giving trouble shortly. They are harvesting at present, and' it is feared that when they have gathered their crops they may join Hassan Ali, an old firebrand, who is reported to be ready to rise. The Samana range is a narrow sausageshaped ridge running east and west from Hangu in the direction of the Kurram fort, with the Khanki valley to the north and the Miranzai valley to the south. The ridge is dotted at intervals with military posts, of which Forts Lockhart and Gulistan are tho largest, the smaller ones being Saragari, Sangar, and Dliar. At Sangar, its highest point, tbe ridge rises to a height of G,OOO feet, sinking again tOAvards

Gulistan, Avhich is only about GOO feet above the plain, and can therefore be reached by field guns. Water is scarce on tbe ridge.