FIGHTING ON THE INDIAN FRONTIER

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 105, 2 May 1908, Page 11

FIGHTING ON THE INDIAN FRONTIER

Our little war on the Indian frontier in February ended in a triumphant demonstration of the efficiency of Lord Kitchener's reorganisation scheme. The rapidity of the advance of General Wilcocks" force into the Bazar Valley quite upset, Ihe Afridis' calculations, and a little more than :\ fortnight after the operations opened the Zakka Khel, who lost heavily during the fighting, came to terms. At the close of the campaign the King sent the following telegram to Gen-

eral Willcocks: "f congratulate yon on the success of the expedition, which has been conducted with so much skill, and on the bravery and good conduct of the troops, which I consider has been beyond all praise." Very few British soldiers lost their lives during the campaign. But although the Zakka Khek had received their lesson, the Mohmands, who bac gathered from the North to their assis tanee, were evidently disappointed at no having had the opportunity which iv

flamed by religious fanaticism, they were eager for, of fighting the hated wßite man. The rapidity of movement which disconcerted the Zakka Khels seems to have as quickly reduced the fervour of these wild men from the borders of Afghanistan, and it would appear that they ,vill quietly slip back to their hill homes. The sketches above from the pen of in oilicer are chiefly interesting as showng something of the broken hilly counjryin which these Indian frontier wars

are carried on. Tlie tribesmen, used to the fatigue of bill travel from birth, have hitherto shown a mobility that has proved a serious handicap to British troops. As snipers they have a reputation that is unequalled, but this danger has been partly overcome by employing hill men in the British Army, who, as outpo»ts, are familiar -with aiid able to counteract to a certain extent a met hod of warfare with which they were familiar.