THE CHITRAL CAMPAIGN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9162, 20 July 1895, Page 5

THE CHITRAL CAMPAIGN.

(g> BRITISH PLUCK AND ENDURANCE AGAIN SUCCESSFUL. {Weekly Press'and Referee.) By Bullseye. pboclauation by the yfceuoy of india. As soon nt it was found that TJrnra Khan had determined, at all hazards, to obstruct the British authority ia Chitral the Governor-General issued the following proclamation to all the poople of Bujaur, wlio did not side with Umra Khan : "Bβ it known to you and any other persona concerned, that Ucnra Khan, Chief of Jaudol (Bajaur), in epic of hie repeated assurance* of friendship to the British Government, and regardless of frequent warnings to refrain from interfer- j ins with ihe affaire of Chitral, which is a | protected Skate under the Suzerainty , of | Kashmir, has forcibly entered the Chitral ! Valley, &ad attacked the Chitrali people. The Government of India hare now given Umra Khan full warning, that unleeu he retires from Chitral by the Ist of April, corresponding with sth day of Siuwal 1312, H, they will une force to compel I him to do so. In order to'carry out this purpose,'they have arranged to assemble on the Peshawur border a force of sufficient strength to overcome.all resistance, and to march this force through Umra Khan's territoiy towards C litral. The sole object of the Government of India ia to put an end to the present, and prevent any future, unlawful aggression on Cbitral territory, and »a soon as this object has been attained the force will be withdrawn. The Government of India hare no intention of permanently occupying any territory, through which TJmra Khan's misconduct may now force them to pas«, 01 of interfering with the independence of the tribes and they will scrupulously avoid any acts of hostility towards the tribesmen, so long as they on their part refrain from attacking or impadiug in any way the march of the troops. TJMRA KHAN. " AhT'eaya a correspondent, "Umra Khan is an interesting personage. He Iβ a fanatic and a clever one. The Napoleon of the Hindu Kooih we call him. He was the second son of the chief of Jandol. The father died, and Umra Khan's brother drove him out. He came to Peshawar. Youmight thluk our military power overawed him. Ie didn't. It raised his ambition*. He vfented to control military power also. His first step in the direction of realising his ambition was to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. While thore he dreamed that he should be a great chief. He hurried back to Penhawur, started for his own country, and, collecting a few followers, began to fulfil prophecy by killIng his brother. Then he bought arms. "There are always a certain number of stolen rifles to be had on the frontier, and as Umra Khan had money ho had no difficulty in procuring some of theee. For some of the rifles with which he armed his troops he paid as much as 200 rupees each. He see to work to drill his followers, and before long proceeded to turn his father-in-law out of Dir. A most determined character Umra Khan. Sometimes he was beaten in the fights he had, bathe always came up smiling. There is no donbt that he was a soldier, and that he has bad a greafc deal of military experience. Another thing about him: he was an excellent organiser—perhaps a greater than has ever appeared among the mountaineers. In addition to his high abilities, it must be remembered farther that at a fanatic he wae hand and glove with the Mollahs. It was alco to his advantage that there was a weak ruler in Swat." THE RELIEVING EXPEDITION. The expedition formed for the relief of Dr. Robertson and his fellow officers at Chitral was an extraordinarily large one for »uch a purpose, but when it is remembered that.they had to cross some of the most difficult mountain passes, aye, and tn fight their way step by step, the expedition was found to be none too large for the purpose. In addition to this, there was the certainty that if they were driven back in their earlier engagements, the native tribes who were at present doubtful would most certainly declare against them, whilst if victory attended their earlier efforts they might with «qual certainty count upon assistance from theee tribes. In addition to all this, the Indian winter, during which many of the mountain passes between Peshawur and Chitral are utterly impassable, wa3 close at hand, and if the force were stopped at anytime in its course it is' doubtful if the relief could be afforded till too late. The relieving force, which numbered 14,000 men, was composed as follows :— In Chief Command: Major-General Sir Boberc Low, K.C.B. Ist Brigade: Brigidier General Kinlocb, C.B. l»t JBa. King's Royal Bifle Corps.

l?t B.i. The Bedford Regiment. loth Sikhs and 37th Dojcras. Field Hospitals: No. 1 British, No. 14 Natire. 2nd Brigade : Brigadier-General Gatacre, D.S.O. Ist Bn. The Gordon Highlanders. 2-; d 80. King's Osvn Borderers. The Infantry of the Corps of Guides. The 4lh Sikh Infantry. Field Hospitals: No. 2 British, No. 35 Native. 3rd Brigade : Colonel on the Staff, Colonel H. Waterford. Ist 80. The Bulls. 2nd Bn. The Seaforfch Highlanders. 25ih Punjab Infantry. 2nd Bn. 4th Gurkha Rifle*. Field Hospitals: No. 3 British, No. 19 Nasi re. On the Line of Communications: A.D.C., Col. A. G. Hammond, V.C., C.8., D.5.0., commanding. Ist Bxttalion East Lancashire Regiment. 29th Punjab Infantry. 30th Punjab Infantry. Nα 2 (Derajat) Mountain Battery. Field Hospitals: No. 4 British, No. — Natire. Divisional Troops. The Cavalry of the Guides. 11th Bengal Lancers. 13th Bengal Lancers. No. 3 Mountain Battery, R.A. No. 8 Mountain Battery, R.A.. No. 4 (Hazara) Mountain Battery. 13i.h B-ngal Infantry. 23rd Pioneers. Nor. 1, 4, and 6 X Companies. Bengral Sappers and Miners. Field Hmpitate : British, two sections ; Native, Nos. 17 and 18. The staff officers who accompanied the expedition were r— • In Chief Commend." Major General Sir Bobert Low" K.C.B. Aide de-camp. Lieut. Low, 9cb Bengal Lancers. , Orderly-officer, Lieut. Irvine, 3rd Bengal Infantry. Divisional Staff. Chief-of-thc-Sfcaff, Colonel Biudon Blood, B.E. Asst.-Adjt. General, Lt.-Col. Craigie, H.L.I. Asst.Qruir.-Genl., Lt.-Col.. Dyes, 33rd Punjab lafy. . D.-A. Q. M. Gen., C*pr. J. Nixon, 18sh Bengal Lrs, IntelHgeuce Officer, Lt. Robertson, 3rd Dn. Guards. , ; Col. on-the-Staff, R. A.', Col. W. W. Murdoch, R.A.. Stair-Captain, R.A.j Capfcain M. F. Fcgen, R.A.. Col.-onthe-Staff, R.E., Lt.Col. H. P. Leach, R.B. Ar.st.-Supt.Army-Sig., Capt. O'Ltary, Roy. Irish Fus. Provoat. Marshal, Capt. Sbakeapear, 6th B.C. Principal-Medical-Officer, Srgn.-Colonel Martir* Chfxpl.iin, B.AV. H. W. Bash. Inspeciiug-Vefcy.-Officer,Vet.-Lieut.CoJ. Poyser. Divl.-Commfc.-Offlcer, Lleut.-Col. Yaldwin. ... Divl.- Transport-Officer, Major FifczGerald. ■ . Asst.-Tr.insport-Officer, Major Lambe, Norfolk R*fc. ■. , Brigade- Staff. Ist BrigntTe, Br'Gen. A. Kinloch, C.8., commanding. D.A.A.G. and Q.M.G., Captain Bunbury, 25th P.I. Brigiide-Major, Capt. H. E. Stanton, R.A. Commissariat-Officer, Capt. N. S. Swansfeon. 2nd Brigade, Br. -Gen. H. 6.' Waterfleld, commdp;. D.A. A.G. and Q.M.G., Captain Hamilton, E. Lane. R«r. . Brigade-Major, Captain Batten, 2ad F.C. Commissariat-Officer. Major Bond. 3rd Brigade. Br. Gen. Gatacre, D.5.0., commandiu^. D.A.A.G. and Q.M.G., Capt. L. Herbert, C.I.H. Bripade-Major Capfc. Sfcockwell, H.L.I. Commisaariat-Officer, Capt. Williams. Divisional Troops. Brigade-Major, Capt. Younghusband, G.C. Commandingß.A.,Lieut-ColonelAltken R.A. Commissariat Officer, Capt. R. W, Nicholson. Line of Communications. In command, A.D.C. to the Queen, Br.General Hammond, V.C., C.8., D.S.O. D.A.A.G. and Q.M.G., Maj. Muaro, Senforth Hißhr*. Brigade-Major. Commissariat-Officer, Lieut. Badcock. Prin.-Sled.-Officer, Surgeon - Colonel Thomson. Baie.Corunaandanfc, Major Barrow, C.M.G., 12th 8.1.