AFFAIRS IN INDIA.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15939, 28 June 1917, Page 5

AFFAIRS IN INDIA.

UNRULY FRONTIER TRIBESMEN. MAHSUD RAIDERS PUNISHED. (By Cable —Press Association—CopyrigHt.) (Router's Telegrams.) SIMLA, Juno 25. An official message slates:— . '''Successful oporali-ons v.-cre conducted by tlie "Waziristan field forcc, assisted bv a Neupares contingent, against tho Mahsuds. "The enemy was severely punished. Our casualties are light. - ' The Mahsuds are a band of marauding frontier tribesmen in India. The following comir,unique describing roeent Mahsud outrages ivas recently issued at Simla: —''Since the end of March the Mahsud tribe have been giving trouble oil' the Dcrajat border, telegraphic eommurieations being interfered with, a few shots fired at the .Jando]n Fort and a convoy picket ambushed. On April 9th convoy pickets were ambushed, losing several killed and wounded. The Derajat movable column, therefore, left Tank on April 10th and moved up the Gemal Valkjy towards "Wana. The Mahsuds occupie/1 a position on the rand, but dispersed before the column reached it. Up to the end of the month the Mahsuds continued active, small raids being committed in several directions, and the concentration of large gangs being reported. On May Ist a convoy was attacked, but beat off its assailants, with the loss of two British and two Indian officers, and 50 Indian rank and file killed; one British officer and two Indian officers, and 50 Indian rank and file being wounded." It will be seen from this eommtmio'ie, states tho "Pioneer Mail" (of Allahabad) that the Mahsuds have added to the long fist of outrages for which, as has already been announced, they are to be brought to strict account when our preoccupations elsewhere allow. Their depredations during the past two years have caused considerable lose, and their latest proceedings will render their punishment all the more sure. Considering the attitude of the Mahsuds it is all the more gratifying that, to quote the words of the Viceroy, "tV orreat mass of the tribesmen have turned a deaf ear to the intrigues of our enemies and the frontier as a whole has stood solidly Iojal." ,