INDIAN FRONTIER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 184, 29 April 1908, Page 7

INDIAN FRONTIER.

BIOHMAND WAS. REINFORCEMENTS GOING FORWARD. f!Y' TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COFYIUGITT- , Calcutta, April 27. Tho Indian Government is sending additional cavalry and more European troops to the Mohmand country. STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY. PERMANENT OCCUPATION-IS IT , .REMOTE ? : . Our Duncdin correspondent telegraphs:— ." Staff : Sorgeaut. Major Bilrgcss, who was 20 years on tho Indian Frontier,- says—'l have often come into contact with tlio .Mohmands. Thoycan rais<\ about 15,000 fighting men, and ,they aro a' cruel, cunning," treacherous, foe. They aro reckless fighters. A fow years, rigo, I remoinber, they attacked a snitll town' just outside of Peshawar (whei ; o tho British had 10.000 troops) and burnt it. Tho Somersets and a couplo of batteries were-sent out against them; but the' Mohni&nds Attacked; and tho British had' to retire. Eventually,. of courso, ,tho Natives lvore forced back over.tho.border, as will happen-in this case.' Until their:country is, strongly pai'risoncd, they will always menace the British, oii the frontiers. ... • '"The names cabled from India aro weird and ■grotesque things. For instance, in the earlier mossages tho Mohmands. were called Moesmantics, and tho town of Shapkedar has been given a title that simply staggered me; Then .I" read that the Mohmands defended ; themselves behind a "laager," of course "siingah" is meant—a long, thick; loopholed wall made of stories; sods, and timber; I don't suppose they ever heard of a lhager. And they haven't any waggons to make one-'-havon't "even a handcart among tliein."' '• ; > ■ Theio is a growing recognition' at Homo of the point .raised by Staff-Rergeant-Major Burgess, that raids .and troubles of the present kind must continuo unless or until the tribal country-is occupied. Lord Curaon, ex-Viceroy of India, lately stated that thero is every argu-. ment, in favour of an ultimate complete occupation of the tribal' territory; right lip to tho Durand line, except, that of present practicability; ".The Times'' comments that the day of permanent occupation is'still remote, arid adds:—'". Wo • cannot : at present ontangle ourselves in a prolonged series of intricate operations, costly and unproductive in character* for the sake of attaining the ideal of administra-. tive control to tho borders of Afghanistan. The present system is. not ideal, and; the exploits of the Zakka Khels\ show that it is . sometimes liable to break down at isolated points; but.it is reasonably 'cheap, it avoids the danger of frequent complications, and it does not add to our already overgrown responsibilities in India." According to yesterday's cablegrams, Viscount Morley, Secretary, for . India, has given the Indian I 'Government a free hand, provided 'that there is no permanent occupation of territory. . — ■- . |