RESTLESS WAZIRS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 139, 10 December 1919, Page 5

RESTLESS WAZIRS

BITING THE HAND THAT FED

THEM

A MUCH-NEEDED LESSON.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COrtRIGHT.) (REUTBR'S TELEGRAM.)

DELHI, 7th December.

Tlie Indian Foreign Department has issued a statement explaining the events leading to the .trouble in Waziristan. The Department points out that while interfering as little as possible with tribal independence, it has been necessary, to maintain posts garrisoned by local militia within certain'protected areas, notably in Upper Tochi and Wana. In view of this .partial occupation, and their undertaking not to raid other friendly tribes or British territory, the Waziris and Mahsuds have," for many years, received liberal subsidies, and were,treated with the utmost consideration. When a concentration of Afghan forces rendered it necessary for the British to withdraw the militia from the outposts at Tochi and Wana in May, Waziristan turned against us, and conducted numerous raids. In July they informed the Afghan general that if the Afghans supplied rifles and money they would drive the British across tho River Indus. After peace with Afghanistan was signed the raids continued, and consequently the present punitive operations were undertaken in order to obtain security for the harassed border populations under British rule, and teach the recalcitrant tribes a muchneeded lesson.