THE AFGHANISTAN INCIDENT.

Evening Star, Issue 10340, 14 June 1897, Page 2

THE AFGHANISTAN INCIDENT.

BRITISH FORCE ATTACKED BY NATIVES. [Feb Pbkss Association.—Copybioht.] LONDON, June 12. Further particulars of the attack on the British force in Afghanistan show that the expedition was accompanying Mr Gee, political officer of the Indian Department, who had been despatched to arrange the establishment of an outpost station at Sherani and collect a tribal fine. The expedition was surprised while resting under trees by a great force of Mulicks, organised by Powiudah, the notorious fanatic mallah or priest who was recently expelled for inciting tribesmen to.revolt. The expedition was taken completely by surprise, and was compelled to retreat, keeping up a desperate fight for a distance of four miles, when reinforcements arrived from Dattakel, and eventually the Mulicks were beaten oft'. The expedition succeeded in saving its guns, but sustained very severe losses. Captain J. F. Browne, Royal Artillery, son of the late Major-general Sir James Browne, Chief Commissioner and the Governor-General's agent in Beloochistan, and Lieutenant Hugh Alexander Cruickshank, Royal Artillery, with Colonel Bunny, the officer in command of the expedition, were killed, while all the other officers were seriously wounded, Strong reinforcements have beon despatched from India to the scene of the outbreak. CALCUTTA, June 13. The Mulicks brought the Afghanistan expedition a quantity of food, and suddenly a thousand tribesmen treacherously attacked the party. All the officers were wounded except Mr Herbert W. Gee, polir tical officer of the Indian Department at Tochi. The expedition offered a gallant resistance, fifty tribesmen being killed and many wounded.