INDIAN FRONTIER.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 December 1919, Page 5

INDIAN FRONTIER.

TH$ MAHSU/D REVOLT. , BRITISH/FORCES vADVMCING.. CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION. (Australian and .'N.Z. Cable Associatio _) ALLAHABAD, Deo. 20. Our forces advanced five miles into the Mahsud:'■country from Jandola since 18th., capturing' ; positions alter stiff fighting. '•■/'■■ , . Twenty / aeroplanes accompanied the column bombing and. 'machinegunning the country ahead. The chief surprise for the Mahsulls was our new «J. 7 howitzer, which is a most compact, convenient gun. Much sniping was going on and we suffered v casualties m the attack on the Surkai ridge. An official communique reporting the failure of negotiations, states that considerable opposition is expected to our advance in Makin. .

A BIG BATTLE

ENEMY REPULSED

/ BOMBAY, Dtec, 20. A Bor'ajat column from Jandola on the 18th engaged in the biggest battle the expedition has thus far produced. Sakat Ridge was held by two thousand MaHsads, while an entrance was made to.Shah.ur aiid the hills westward of Jandola by mixed forces of Wazirs and Mahsuds. The enemy were driven from the ridge in the direction of Spinakaikuch, and the hills, which we occupied. Art.llery and aeroplanes continue to hatr.iss the tribesmen who suffered heavily. Our casualties are slight. PUNJAB DJSAFFECTION. SHOOTING OCCURS. REASONS FOR AGITATICST."

(Australian and N.2. Cable Association.) (Received this day at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 19. Striking the disaffection in the are The pi'incipal reasons for the political agitation are alleged to be the high prices of,food and other necessaries. Mohammedan unrest and public noggin«s, and the long intervals between the arrest and trial of agitators,, hundreds of whom have been goaled. Shootings occurred in many places, especially Lahore, where mobs took the city the Europeans being evacuated with difficulty. Eventually the 43,rd Brigade, supported by four aeroplanes, two carrying bombs, retook the city.

The temper-Of the crowd was sullen and savage. Commissioners and military commanders reported that the shooting of Dyer at Amritsar had an install taneous effect and., the disaffection *s rapidly declining. Officials admit quasi public floggings had been numerous and* also admit that a priest and a wedding party were flogged because the gathering numbered more than the ten permi«f-.able under martial law. The Magistrate responsible for these* floggings was dismissed.

AVIATION. ROSS SMITH INTERVIEWED. HAZARDOJji~JO"URNEY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received this day at 9.15 a.m.) BRISBANE, Deo. 22. Ross-Smith, interviewed at Cloucur iy,. said the trouble on the journey from Darwin arose from the fact that when he was leaving Calcutta, (sic.) a hawk struck and cracked the t propeller. This gradually grew worse but he hoped it would see him. through to Sydney. When nearing Anthony's Lagoon, after the blade had been mended with wire, the propeller suddenly split. He managed to make a good landing near an artesian bore. He thought the case hopeless a-! two blades were badly frplit. With the assistance of police officers; and men 'engaged at the bore, their only working 1 tools being, poc set knives and pieces of glass, they managed after "three and a-half days hard work to make the propeller again servicsable, and he travelled in short "Etajres to Cloucurry, staj ring all night at various stations, where he replenished his supplies and petrol. They encountered thunderstorms and high winds., which seriously tested the damaged propeller. The crew were almost worn out with the continuous work.

FOOD PROBLEM.

THE POSITION IN.) SOUTH AFRICA.

THE TROUBLE SPREADING

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

CAPETOWN, Deo. 19. The embargo on the export of food stuffs continues.

The railway union, in sympathy ■with members of the inland centres, is taking action to prevent railage to til© coast.

MINISTER'S WARNING.

fEEUTEB'B TBLEOEAM.I

CAPETOWN, Dec. 19

Hon. 11. Burton., Minister of Railways, interviewed the local trade *. nion secretaries' and pointed out that the Government had already stopped the exportation of meal, bacon and eggs and would act similarly with other commodities of which a shortage existed. The Government was doing the utmost ".o protect consumers >while: heeding the importance of not destroying the export ti-ade. I He characterised direct action amongst the whites as most dangerous and reprehensible being calculated to inflame the native mind.