33,000 MEN

Grey River Argus, 26 April 1937, Page 5

33,000 MEN

FIGHTING TRIBES On Indian Frontier (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received April 25, 7.30 p.ni.) SIMLA, April In Waziristan, there is 'a concentration’ of thirty-three thousand troops, five companies, light tanks, and two 'quadrons of t-hc' Air Force, and there has also been the assumption of pol'itical control over Waziristan and the neighbouring tribal areas by General Sir John ' Colei idge, Commander-in-Chief o f t lie Northern Command. With this, an operation against the Fakir of Tpi has been begun in, earnest. The. First Division, from Rawalpindi, has already moved. Two of its infantry brigade-) have established themselves at Bridgehead, south of the Tochi River, and' are occupying an advanced eamp in Tochi and nie'.ghbouring strategical points. The opposition is slight. The casualties have been two Sepoys killed and eight wounded. One of the air squadrons has bombed an assemblage of tribesmen, near Tochi.

A Lashkar (tribal force) two or three hundred strong, which the Fak't of Ipi led in the early stages, la'.ded .' border village, carried of Hindus, and looted and: burned shops.