INDIAN FRONTIER TROUBLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1712, 31 December 1919, Page 5

INDIAN FRONTIER TROUBLE.

THE MAHSUD SETTLEMENT. SKEEN MARCHING UPON KOTKAI. By _ Electric Telegraph.—Copyright Australian-New Zealand Cable Association DELHI, Dec. 29. It will bo necessary for the forces to remain in the Mahsud country to ensure the faithful carrying out of the peace terms, and to enforce the surrender of rides The latter will be difficult, as the fanatical tribesmen have not before possessed arms, and prize them highly. The column must now presumably proceed against the Wana Waziris, to whom terms have yet to bo dictated. The experience against the Mahsuds had shown the futility of dictating terms without strong forces backing up our demands. The majority of the Mahsud chiefs have now arrived at Jandala. It is believed that when they meet General Clino they will sign the acceptance of all the terms.

Skeen’s column to-morrow will march on Kotkai, which is said to be the supply depot of the Mahsud army. It is significant that Musa Kahn, the most relentless Mahsud . chief, controlling most of tiro northern Mahsuds, who has contemptuously kept away from Jandala, is now at Kotkai with Fayildin, another intractable fanatic, with a'force of 500 Wana JTaziris and 500 Mahsuds. .It is- not supposed that they are desirous of cheering tho entry of the column into. Kotkai, and it will not be surprising, therefore, if to-morrow witnesses tho last stand of the tribesmen in this region.- The Wana Waziris were against the' operations, just concluded, or it is probable they would have put at least 3000 fighting men into tho field.