TRIBAL TROUBLES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1437, 10 December 1919, Page 5

TRIBAL TROUBLES.

WHY WE BOMBED THE WAZIRB. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Tuesday, 5.5 p.m.) DELHI, December 7. The Foreign Department has issued a statement explaining the events leading up to the Waziristan trouble. 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 the Upper Tochi and Wana. In view of this partial occupation, and their undertaking not to raid other friendly tribes or British territory, the Wazirs and Mahsuds for many years have received liberal subsidies, and were treated with the utmost consideration. When the concentration of the Afghan forces rendered it necessary for the British to withdraw the militia from the outposts at Tochi and Wana in May, the Waziristan turned against us, and conducted numerous raids. In July they -informed the Afghan General that if the Afghans supplied the rifles .and money, they would drive the British across the river Indus. After peace with Afghanistan had been signed, the raids continued, consequently the present punitive operations were undertaken, in order to obtain security for the harassed border populations under British rule, and to teach I3)e recalcitrant tribes a much-needed lesson.