AFGHANISTAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 129, 4 June 1919, Page 5

AFGHANISTAN

BRITISH CONCENTRATION PROCEEDING. SOME BOEDER TRIBES WAVERING (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association) »gj . - .. LONDON, May 22. Largfc forces of Juglxans are facing the British expedition. The Afghan regulars, being well armed’ and well equipped, are in every way formidable adversaries. The British concentration east of Khyber is proceeding steadily. The Amir’s attempts to raise the border tribes have generally failed, though some are wavering. Owing to desertions the British disbanded the Khyber Rifles. The British representative at Kandahar has reached Quetta, He says a jehad is being vigorously preached. PESHAWAR SITUATION QUIETER. (Reuter’s Telegrams) SIMLA, Jutm 1. _ ■General .Nadir Khan entered Waziristan tribal territory along three routes with Afghan regulars and 36 guns. Their attacks on our posts were fainthearted and failed.

There is an impression that they are contenting themselves with long-range sniping. Evidently they are uncertain on which .side the V aziris sympathies lie. The nine-pounder gone used, by the Afghans in the recent skirmishes had very little destructive effect. There is no chance of the enemy reaching Baunu or Kohat, Our concentrations are proceeding rapidly. The Afghan troops fled from Birkot. (Jur advance continues. Measures were taken to punish villagers at Utmazal, twenty mi leg Bom Peshawar, where the ringleaders of a dangerous intrigue were arrested. This has had a quietening effect in Peshawar. STATEMENT BY MR MONTAGUE. (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Australian and N.Z Cable Association) LONDON, May 22. The Hon. F,. S. Montagu, Secretary for India, speaking in the House ft Commons, said it was now clear that the new Amir of Afghanistan. _ in a moment of suicidal folly, authorised a.u unprovoked rdtack. His motives ueic doubtful. We desired nothing except friendly relations with the neighbouring country but we intended to exact stem but‘just punishment for the raids and invasion.