THE THIBET EXPEDITION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 23

THE THIBET EXPEDITION.

FIERCE FIGHTING

A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR THE . * BRITISH. *

THE NATIVES REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSS.

LONDON. April 1

News lias been received that the Thibetans attacked Colonel YounghuSband’s expedition. After severe fighting in two engagements, the Thibetans were finally repulsed with heavy loss, and their camp at Gai*a captured.

Air E. Candler, the ‘Daily Mail's” correspondent at Tuna, telegraphing earlier on Thursdav. announced a rccconaissance in the morning, in force, of tlie Thibetans’ position at Guru. The Lhassan general advanced to confer with Colonel Youngiiusband, urging him to return to Hailing, and threatening to attack if the British proceeded. The troops occupied a Thibetan position near some springs without a shot, and then advanced on Guru.

The Tuna correspondent of “The Times” reports that the Lhassan general and another Thibetan sat at the outset with Colonel Younghusband and Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. L. MacDonald on a plain, and demanded that the expedition would retire. Colonel Younglmsbaud, after a quarter of an hour’s parley, refused to do so. The Thibetans thereupon gal lope,d back to their position behind sangars and a wall.

“The Times'’ correspondent, in his report,of the Thibetan engagement, states that, according to the well-defined policy of the expedition, every effort was made, in clearing the entrenchments and sangars so as to- avoid resort to force. The restraint of the 23rd Pioneers ami the 9th Glioorkas in quietly moving fifteen hundred Thibetans from their fortifications deserves the highest praiset After the Thibetans had been induced to retire from their sanga.rs to the wall across the highway their officials encouraged them to resist a pacific attempt to disarm them, which became necessary owing to their strong' language. Several, acting apparently upon suggestion. fired their matchlocks point-blank at the soldiers guauchng them, and suddenly attacked with swords.

The situation was momentarily critical. Colonel MacDonald and his staff were within ten yards of the advancing Thibetans, and Colonel YoungimiJjancl was near by. Revolvers and bayonets were used, then, under riflo fire, the Thibetans failed and ran.

Major Dunlop was wounded in the hand. Mr Chandler, the “Daily Mail’-’ correspondent, was wounded severely in the hands and head.

■ “The Times” report goes on to saq:— “The Thibetans lost heavily during the retreat. They further resisted our advance on Guru, and a few casualties happened in expelling them from a village.

“The killed included the Lhassan General and another Lama representing the Golden Monastery. To his influence and violent hostility a great part of the present difficulty is due. “The fight is likely to be a sharp lesson, and will save hundreds of lives by convincing the Thibetans that procrastination is useless, and that Britain is in earnest.

“Our casualties numbered a dozen The Thibetan loss is 450.

“It is a most significant fact that three of the General’s escort were armed with rifles hearing the Russian Imperial Stamp. I secured one from a dead Thibetan. Russian ammunition was also found.” Furtheivdetailis of the encounter concur in showing that Colonels Younghnisband and-m MacDonald exercised the greatest' possible forbearance and patience.

“The Times” says that if the history of the rifles found on the Thibetans could he traced, it would probably afford the true explanation of their prolor ged obstinacy. The German newspapers, commenting on the Thibet question on the eve of the Guru fight, unanimously expressed! the opinion that Lord Curzoris speech during the Budget debate in the Indian Council was a direct intimation to Russia of British intentions regarding the security of her frontiers in India. LONDON, April 2.

“ Later particulars of the encounter state that the casualties of the Thibetans numbered 750. Artillery was uisecl towards the G)uru mounted troops, and then the Ghoorkas pushed them with bayonets. The British troops quietly herded the Thibetans like sheep in a position partly on *a ridge overhanging the road and partly on the wall.

The majority were sullen. The Lliasaa.u General incited the Thibetans to

throw stones. He then fired a pistol, the shot smashing a Sikh’s jaw. At the report of the pistol—which was doubtless a preconcerted signal—all the Thibetans drew their swords, after firing, and rushed forward. Thereupon the officers fired revolvers on the aggressors.

The Sikhs opened a heavy fire, and half the Thibetans retreated, coming under t.i• live of gums. Maxims and rifles. Some of the Thibetans desperately advanced to the. wall. Eight were found with nine bullet wounds in their bodies. Piles of dead were near the wall. The artillery expelled the majority from Guru, a bayonet rush dislodging sixty of the more obstinaro. “The Times’’ that Air Chaudier was. sitting writing at the moment of tie; onslaught

The Thirtye.ioeond Pioneers and the Second Mount eels are established at Guru as an advanced post. Some of the Thibetan prisoners have been detained to act ns nurses to. ISO of their fellows, who are badly wounded. The remainder of the have been sent to their homen where' their reports of the recent incident are expected to have great iis Lienee. The correspondent of “The- Times’’’ says the Thibetan am balance men declare their plan was to allow the oseort to paras, and then to attack the mission •as it was passing through the wall. Colonel MacDonald frustrated, this plan by insisting on disarmament, though lie did not suspect the intentions of the Thibetans to attack the party. Cblolncli Ma.oDcns.kl shot three of Dunlop’s assailants with a revolver.

The “ Daily News” denounces the- forward policy, which it considers is calculated to lead to the establishment of a permanent mission and a. large 'garrison at Lhassa.

The “ Chronicle ” views, the outlook with deep misgivings'. Other newspapers point- out that Britain’s sole object is to establish tolerable relations. If there is; to be any foreign preponderance in Thibet, it can only be Britain’s.

PARIS. April 2. The journal “ De-bats ” appreciates the reasonableness of the claim urged by certain British newspapers regarding Thibet.