ARMS FOR AFGHANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14282, 3 August 1908, Page 5

ARMS FOR AFGHANS

EFFECT OP SMUGGLING. Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, July 31. The Timee' Simla correspondent emphasises the statement that the smuggling of breech-loaders into Afghanistan" Iwill ultimately iTioiui a formidable increase in the Afghans' offensive strength, and' is thus an encouragement to tribal insurrection. Bluejackets of H.M.S. Proserpine had an OXeihiig fight on tlie ■'btvtoh at Jaek, on the Persian Gulf, an Auril 19 with a rang of gun-runners, described as Afghan®. Letters received in Portsmouth stated that tJio Proserpino had captured a <lho\r containing 1650 rifles and about a million ' rounds cf nimnunitioii. The dhow's Crow , were armed, but tlioy wore evidently surprised and overawed. Next, morning the cnthor Hyacinth, flagship of the East Indies squadron, joined the Proserpine, and remained in consequence of Afgl#n rhicats to 'wipe out" tlie British reservation ufc Jaslf. Marines armed with Maxims were landed. ' As several suspicions craft were sighted, a steamboat, cuttoi', and whaler sent under Lieutenant Uaillie-Hamilton, to cxamino them. Two of the beats grounded in shallow water, find us iKc crows wero wading fishoro fire wis openexl on them from the beach. From tho shelter o£ Kindlulls a.i/.l pahn trees came a hail of bullets, fflio m<3n wero ordered to return to the boats, and on tho way hack one of them vras hit, but was dragged to the whaler. "lie cutler and steamboat returned tho enemy s lire, but the Maxim jammed aftor firing 25 rounds. Tlie Proserpine, from which the proceedings had boon watched, now opened with her 4in guns and threcpoitndcrs. Hie shells could bo seen blunting on the teach and among the trees. Some rifle shots from the sliore actually i cached the ship, over a mile away, doing slight' damage, but causing n o casualties, ilio boat parties were still in peril, Coxswain King, of the whaler's crew, being hit when getting on board, while a, bullot grazed t.lio lieutenant's arm. Coxswain King s wound was through lsoth lungs, and was caused by a. large bullot. • I-) 0 died about a.n hour later. Another man was hit in tho back, and on April 21, the day the letter was despatched, his case was deemed hopeless. The I'roierpino remained at .Task after the tignt, and landed l oil her marines, together with some from tho Hyacinth, which afterwards left for Busliiro.