THE CHITRAL TROUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2146, 11 April 1895, Page 21

THE CHITRAL TROUBLE.

TERRIBLE EFFECTS BY THE MAXIM

GUN. Calcutta, April 4.

Nine hundred natives matched to Gilgit and offered their services to tho British authorities.

TheChitralexpeditionis experiencing great difficulty with the transport service owiDg to the roughness of the country and the rapid rate at which the troops are marchiog. They are advancing at top speed. The second and third brigades stormed tho Malakund Pass after five hours' fighting. The Scottish Borderers dashed boldly at the enemy, who numbered 12,000, and they retreated with heavy loss. The British casualties were slight. Tho advanced brigades have now crossed into Swat.

Ucnra Khan has imprisoned two British officers and seven Sepoys. His troop 3 are gathering and entrenching themselvcß at Mandar. The British forces have now resumed their advanc3.

April 5.

The Swatis Bwurmed on both fides of the pass. Their shooting wss wild, but if they had been armed with modern weapons ifc would have been impossible to dislodge them with the force at the disposal of the British general. The machine guns mowed them down by hundreds.

The first brigade has captured Shatchot pass.

Another brigade is being prepared for service in Chitral.

The efforts of the troops from Gilgit to force the Maatuj Pass failed owing to the blinding snow storm. ' Fifteen were killed on the British side. B brigades are at Maiakund Pass.

The R\nizai tribesmen defeated at the storming of Malakund have since submitted to the British.

April G.

The news has been confirmed that Umra Khan's forces captured Lieutenants Fowler and Edwards and nine Sepoys. near Masfcuj Pass immediately after the disaster to Lieutenant Ros3's party, and they were conveyed to Horwa, near Alikand, where they were well treated. Dr Robertson, the British Agent, and the Ohitral garrison are safe and not pressed by the ensmy. They have at present plenty of provisions. It is officially announced that 10 British and three Sepoyri were killed at the engagement at Malakand Pass, and 10 officers, 25 British, and 27 Sapoys wounded.

April 7,

Umra Khan, with a large force, is preparing to resist the advance of the British troops at Taloob river to-morrow.

It is estimated that the Swatis have already lost at least 1000 men in the recent engagements.

April 8.

Tho first and second brigades united at Aladind and captured Thana. Umra's cavalry and tribesmen resisted the passage to the Swat river, and after a lively skirmish 100 of them were killed. Chakrat was occupied.

Attempts are beirg renewed to open communication between Gilgit and Chitral.

Tha third brigade has reached the Malakund PaES.

The enemy, who numbered 5000, remained at the other end of the valley, waiting for the Btitish advance; 1200 took up a position on the hills and fired from the hillsides. The Sikhs clambered up the slopes and fleicoly engaged them, while the guides and cavalry charged and dislodged the main body. Th& Bedfordshire Regiment repuleed the attack directed upon the stores.

The British loss is reported under 24

A thousand men, led by Umra Khan himself, were waiting at the Aladind fords, in a strong position, but despite a constant fire they directed from the heights the British troop 3 crossed the fords with a brilliant dash, the Bengal Lancers being first over. Umra himself flod, being pursued by tho cavalry for nine rnilas.

Thirteen Sepsys were wounded at the Swat river e"g-»temenfc.

London, April 4.

Advices from India state that the Gordon Highlanders and Scottish Borderers stormed the Malakund Pass. The artillery used the Maxim guns with terrible efftct on the enemy, who lost over 500 men. The attacking force had only three men killed and about 50 wounded!.

The casualties on the British side at the storming of the Malakund Pass numbered 40. The enemy lined themselves behind a stone breastwork, which the Scottish Borderers carried at the point of the bayonet. The enemy consisted chiefly of Umra Khan's supporters. The brigades from Swat and Molak are expected to meet to-night at Alabacd. Terrible rains have been experienced in the Chitral country, and the Swat river is flooded.

Melbourne, April 4.

The Government are making application to the Imperial authorities for pertnisbion to attach several local officers to the Ohitral expedition in order to gain experience in the field.

The Malnkund Pas 9, which was stormed after five hours' lighting, is about 10 miles from Cabul, and affords the only practical route for troops over the range of mountains which lie just beyond the most northerly boundary of ths district of Punjab. At the fcob of that rauge, on its northern side, ia situated Swat, at fcho juuetion of two mountain streams.

Mr Hagg<m, of the "Vyoodville Examiner, and well-known in the Taieri district, is said to be likely to run Mr Hall for the Waipawa seat. The Kaitangata correspondent of the Bruce Herald states that Mr Robert Aitcheson found a whale on the beach, whirh he is now boiling down for the oil. It had evidently been through someone's hands before, aa a knife was found embedded in the flesb»