THE ADVANCE IN THIBET

Otago Witness, Issue 2612, 6 April 1904, Page 15

THE ADVANCE IN THIBET

ENEMY DRIVEN FROM GURU.

RUSSIA ASSISTING THIBET.

THE EXPEDITION^ ATTACKED.

A SULLEN AND OBSTINATE FOE.

ENEMY LOSE HEAVILY.

LONDON, March 29. Colonel Younghusband's escort in his mission in Thibet are in excellent spirits. They are advancing through the Tangla Pass at an altitude of 15,000 ft. They ■will reach Tanu to-day, and Gyangtse on April 11. -

April 1. ,-; The Thibetans attacked Colonel Younghusband's expedition, and, after severe fighting in two engagements, the Thibetans were finalty repulsed with heavy loss, their camp at Guru being captured. The Daily Mail's correspondent .at "Tuna, telegraphing early on Thursday, announced a reconnaissance that morning in force of the Thibetans' position at Guru, The Lhassa general advanced to con- • fer Tvith 'Colonel Younghusband, and urged him to return to Hatung, threatening to attack if the British proceeded. The troops occupied the Thibetan position near some springs without a shot, and then -advanced on Guru. The Times' Tuna, correspondent reports that the Lhassan general and another Thibetan sat at 'the outset with Colonel Younghusband and Lieutenantcolonel J. R. L. Macdonald on the .plain and demanded that the expedition should retire. Colonel Younghusband, after a quarter of an ,hour's parley, refused to • do so. The Thibetans thereupon, galloped back to their position behind Bangars and walls. The Times' correspondent reports that the Thibetans lost heavily during their retreat. They further resisted our advance on Guru,' and a few casualties happened when expelling them from the village. The killed included a Lhassan general and another lama- representing .the Golden Monastery. To his influence arid his violent hostility a great , part of the present difficulty is due. i - v The action is likely .to prove a sharp .lesson, and- will .probably- save hundreds of lives,' convincing" the Thibetans 'that .procrastination." isi useless, and that Brit"ain v is- in -earnest.'' Our casualties .number^ed .a dozen. The Thibetan loss was. 4501 ' '*. ". .. .. ,A '.most significant,, fact is- that three jof the general's- escort were armed with rifles bearing' the, Russian Imperial stamp. The correspondent adds: "I secured one from a dead Thibetan. Russian ammunition was also found." Details- of the encounter concur in Bhowing that Colonel Younghusband and Colonel Macdonald - exercised the greatest possible forbearance and ■patience. r '.. The Times says that the history of the rifles found on the Thibetans probably aSords tlie true explanation of their prolonged obstinacy. ' ' The ' Times' correspondent's report of , the Thibetan^ engagement states that according to our well-defined policy every effort wa9 made in clearing the entrenchments and sangars to avoid a resort to force. The restraint of the 23rd Pioneers and the Bth Ghoorkas in moving 1500 Thibetans from their fortifications quietly deserves the highest praise. After the Thibetans had been induced to retire from their sangars to a wall across the highway their officials encouraged them to resist the pacific attempt to disarm ' them, which became necessary owing to .the strong language j of the omeials. Several, acting apparently upon suggestion, fired their match- j locks point-blank at the soldiers who were guarding them, and suddenly attacked them with swords. - j The situation was momentarily critical, as Colonel Macdonald and his staff were within 10 yards, of the advancing Thibetans, and Colonel Younghusband •was near by. Revolvers and bayonets were used, and then, under rifle fire, the Thibetans failed and ran: ■ Major Dunlop was wounded in the hand, and Mr Chandler, th© Daily Mail correspondent, was wounded severely in the hands and head. April 2. '.. The Thibetan casualties numbered 750. ' The artillery was used towards the Guru mounted troops, and then the Ghoorkas rushed them with bayonets. Further details show that the British troops quietly herded the Thibetans like sheep into a position partly on a ridge overhanging a road and partly on a wall. The majority were sullen.The Lhassan general incited the Thibetans to throw stones, and then fired a pistol 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 ©fiicers fired their revolvers on the aggressors, and the Sikhs opened a heavy .fire. Half the Thibetans who, retreated came under the fire of the guns, Maxims* and rifles. Some Thibetans

desperately advanced to the wall, and eight were found with nine bullet wounds in their bodies. Piles of dead were near the wall.

The artillery expelled the majority from Guru with a bayonet rush, dislodging 60 obstinates. The Times states that Mr Chandler was sitting writing at the moment of the onslaught.

The 32nd Pioneers and the 2nd Mounteds are established at Guru as an advanced post.

Some Thibetan prisoners have been detained to act as nurses to 180 soldiers who were badly wounded. The remainder will be sent to their homes, where their report of the recent incident is expected to have a great influence.

The Times' correspondent f-ays the Thibetan ambulance men declare the plan was to allow the escort to pass and then to attack the mission as it was passing through the wall. General Macdonald frustrated this plan by insisting on disarmament, though he did not suspect the intention <ci the Thibetans to attack the party.

General Macdonald shot three of Dunlop's assailants with his revolver.

The Daily News denounces any forward policy, which, it says, is calculated to lead to the establishment of a

permanent mission and a large garrison at Lhassa.

Tire Chronicle views the outlook with deep misgiving, but other newspapers show that Britain's sole object is to establish tolerable relations, and assert that if there is to be any foreign preponderance in Thibet it can only be Britain's. April 4. Though the Sikhs surrounded the Thibetans at Hot Springs on Thursday a collision was not expected. The officers dismounted and commenced lunching and photographing. The Thibetan general, whose behaviour at the interview with General Younghusband indicated a determination, to die or turn the mission back, deliberately precipitated the conflict, and only the piiomptness and skill of Lieutenantcolonel Macdonald and a fe.w officers with revolvers stopped' the first desperate push. : Even when their ranks were broken the Thibetans disdained to run, and tramped steadily and sullenly away through, the mountain, while a battery of Maxims and magazine rifles poured ti hail of bullets into them. The affray lasted 10 minutes. All the Thibetan, general's escort \ perished; also five high Lhassan | officials. The Thibetans outnumbered the Sikhs by eight to one- The swordsmen were unable -to reach the Sikhs, owing to the latter's bayonets. The Chinese Ambassador has written to' Colonel' Younghusband stating that he wished to meet him eailier, but the Dalai Llama refused him transport. He intends coming to Gyangtse.

A reconnaissance revealed a strong Thibetan position at Many Wells, six miles east of the Hot Springs on the alternative route. The Chassap camp must have contained 2000 men, but it was abandoned in great haste.

Colonel Younghusband has visited the wounded, and informed them that tho mission was still peaceful, and only desired to treat with Thibet. He promised that all the wounded would be released when cured.

The Lhutanese are most friendly, and are cordially receiving the British survey party.

PARIS, April 2.

, The journal Debats appreciates the reasonableness of the British claim.