INDIAN FRONTIER TROUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 20

INDIAN FRONTIER TROUBLE.

& (By Cable.) CAMPAIGN AGAINST MAHSUDS. ALLAHABAD, February 20. _ The British column advancing in Waziristan (North-west Frontier of India) has reached Makin, the second largest Mahsiid village.. Our covering parties were much harassed by snipers, and suffered some loss, but. five groups of fortified hamlets were demolished, with considerable loss to the tribesmen. The rifles and fines promised to be- delivered by the Mahsuds have not yet been handed in. DELHI, February 22. A deputation from Shamankher came in offering 64 rifles instead of 150, and this offer was refused. Soon after midnight Lucas's force moved out, and drove the Mahsuds from the villages. We were subjected to troublesome fire, the tribesmen taking advantage of sniping from cover. A large body of tribesmen, coming on in waves, got no nearer than 100yds, owing to our Lewis guns and grenades. February 23. The destruction of Makai, the Mahsud capital, has begun. 0-ur Gurkhas rushed the town, bombed the tribesmen out "of their houses where they were sleeping, and drove them into the hills. Then innumerable towers and houses were demolished, and this rich and populous district will soon be a mass of charred ruins. High explosives, howitzer shells, and gelignite combined, create a scene of desolation. , This destruction has been carried on under persistent sniping -by the tribesmen, and the covering troops have been at times hotly . engaged with the mad rushes of the tribesmen, who attacked in waves, but were held up by our Lewis guns and grenades. General Climb, the officer commanding, visited the scene, and declared that the difficulties of this campaign are greater than those encountered by any previous frontier expedition. February 26. The tribes of Kurram and the Kurram Militia had a spirited encounter with 2000 Mangals and Indians from Khost, who attacked the Kurram border near Itakkteja. The invaders were entirely defeated, and lost 120 killed. Our losses were 20 villages killed and wounded.