INDIAN FRONTIER TROUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 17

INDIAN FRONTIER TROUBLE.

(By Gable.) BOMBAY, February 27. Yesterday messengers arrived at our camp at Tatdatkinha, announcing the complete surrender of the tribal and Government rifles during the day. Subsequently 300 tribesmen arrived, and delivered a strange assortment of firearms, representing the tribal rifles and several Lewis guns. The tribesmen were informed that this delivery was inadequate, and did not fulfil the conditions imposed; consequently no settlement was possible. The tribesmen departed, and to-day a deputation representative of the whole of the Mahsud tribe arrived, and pleaded for a week to collect the Government rifles. They were given two days to completely surrender. March 4. The Derajate column has moved up the river towards Ladha without encountering an organised opposition, A number of chief tribesmen have visited the camp asking what steps were necessary to avoid a punitive expedition. They were told that' a stipulated number of rifles must immediately be forthcoming. Their request for a further 10 days to collect the rifles was refused.