DIG FIGHT IN INDIA

Otago Witness, Issue 3519, 23 August 1921, Page 23

DIG FIGHT IN INDIA

BRITISH AND INDIAN BRAVERY. MAIISUDS’ HEAVY CASUAL! IDS. BRITISH PRIVATE'S FINE RELIEF AVDiUx. In our cable news reference is occasionally made to i r on tier fighting in India, but particulars of these engagements rarely appear in the New Zealand press. From tno Pioneer Mail, Allahabad, of June 30, v.e cull the following account of a big tight iii the lochi near Saidgi against the recalcitrant Aluhsuds of W’azirisian. Ine ;l ‘l l ay, in udf-lniou to tailing tort!) many dt.'ds of great bravery on tile part of individual officers, British and Indian, and British other ranis and JApovs, engaged actively three branches of tno service, to wit, armoured cars, infantry, and artillery, ali working m conjunction. The enemy, numbering about 2.0, had commenced operations in tin- early mo ruing ly seizing .-ix watering mules anil allowing the two • lhurabis to return, but there is little doubt that their primary object was to attack an outgoing convoy. Nous of this exploit I'.ming reached Siaidgi, a halt company of 14th Rajputs, under a Briti-it officer, witit an armoured car, were dispatched to clear up the situation. Our men were very soon at close quarters with the enemy, and a very still" light, in which the . nemy predominated in numbers by over three to one, ensued. However, the Rajputs refused to give ground for a very consul-arable time, although i. ey had lost 10 killed, including one Indian officer and one British officer, wounded. liien they retired to a more advantageous position, still encaging rite i nemy, and there awaited leinforceinents from Snidgi. GALLANT DEFENCE OF AN ARMOURED CAR. In the meantime the armoured car had sustained a mishap. \\ hen right in tho midst of th" enemy engine trouble began, arid it was ,efr ,-trauded in the road, with -\lahsud-: oil both .-ides ot it. "Ihe enemy, seeing that tne car had broken down, made detei nniined attorn; r to get at the crew, taking Lai tge : rough ground and with -short rushes. In spite of a continuous hail of (ire from the machine-gun. on the oar, which must have accounted for a considerable number of the enemy, they actually got close to it. Three’ < f tiirm C;u rn - it. 1 on top and made strenuous endeavours to open the doors. However, one of them plac'd himself over a loophole, and or; body rolled rn tlie ground. I ho British ranks inside, now realising that they- were lighting for (heir very lives, were using their machine-gun and rifles with deadly effect, and the road round tho car was strewn with bodies. Unfortunately one Alahsud, tiring blindly into ono of the engine side d ors, killed the driver. L no enemy, apparently now realising that attempts to gain entrance to the armoured car were futile, and their losses being so heavy, quickly retired to cover, from which they kept up a continuous fire on the stationary car BRAVE ACTION* BY A PRIVATE SOLDIER. Matters inside the car had now reached a critical stage, the engine still refusing to start, and the heat inside the steel plating was terrific. Thereupon one of the British privates voluntceered to attempt to get, across country to Saidgi, about one mile and a-half away, for further assistance. ihe chances were very remote of his even getting a few yards away from the car once he was outside, for bullets were striking the plating on all sides. But he actually succeeded in getting clean away without being hit. and he arrived in d a i d c i in an exhausted condition and delivered his message. Tie also gave the information that, a large number of the enemy were firing from a small village inst . ff the road, and 1 1 1 is gave the artillery their chan.e. ,\ number of howitzer shells were immediately dropped among the very surprised Mahsuds there, no doubt, causing a good number of casualties, as well as destruction to the houses, and particularly ono very prominent one, which was being used for sniping. ARRIVAL OF REINFORCEMENTS. In the meantime, without any loss of time, a company of tlie 130th (K.G.0.) Baluchis had been despatched to the relief of tlie party of the 14th Rajputs which had been making such a plucky resistance. This company, under a British officer, attacked tlie enemy with great vigour, ami drove them away from tneir position round the armoured car right across the Toehi River into the hills on the. south side, where both sides kept up a lire fight until tlie evening. T hen the Baluchis withdrew, having accounted for a good number cf tire enemy. Another armoured car had by this time arrived to assist the one that was stranded, and eventually the engine was lighted and the car was able to return to Saidgi. The enemy casualties were roughly estimated at over 20 killed mu! a large number wounded, while ours were:—sth A.M. Battery, one British other rank killed; 14th Rajputs, one Indian officer, nine Indian other ranks killed, one British officer, five Indian other ranks wounded; 130th Baluchis, one Indian officer, two Indian other ranks killed, and six Indian other tanks wounded. ACTS OF BRAVEY. There were several outstanding deeds of bravery throughout, the incident. The British officer iii charge of the Rajputs party, although badly wounded in the leg, continued to direct his men, and refused to be evacuated until the 130th Baluchis arrived on tlie .scene. An Indian officer of the Baluchis was killed in a plucky effort to get a Lewis gun round to the enemy’s (lank, while wounded i-'epoy of the Baluchis who was in an advance position refused to allow some of our men to go forward to his assistance because of the casualties which they would have certainly suffered. This .Sepoy was eventually butchered bv tho enemy, but he saved his rifle and ammnni; i. m bv tarowing them

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