NORTH-WEST FRONTIER

Southland Times, Issue 19255, 20 June 1921, Page 5

NORTH-WEST FRONTIER

A STIFF FIGHT. WAZIRIS SUFFERING FROM FAMINE. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) DELHI, June 17. There was a stiff fight fourteen miles west of Bannu, on the Tochi road. An armoured car returning from a reconnaissance was attacked from a deserted village. Two battalions were sent to their assistance and forced the Mahsuds to retire. This they did stubbornly to the south bank of the river, suffering heavy losses. Ours were thirteen killed and thirteen wounded. Peshawar reports state that the Wana Waziris are suffering badly from drought. Haji Abdul Razak lacks supplies of food rations, consequently the Waziris are deserting him and returning to British territory with the usual promises of good behaviour. Owing to the drought the Afridis, in their anxiety, are supplicating heaven for rain. One of their primitive methods is preventing women feeding their babies, hoping that their cries will <cause Providence to pity them and grant, the prayers of their parents. Another method is men encircling their necks with ropes, a sign that they are slaves, hoping that God will grant them maintenance.