OPERATIONS IN INDIA.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14622, 29 January 1918, Page 2

OPERATIONS IN INDIA.

.GUARDING THE FRONTIER

A supplement to the London Gazette contains a despatch from General Sir Charles 31onro, Commander-in-Chief in India, on the minor military operations undertaken m the Indian Empire, including Aden, between March IQj 1916, and March 31, 1917. These are divided mto seven, groups: Aden, South Persia, South-east Persia, Mekran Mission, Thalawan, North-west Frontier, and Protection :>{ tlic Indian Coasts. Perhaps the most troublesome of the^ various military operations were those on the North-west Frontier. Except on ilic Mohiiiand border, where the attitude of tijf. tribes necessitated the mobilisation of the Peshawar and a portion of the 2nd Division, and the attack on Saw.-.ekai by the Muhsuds in March 1917, the activity of troops on the frontier was confined to dealing with trans-boodcr raids. These, however, especially on the Deraj at border, were almost incessant, and entailed1 considerable activity on the troops guarding the frontier. During the last half of 1916 the attitude of some of the M'ohmand tribes became distinctly hostile, and a number of raids were made across the border into the Perhawar area. To prevent these raids, and as a punishment, a blockade was instituted along the Mohmand border, and a chain of blockhouses,.connected by a wire fence, v.ras constructed and manned. On November 14 a Mohmand lashkar, estimated at 6000, concentrated near Haftx Ivor, threatening. Shangkadav. The Ist and 2nd Infantry Brigades of the Jst Perhawar Division, under the command of Major-general Sir F. Campbell, X.C.8., D.5.0., with a . proportion of divisional troops and de- ; tachments :A Frontier Militia a*id Con- ■ stabulary, had meanwhile Ijecn concentrated on the blockade line. Owing to the difficulty of supplies it seemed'unlikely .that the lashkar could remain lono; in its position, and it appeared probable that a night attack would be made on some part of the blockade line, after which the lashkar would disperse without punishment. Major-General Campbell accordingly issued orders for an attack on the morning of November 15. The attack was carried forward into the foothills occupied by the enemy in the vicinity of Hafiz Ivor, and casualties estimated at 100 killed and severely wounded were iniiictcd. At 4 p.m. our force withdrew unopposed. The lashkar had been completely broken up, ;uid on November 36 reconnaissances showed that it had completely disappeared, the tribesmen having dispersed to their homes. On March '2, 1917, -i Mahsud gathering of some 2000 men advanced on the post of Sar.ve.kai, in So\ith Waziristan. A part of the garrison of the post, composed of militia, under the command of Major ¥. L. Hughes, moved out and pugaged the enemy. A skirmish ensued, in which several casualties were inflicted on both sides, our losses including Major Hughes, killed while gallantly leading his meiij and the militia withdrew to the post, which the enemy surrounded. , The. Deraj at movable column, under the command of Briga-dier-general G-. M. Baldwin, JD.S.O., moved forward ]>y the Gomal route end Khajuri Kach, and relieved Sanvekai on March 9, the enemy withdrawing to the vicinity of Barwand. The enemy sneampments at Barivaud were burnt and the tribesmen dispersed. The movable column was then withdrawn to KHajuri Kach,. and later to Tank-.