PESHAWAR GATES CLOSEO

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1930, Page 9

PESHAWAR GATES CLOSEO

AFRIDIS MENACE THE CITY DECEPTION OF AEROPLANES PARTY OF HORSE A AIB ESH ED By Telegraph- Press Asjn, Copyright. Rec. 11.25 p.in. Delhi, Aug. 1.2. Despite optimistic comm uniques the situation in Peshawar is not comfortable. Telegraphic and railway services have been disorganised and all the city and cantonment gates in Pcrihawar have been closed. The raiding Afridi tribesmen are deceiving the R.A.F. aeroplanes by placing their turbans and white robes on the ground and rushing for shelter when the [Janes approach to bomb them. Afridis hidden in an orchard on the outskirts of the city ambushed a patrol of 17 Poona horse and several were killed and injured and some of the raiders were killed. It is reported that the party of tribesmen intended to blow up a bridge-which rs an important link between the frontier and the rest of India. “NO ALARM AT PESHAWAR” in ii ax i*tisrnox r e \'i e w ed. COMMUNAL DISORDERS IN SIND. Little further news is available from Peshawar. Owing to the presence of troops obviously adequate to deal with the situation no alarm has been displayed by the populace of the city during the present trouble. The measures taken by the Ah" Force have prevented any large concentration by hostile tribesmen, and those remaining in British territory are split into small and somewhat elusive parties who have occasionally percolated to the outskirts of the city. .When these are located they are promptly dealt with by the defending troops. The intention was reported that the main body of the lashkar (native force) should deliver an attack on the night of the Bth, while detachments already in the district created a diversion. Xo attack, however, was carried out on the citv or cantonments.

Although the casualties among the Afridis are believed to be severe the conditions make them difficult to estimate with any accuracy. No. casualties have been reported among the British troops, and those among the Indian troops have been very slight. There have been serious communal disturbances in Sind. The disorder commenced in Sukkur, but has spread to Rohri and to the adjacent villages. The original is reported to have been a dispute between members of a Swarajist procession and a Muhammadan tonga driver, exaggerated accounts of which gave rise to alarmist rumours, followed by serious clashes between the two communities.' The casualties 'have been serious and the latest reports indicate that the situation is not yet under complete control. Provincial reports describing the situation during the last fortnight of July are the most favourable received for some months. In Madras the decline in lawless activities is becoming more marked, and in many districts attempts to defy, the law are half-hearted and are readily abandoned.