THE INDIAN FRONTIER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16613, 10 December 1919, Page 6

THE INDIAN FRONTIER.

CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. TRIBES NEED A LESSON. Cy Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright. DELHI, Dec. 7. Tlie Foreign Department has issued al statement explaining the events leading to the Waziristan trouble. The Department points out that while interfering as little as possible with tribal independence it has been necessary to maintain posts garrisoned by local militia within certain protected areas, notably Upper Tochi and Wana. In view of this partial occupation, and their undertaking not to raid other friendly tribes or British territory, the Wazirs and M&hsuds for many years received liberal subsidies and were treated with the utmost consideration. When a concentration of Afghan forces was rendered necessary the British withdrew the military from the outposts at Tociii and Wana. In May, the IVaziris turned us and conducted numerous raids. In July they informed an Afghan general that if the‘Afghans supplied rifles and money they would drive The British across the River Indus. After peace with Afghanistan: was signed the raids continued, and consequently the present punitive operations were undertaken in order io obtain security for the harassed bolder populations under British rule, and to teach the recalcitrant tribes a much needed lesson.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.