LEGATION WARNS BRITISH ’PLANE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 21 December 1928, Page 11

LEGATION WARNS BRITISH ’PLANE.

FEARED AFGHAN REBELS WOULD FIRE.

(United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.") (Received December 21, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, December 20. A message displayed on a white stripe set out on the lawn of the British Legation at Kabul, stating, “Fly high and do not land. All is well,” was read by a Royal Air Force aeroplane,' which flew over the Legation. The warning not to land was probably dictated by the fact that the rebels in the neighbourhood were mostly people who had been recently bombed by Afghan ’planes and being unlikely to differentiate between one machine and another would be liable to open fire on any machine within range. Earlier information by telegraph from the Legation stated that the insurgents had notified the British Minister that they had no desire whatever to interfere with the Legation. Sir F. H. Humphrys talked with them at the Legation gates, and warned them to respect all Legations and their foreign occupants, being guests of Afghanistan. British ladies in Kabul are: Lady Humphrys, Mrs Gould and her two children, Mrs Stranger and one child, and Miss Pulford.—British Official Wireless. STRONG REBEL FORCES APPROACHING KABUL REINFORCEMENTS UNABLE TO REACH CAPITAL. (Received December 21, 11.5 a.m.) DELHI, December 20. News from Kabul by ’plane states that strong rebel forces from the north are nearing the city, but there are no disturbances in the capital itself. The rebels have established between Jalalabad and Kabul a strong position which prevented reinforcements reaching Kabul. Armed bandits, led by a notorious brigand, Bachasakao, caused disturbances near the capital. The Jalalabad region is unsafe, owing to bands of marauding tribesmen. Afghan relief forces are proceeding to Kabul.—Australian Press Association.