AFGHAN FRONTIER

Wairarapa Age, 22 December 1919, Page 5

AFGHAN FRONTIER

ADVANCE AGAINST MAHSUDS. SOME STIFF FIGHTING. (By Electric Tolcgraph.—Copyright.) (Australian-N.Z. Cable Association.) Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock. ALLAHABAD. Doc. 20. Our forces have advanced live miles into tho Mahsud country from .Tandola since tho 18th. capturing several positions aftor stiff'fighting. Twenty aeroplanes accompanied tho column, bombing and machine-gunning tho country ahead, ' Tho chiof Hurprisc for tho Mahsuds was our now 3.7 howitzer, which is a most compact and convenient gun. Thoro was much sniping going on, and wo suffered casualties in tho attack on Surkai Ridge. An official communiquo roporting tho failure of negotiations, states that considerable opposition is expected to our advance on Makin,

EXPEDITION'S BIGGEST BATTLE. ENEMY DRIVEN FROM HILLS. llecoived This Morning, 12.20 o'clock. BOMBAY, Doc. 20. Tho Borajat column from Jandola on tho 18th engaged in tho biggest battle tho expedition lias thus fyr produced. Sarkat Ridge was hold by 2000 Mahsuds, while tho entrance to Shahur und tho hills weutwarfl of Jandola wero hold by a mixed force of Wazirs and Mahsuds. Tho enemy was driven from the ridge in tho direction of Spinakaikuch and tho hills, which wo occupied. Artillery and aeroplanes continue to harass the tribesmen, who suffered heavily. „ Our casualties were slight.