AFGHAN WAR

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8186, 24 May 1919, Page 3

AFGHAN WAR

BRITISH VICTORY COMPLETE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Reuter Message). SIMLA, May 19. The Afridis, inspired by stories of the enormous amount of loot obtained by tbe Sinwaris from the Afghans, are now discussing the eliance of raiding Bassawal in order to loot the Afghan camp there. Chitral reports that the local Afghan tribesmen are greatly excited at the prospect of loot from the Amir’s troops. Reuter’s Peshawar correspondent states on the 19th: —Saturday’s victory was more complete than previously reported. We captured four guns. Over a hundred dead were counted in one small section. A large enemy force attempted a night attack. We used star shells freely, disclosing the enemy rustling aimlessly about. By dawn the enemy had dragged guns to the hill-tops and began bombarding our camp. The heights were stormed, the Afghans at first resisting stoutly, but the hill-tops were taken after tlie leading regiments were reinforced. The Afghan gunners stuck to their posts, and bayonet work followed before the guns were captured. After we.reached the heights the bulk of the Afghan force could be seen in the valley, running hard. Our troops fired on them and many fell. When the Afghans abandoned Daka the Sinwaris entered for the purpose of looting, hut tied on our approach, leaving the town half sacked.