THE AFGHAN WAR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15835, 4 June 1919, Page 2

THE AFGHAN WAR.

.EJfEMT INVADE WAZIRISTAN Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SIMLA, June 3. General Nadir Khan entered Wazitribal territory along three routes, with Afghan regulars and thirty-six guns. Their attack on posts was faint-hearted and failed to make an impression, the enemy contenting themselves with long-range sniping. Evidently they are uncertain on which side the Waziris’ sympathies lie. Nine pounder guns used by the Afghans in recent skirmish.es have very little destructive effect. There is no chance of the enemy reaching Bannu, or Kohat. Our concentrations are proceeding rapidly. ' Afghan troops fled from Birgot. Our advance continues. Measures have been taken to punish the villagers at Utmanzai, 20 raiies from Peshawar, where the ringleaaers of a dangerous intrigue were arrested. This has had, a quieting effect in Peshawar. (Waziristan is a highland . country between the Kurrum and Gomul Passes. Formerly Afghan, it was transferred to British India in 1894, and is now part of the N.W. FrontierProvince.) FORMIDABLE ADVERSARIES. LONDON, June 3. Large forces of Afghans are facing the Britisli expedition, the Afghan regulars being well armed and well equipped in every way. They are formidable adversaries. British concentration east of the Khyber Pass is proceeding steadily. The Amir’s attempts to raise the border tribes have generally failed, though there is some wavering. Owing to desertions, the British disbanded the Khyber Rifles. HOLY WAR BEING PREACHED. LONDON, June 3. The British representative at Kandahar has reached Quetta. He says a Jehad (holy war) is being vigorously preached INTERNAL DANGER IN INDIA. LONDON, May 22. Mr E. Montague, Secretary of State for India, speaking in the House of Commons, said it was now clear that the new Amir of Afghanistan, in a moment of suicidal folly, authorised an unprovoked attack. His motives were doubtful. We desired nothing except friendly relations with Hie neighbouring country, but intended to exact stern and just punishment for the raids and invasion. Internal danger in India was not yet east. Fighting had occurred in the Presidency of Bombay, involving on tenth of the area, and one-third of the population. In the pun jab there had been an outbreak at Delhi. Trouble had occurred in Calcutta also, hut to a minor extent. There had been no trouble in Madras. The trouble was wholly con lined to towns. 'Events showed

the unmistakable loyalty of India, as a whole. Altogether, nine European and 400 Indian lives had been lost. Perplexity in the Mohammedan world arising out of Turkov's defeat was one of the causes of Indian unrest. Another arose from fear that the promises of 1917 would not be carried out. The Rowlett Act was very unpopular, but would not be used except to cope with remarkable revolutionary movements. Sir Montagu said he was convinced the House must proceed without delay with a 131I 1 providing for the alteration of the Indian Government. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Bill at the beginning of June. The keystone of Indian reform would lie the transference of power from the bureaucracy to the people. This might be gradual in its application, but it must be real.