ASIA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 18, 29 April 1908, Page 10

ASIA.

In accordance with a decision of the Shanghai ratepayers 559 opium houses, selected by lot, will be closed on July 1. The Indian telegraph strike is now ended, and the men are all resuming work, the Government having appointed a committee to inquire into their griev . a rices. Kir Robert Hart, after 45 years’ control <»f the Chinese Customs, has started for England on a yeans leave of absence. He is not expected to return, ami <»n his departure was given a tremendous send off at Pekin. Another Little War. The Mocsinandcs, a Pathan tribe inhabiting the border between Peshawar and Kohat, have recently been very restless. They have organised a series of robber raids, and have kept up a continual sniping of the peaceful inhabitants of the vicinity.

An expedition of 1200 troops is therefore to be despatched from Peshawar to operate against the tribe, and to put an end to their incursions. A strong force of Mohmands has advanced to within twenty miles of Peshawar. The telegraph wires between Peshawar and Charsadda on the Afghan road, have been cut.

. Major-General Willcocks, with 3200 men and 18 guns, holds a front of sixteen miles along the border from Michni to Abazai, with a strong central position at Shabakdar.

The Mohmands cling to the hills, and maintain a constant sniping. A Holy War is preached over the whole area between Kuran and Panjkorak Rivers as far northwards as Jandol and including Chitral, Kafiristan and Dardistar. •

Shells dispersed a large body advancing upon Gazhisadar within the frontier. Hufi, a Mullah, with 3000 tribesmen, has reached Gundabmulla.

The British repulsed an attack on the Adizar Bridge. The Mohmands, while looting a village within the Itish border, lost eleven of their number.

More bodies of so-called Afghans, numbering several thousands, belonging to the Ningrahari and Shinwari tribes, have crossed the Kabul River and joined the Mohmands.

The Ameer’s authority, which is shadowy in relation to them, is not asserted, and the Mullah’s influence is growing rapidly. The mobilisation of troops has been ordered.

Reuter’s Simla correspondent wires that the enemy threatening to cut the lines of communication. General Willcocks attacked their position in the hills with two columns.

The attack was pressed home with vigour, and the native sangars (roughly constructed forts) were captured. During the fighting many of the enemy were killed, while the losses on the British side were sixty. During the attack by General Willcocks’ forces on the stronghold of the Mohmands on Friday the Thirty-seventh Native Infantry (Dogras), charging with great vigour and dash, captured the main sangar of the enemy at the point of the bayonet. A detachment of the First Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (the sixth foot), who were drawn from Quetta to assist in the suppression of the rebellion, were sent to the roar of the enemy’s stronghold, and, catching them escaping through a narrow gorge, inflicted on them a loss of four hundred.

The losses on the British side were greatly over-estimated in the previous message, Friday’s casualties to General Willcock’s force totalling two of the Northumberland Fusiliers killed, four British officers and 17 men wounded, and five natives killed and 30 wounded.

It is stated at Peshawar that arms and ammunition manufactured in Afghanistan have been openly sold. Jellalabad tribesmen bought lareg quantities and joined the Mohmands.

The enemys supply of food comes largely from Afghan territory. Tiie object of Major-General Wilcoeks is to drive the enemy to the higher hills. Major Anderson',, (brigade met the enemy near iShabkaden in a big engagement, and* sustained severe losses.