FIGHTING ON THE INDIAN FRONTIER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 19, 6 May 1908, Page 49

FIGHTING ON THE INDIAN FRONTIER.

Our little war on the Indian frontier in February ended in a triumphant demonstration of the efficiency of Lord Kitchener’s reorganisation scheme. The rapidity of the advance of General Wilcocka’ force into the Bazar Valley quito upset the Afridis' calculations, and a little more than a fortnight after the operations opened the Zakka Khi-1, who lost heavily during the fighting, came to terms. At the close of the campaign the King sent the following telegram to Gen-

oral Willcocks: “I congratulate you on the success of the expedition, which has been conducted with so much skill, amt on the bravery and good conduct of the, troops, which 1 consider has been beyond all praise.” Very few British soldiers lost, their lives during the campaign. But, although the Zukka Khels had received their lesson, the Mohmands, who had gathered from the North to their assistance, were evidently disappointed at not having had the opportunity which it-

flamed by religious fanaticism, they were eager for, of fighting the hated white man. The rapidity of movement which disconcerted the Zakk& Kliels seems to have as quickly reduced the fervour of these wild men from the borders of Afghanistan, and it would appear that they will quietly slip hack to their hill homes. The sketches above from the pen of an officer are chiefly interesting as showing something of the broken hilly country in which these Indian frontier wars

arc oarried on. The tribesmen, used to the fatigue of hill travel from birth, have hitherto shown a mobility that har. proved a serious handicap to British troops. As snipers they have a reputation that is unequalled, but this dan ger has been partly overcome by employing hill men in the British Army, who, as outposts, arc familiar with and able to counteract to a certain extent a method of warfare with which they ware familiar.