MURDER OF BRITISH OFFICERS AN AVENGING EXPEDITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1939, 8 September 1888, Page 3

MURDER OF BRITISH OFFICERS AN AVENGING EXPEDITION.

(Per Press Association.; Calcutta, September 6. Ao expedition is to be sent to the Agror Valley to avenge the murders of Major Battye, Captain Urmston, and others of the Bengal Staff corps, who were killed irijune last, The expedition will leave^iere on the ist October, and will consist of five battalions of British infantry, two batteries of artillery, and eleven regiments of native infantry.

The victims of this affray were Major Baktye, of the sth Goorkhas, Captain ■Ornflton, of the sth Pod jab Infantry, one havlldar and five Goorkha Sepoys at •Oherkalan. The murder was committed •on the Agror border, by a body of Akcztts, a Blaok Mountain tribe. Colonel Battye bad with him fifty-eight Goorkhas and nineteen policemen, with whom he bad ascended toe Baroha Spur for exerciae, and while attempting to return by way of OhiUabal and Konjal, jaat within the Britlih border, a havlldar with the rearguard was shot by some mountaineers. Major Battye and Captain Urmston went to alt assistance, and while the officers weee placing the havlldar In a dandy, they iwete attacked m force and killed. The main body of the Goorkhas attaoked the itrlbetmep. and repulsed them, and sue«eeded m bringing m the bodies, The Akoziii had been under blookade for «ome time for various offences committed ■on British territory. The Oghi outpost, 3tear wbioh the attack was made, was iheld by 300 men of the 6th Goorkhas. The Agror valley lies to the north of Jtbottabad, near the Black Mountain. These tribes were a source of constant trouble, and it had been proposed for acme time past to send a punitive expedition to bring them to reaßon, The latest details of the attack supplied by the correspondent of the " Times," ahowed that the Goorkhas behaved with great brayery, while the native officer, Subahdar, had already been decorated three times with the Order of Merit for conspicuous gallantry. It appears that on •pproaohlng Ohllabet heavy firing was opened on the advanced guard, which was accompanied by Major Battye and Captain Urmston, On its being reported that a havildar with the rear guard bad been wounded, M»jor Battye and Captain Urmston joined the rear, and placed the wounded man m a dandy. The fire now became very heavy, and Major Battye ordered the Goorkhas to retire on a village occupied by the advanced guard. The jungle here was very thick,' and while retiring Captain Urmston was severely wo unded with an axe m the left shoulder. Snotty 'ft** tD ' B Subahdar Kishnbir heard tne buglerboy calling out for aßßlit•noe, aov^ exclaiming that the Major was attacked. 0° rushing up, the Subahdar •aw Major Ba\' tye, aeverely wounded, defending himselt. The Subahdar dashed m and drove hUaVord w' fc b both hand through tbephest of the assailant, who dropped dead. Seizing Major Buttye'i atm, Ktshnlblr led him off; but after a few iteps, Major Battye fell. Large numbers of tribesmen now surrounded their email party, cutting off retreat In every direction, save down a preoipltous khud. A daah was made upon Captain Urmatooi The Subahdar shouted, " Fight bravely, my children ; do not desert your English officer! 1 If you muat die, let some of these dogs die with you 1" The sepoys fought etaonchly together until Major Battye and Captain Urmston were both <&cad. The Subahd»r, who had exhausted his rifle ammunition, discharged hie revolver cartridges, and shouted " Bath the officers are dead j now you tmay «aye your own lives 1" He then, -with Uka two remaining sepoys, eaoapec •down the khud, and eventually managed tto rejoin ike main force. He was badlj grounded. A bullet had passed throng! ibis thigh, and he bad a gash on his haac and a disabled arm. Never thelese, he insisted upon mavcL'ug h3ck with the force to recover the fcrclieu of Majoi Battye and Captain Urmston. The ( eapoy/ aocordlDgly fought their way back * Q<^ •vectually carried off their dead, and suooeeded m returning late m the eveninc to Oght Fort. The whole of tbfe efeooum 4«r look plioe on Britlih territory,