AFGHAN FIGHTING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 254, 22 July 1919, Page 4

AFGHAN FIGHTING

The present situation on the Afghan Border, savours of operations on a more extended scalo than the usual . Border raids which are continually occurring fllonsr the North-West frontier, but as. the latest news shows that our'columns have already moved forward and taken the initiative it may verv likely happen that tho whole affair will fizzle out into a series of these so-called "tip-and-run" escapades for which the unduly elements among tho tribesmen are: so famous. : On the other hand, it is ouitt likelv that a sudden fanaticism, with tho added assistance of Bolshevist propaganda, will set the whole frontier ablaze. The ordinary raid is as a rule a matter of loot, burn, and back again across the border before the Frontier Constabulary can come to the rescue, and it generally takes place ,in a small town or village where a number of wealthy Hindu merchants reside. As often as not. one of these unfortunates is carried off and held' to ransom. Picture to yourself a vast plain, , in places many miles wide, bounded 011 its northern side by low, rockv hills,which, are topped again by rugged mountains, and you have the general settin? of the Indian frontier. Along the foot.of the low lulls where the passes debouch into the plain are placed, at intervals, tho constabulary outposts, while the. bigger passes are guarded by tribal militia, anion? the most famous of them being the Khyber Rifles in the historic Khyber Pass. ■

On the southern side of tho plain lie the cantonments, garrisoned by regular troops ready to move out at a "moment's notice.

Silently a. band of about a hundred men is making its way on a dark , night through tho hills in single file. They are clad in rough sheepskin coats and loose, baggy trousers, with grass sandals' on their feet. All aro armed with' long knives and daggers, and many carry rifles. Dirty cloths wound round their heads serve as a headdress..

As they approach the edge of the plain the leader halts, and tho band divides into two parties. One parly continues to advance across the plain, while the other follows after half an hour's interval. The. duty of the first party is to surround tho village and give warning should the villagers bo on tho nlert.

The second party lias sot well on its way when the cry of a jackal resounds through the night air. Tho loader halts, and then, with a: muttered "All's well," moves forward again, unslinging his rifle as_ he goes. Soon they are ori the outskirls of the village, and then, with shouts and yells, to frighten tho luckless villagers, 'they begin to harry and plunder.

Two hours later tlip band is making its way back through tlio hills at a swift pace, At their hend, r.nd prodded into unwilling activity by knives, a.. fat Hindu shambles along up the stony pathway. If his price is paid lie will return. If it is not . . . Wall! Wah! Bismillah! What mattor if thero ia one Hindu less in tho world?—H.A., in the "Daily Mail."