ANOTHER WAR MUDDLE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 79, 29 December 1919, Page 5

ANOTHER WAR MUDDLE

THE REVERSE ON THE INDIAN /FRONTIER

COMMISSARIAT AND TRANSPORT BUNGLES (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. December 2S, 5.5 p.m.) , London, December 21. Another war muddle lias beer., revealed. The series of disclosures in "The Times" is causing'angry co.nment. It appears that the recent worse on the Indian frontier followed on commissariat and other bungling, which affected tho troops. The Viceroy's cablegram to London remarks that the retirement of December 18 was duo tc the unsteadiness of two ■units which suffered heavily and lost number; of their officers. This's.further explained in London by tho fact that tho bulk of tho troops'were quite new and untrained to mountain warfare. Their time lately has been devoted to preparations for open country operations. An eye-witness of the Afghan campaign writes scathingly in "The Times." Ho says that the British had a ' hundred thousand'-troops on tho frontior, but not enough transport to move fhein, and barely enough food-to feed them. The result was that thp huge, immovable force sat down for months. The correspondent adds that the frontier is in n turmoil. It has been recently suggested that General Rawlinson should, take over the frontier opera't'ons as a prelude to bis accession to the Indian command. —United Sorvice. |A cable message published on Wednesday last stated that official news from Waziristan showed that the troaps encountered stubborn resistaneo from the Mahsuds and Wazirs. In capturing hills in tlia neighbourhood of Mandanna ICach the Sixty-seventh Brigade -had heavy lighting on December 19 and 20, and only on tho following day succeeded Jn attaining their objective. The casualties as a result of this engagement were two hundred, including sixteen British officers.]

THREE DAYS' FIERCE FIGHTING TRIBESMEN SEVERELY PUNISHED. (Rec. December 2S, 5.5 p.m.) Allahabad, December 22. A message from Mandanna Kacli, dated December 22, states': Tlio last three days have witnessed.(ho fiercest fighting ever known on tho frontier, Tho Mivhsuds displayed tho utmost dotermiriation in opposing picket operations, and J'cpisted in the most stubborn manner all the efforts to advance. The Derajat column Temains encamped on tho Palosina nlain, "but the enemy has now tasted the bitter fruit of his mad resistance, and spent a day burying his dead. Our casualties are.heavy—heavier, indeed, than during the whole of the Tirah. campaign—but the tribesmen 'suffered as never "before. ■ Probably for the first time, in bistoiy the Tallinn has left over fifty dead on ! the hilltops.—Reuter.

MAHSUDS ACCEPT TERMS (Rec. December 29,. 0.30 a.m.) • Delhi, December 27 The Mahmuls have accented the British terms.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Awn.