RESCUE FROM KABUL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1929, Page 2

RESCUE FROM KABUL

EXCITING INCIDENTS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June IG. Sir Francis Humphreys, recently British Minister at Kabul, referred in a speech, yesterday, to some exciting experiences. that occurred during the evacuation of British and other foreign residents ironi that city. Sir Francis recalled that, when all means of communication by land were hopelessly cut off, aeroplanes Hew to their rescue from Baghdad, and even from Egypt, covering as much as 11C0 miles in a single day. these machines had operated before only in hot climates at a maximum height of 4000 ft. and they were suddenly called upon to fly over snow-bound and inhospitable mountains at heights far greater than the Alps, in temperature 30 degrees below zero; and they had to land on a strange aerodrome in two feet ol snow with a fierce battle raging in the neighbourhood. Six hundred British subjects and foreigners were conveyed to safety without a single casualty.

There was one exciting incident. King Amanullah was besieged with a garrison of 5000. He was given an ultimatum to surrender in 24 hours to the attacking forces of 16,003. The alternative was a murderous assault with scaling ladders, no quarter, and general looting and massacre. King Amanullah replied that nothing would induce him to come out unless the safety of himself and his ladies was taken in hand by the English,

“We had no soldiers,” continued Sir Francis, “and no means of enforcing authority except our tongues. The aerodrome was situated between the two armies, which were only 4GO yards from each other, and was raked with devastating cross fires. We had to take the risk and telegraphed for the aeroplanes. When the machines arrived in sight, we gave a signal to both armies to cease fire. Fortunately for us they obeyed the signal. The aeroplanes landed in silence and King Amanullah and his ladies, escorted by unarmed Englishmen from the Legation, went to the waiting machines and were flown safely to India. There is no doubt whatever that the Royal Air Force, on this occasion, by their gallantry, not only saved the city and the foreign Legations from a terrible fate, but probably saved England from another war.”