Chitral.

Manawatu Herald, 5 August 1897, Page 2

Chitral.

» Three hundred Bengal Lancers and Sikh 9 are closely beleaguered at Ohakdara. Fully 12,000 -tribesmen block the approaches. A reconnaissance was made by the cavalry from Malakand, and 100 natives were killed. General Blood with 4600 men started to day to relieve Ohakdara. Severe fighting ia expected. The total casualties at Malakand so far is 108 men, chiefly Sepays. Colonel Sir Bindon Blood, com manding the Bundelkund district, who served as chief staff officer to Sir Robert Low with the Ohitral relief force of 1895, now commands the British troops at Malakand. He has a field foroe of 8000 men. Later telegrams state that the Ohitral tribesmen endeavoured to to cut off additional reinforcements which were advancing to the support of the British camp at Malakand. Telegraphic communication between the camp and the military headquarters in the Punjab was interrupted for several days, but has now been restored. A British reconnoitring party sent in the direction of Ohakdara failed to reach that plaoe, but managed to join the reserve garrison whioh was being formed at Tlawul Pindi. News has been received that the garrison at Ohakdara has been relieved. Colonel Goldney's column, starting at dawn, succeeded in surprising the Fathans asleep, and captured their camp. The enemy fled in panic, thus enabling Colonel Meiklejohn (Bengal Infantry) to relieve the garrinon at Ohakdara without encountering any opposition. During the siega the garrison inflicted enormous losses in repelling a desperate assault by tribesmen.