India.

Manawatu Herald, 28 August 1897, Page 2

India.

Reports from Simla state that the rebellious Afridis have attacked two forts garrisoned by Khyber levies from companies of British infantry, and detachments of dragoons and

artillery have been 6ent to defend the fortß. Other bodies of Afridis having entered the Khyber Pass, artillery were despatched to shell the mouth of the pass. The entire tribe of Afridis are obeying the directions of Akah nthel Mullah, one of their priests, who is reported to have captured two forts. Three principal chiefs in Beloochistan have been arrested on suspicion of intriguing against the British. Later reports state that the British forts at Mandha (20 miles south of Mamirpur) and AH Mesjid (between the Ebyber Pass and Peshawar) have been captured. A column, under Brigader General Westmacott, of the Indian Staff Corps, is hurrying to the relief of Mandha. The Afridis captured and burned Fort Maude, and the garrison was compelled to retire, losing 80 men. Sadda and Papa, two fortified posts, are surrounded, and it is doubtful whether the relief force from Kohat can effect a resoue in time. When the Mohammedans attached Shabkadar recently they burned the sacred books in the Sikhs temple. The Sikhs throughout the Punjab are very indigdant at the outrage. Brigadier Ellis is now in com mand of 11,000 men, with 86 guns and 18 squadrons of cavalry. . The British have mobilised 82,000 troops on the frontier. These with the ordinary garrisons make an available force of 42,000. All the bridges in the Upper Punjab Valley are strictly guarded. Ebyber Pass is swarming with Afridis. Their lines extend for a mile and a half. Reports from Peshawar state that Mir Bashir and Mullah Hamed, with a large body of Afridis, attacked a force of Sepoys near Aligdpjid on Monday, killing 800 of them and seizing their rifles. They afterwards attacked Lowraat. The Times' Simla correspondent states that the Afridis are so elated with their success that they auda» ciously suggested the terms on which the British troops should be withdrawn from the Swat Valley. One condition is that all the Afridis' women living in British territory should be yielded up, while another condition requires a revision of the salt regulations. A British column under the oommand of Lieutenant-Colonel Westmacott fired upon the Afridis at a distance of 800yds and dispersed them. The garrison of Fort Maude, after quitting, joined Westmacott's force. An uneasy feeling prevails at Quetta in regard to the safety of Parachinar, six days' journey from Kohat, where the garrison is small. The British have abandoned Fort Jehamgera. The Afridi levies evacuated Fort Alimus, and a number of them joined the enemy, who burned several forts. Brigadier-General Ellis is marching to intercept 4000 Afridis who are approaching Fort Bara. The Queen has dispatched a message to the troops at Khyber Pass, expressing appreciation of their efforts and enquiring after the wounded.