THE WAZIRISTAN TROUBLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3359, 11 December 1919, Page 2

THE WAZIRISTAN TROUBLE.

DELHI, Dec. 7. The Foreign Department has issned a statement explaiinzig "the events leadillg‘ to the W.:~.;;irist:ul trouble. The .'De;>al-tment points out that wlrile "in-ter-rJ’erillg as little’ as possible with tribal independence, it has been no-em-.~;-.11-y' to maintain posts garrisoned ‘by local militia. Within certain protected areas, notably Upper Tochi and Wana. In View of this partial occupation. and their undertaking not, to raid other friendly tribes or Britush tm‘ri'tory, the \VaZirS and Mahsuds for many years. received liberal subsidies and were treated with the utniost consideration. When concentration of Afghan forces rendered it necessary for the British to withdraw militia from the outposts at Tochia and Wana in May, Waziristan. turned against us and conducted numerous raids. In July they informed the Afghan general that if the Afghans supplied rifles and money they would drive the British across the river Indus. After peace with 'Afghanistan was s_irgned, the raids continued. Consequently the present punitive operations were undertaken in order to obtain. security for harassed border populations under British rule, and to teach recalcitrant tribes :1 much needed lesson. -