THIBETAN ADVANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 75, 2 April 1904, Page 3

THIBETAN ADVANCE.

BRITISH F.XI'ETITIOS' ATTACKED. (Received April 2, 0.2 a.m.) I.O.VUON, March 1. Thibetans attacked Colonel Young- . husband's expedition, but alter severe fighting in two engagements tho Thibetans were finally repulsed, with heavy losses. Their camp at. Guru was captured. Mr E. Candler, Daily Mail correspondent at Tuna, telegraphing early on Thursday, announced that a reconnaissance had taken place that morning in force of the Thibetan's position at Guru. A l.hassan general advanced to confer with Colonel \ounghusband, and urged him to return to Hatting, threateding an attack if the British proceeded. The troops occupied a Thibetan position in rear of some springs without a shot. They then advanced on Guru.

The Times' Tuna correspondent reports that the Lhassan general and another Thibetan sat at the outset, while Colonel Younghusband Lieutenant-Colonel J. It. L. MacDonald were on tho plain. The chiefs demanded that the expedition should retire, but Colonel Younghusband, after a quarter of an hour's parley, refused to do so. The Thibetans thereupon galloped back to their position belling sangars and a wall. THE SOLTHEHX KG AD TO ! LHASA. No wonder (says an American paper) that the Thibetans have been dismayed by the white invasion of their southern mountains. The mission which Colonel Younghusband led iup the valleys from Darjiling, six months ago. penetrated thirty miles into that part of Thibet. The party had received authority from Lhasa to advance thus far to Khumba Jong (Jong is a Thibetan word meaning fort}, and was to meet tawr™ of the Lhasa Government. Hut the hearts of the Thibetans inisga\e them, and they failed to keep their appointment : and the subjects of the Dalai Lama who till those valleys were badly frightened when they saw the mission and its military escort, fi,r they live near the frontier, where no thought is so insistent and ever present as that of the ccmsl ant. vigilance required to ward off missions and all other forms nj intrusion. No white man had ever before seen this fort of Khamba. which is about a hundred miles north of the terminus of the Indian railroad at Darjiling. It was far to the west that Landor was caught and tortured. Hut the Indian surveyors who, disguised as Huddhists, have passed through the rich and well tilled valleys on their way to Lhasa, have known of the rudely armed troops who have sallied forth from Khamba Jong with their matchlocks, lances, swords, and slings upon the first intimation that Europeans were knocking for admittance at the southern passes leading into their country. It is the southern part of Thibet, where most of the population till the valleys, that is best guarded. The repellant character of the bleak high northern plateau is looked upon, in a measure, as a sutlicient defence for Lhasa in the north. Hut Khamba Jong is only one of a considerable number of frontier posts along tho southern border. They are frequently inspected by officials from Lhasa to ascertain the discipline of the garrisons, and the condition of their defences and military resources. The Thibetans, under the advice of China, permitted some Europeans to settle at Yatung on the frontier, in 1894, and to exchange the commodities of Europe for those of the forbidden land s This concession, however, has been almost a dead letter ; the Lhasa Government has continued to interfere with native traders offering foreign goods for sale, and has forbidden any subject to cross the frontier. It was because of this unfriendly attitude that the practical nullification of the commercial agreement to which Thibet was a part/, that the Indian Government insisted upon a conference with the representatives of the Dalai Lama.

But the representatives were invisible, and now a military expedition will be sent further into Thibet to Gyanjft.se Jong on the high road to Lhasa, and only about a hundred miles from the Holy City. If ihe British make this trip they will see a country that, will win (heir admiration—unless the forces of Ihe Lhasa Government art* able to divert their attention from rich, smiling valleys, wallet! in by lowering mountains. Every inch of some of the valleys is cultivated : and though the road to Lhasa passes over some desolate highlands, it extends for most of the way through the millet fields and the pasture lauds of the valleys. An expedition approaching Lhasa from Dariiling would thus pass through a really delightful part of the large country, most of whose aspects are so bleak anil uninviting. If the Thilh'lans had military talent, and modern equipment they might, give an invader some most unpleasand experiences along the southern road to Lhasa : but ihey iuive kept themselves so aloof now that no one knows whethw thr\ v.ouid light well under any circumstances.