FIGHTING IN THIBET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 126, 1 June 1904, Page 3

FIGHTING IN THIBET.

A DETERMINED OUTFLANKING MOVEMENT. LONDON, May 30. The Thibetans attempted to build I a wall uniting the village of Palla with their fort for the purpose of outflanking the British. Major Brunker attacked on the 26th, the fighting lasting eleven hours. When the wall waj destroyed three others were discovered inside. Major Patterson, of the 23rd Pionl- - attacked the village from the south. Lieutenant Garsten was killed while leading an assault; aB also were three Sepoys. Captain O'Connor and Lieutenant. McChell were severely, and Lieutenant Walker slightly wounded. Nine men were wounded. The Thibetans lost heavily, and thirty-seven prisoners were taken. DETAILS OF TIIE FIGHTING AT PALLA. DESPERATE THIBETANS. (Received June 1, 1.13 a.m.) LONDON, May 31. Four hundred Thibetans fought desperately at Palla, refusing to s\rrender even when wounded. Every house, some with walls thirty feet high and ten feet thick, had to be stormed separately, after a breach had been blasted with gun cotton in the walls. When most of the houses had been captured the people in the fort gallantly tried to reinforce those in the village. Seventy warriors, including fifteen mounted on mules, charged, and in crossing the last fifty yards of intervening space were exposed to the British Maxim fire. Only one man crossed alive, yet isolated warriors still tried the passage. Prisoners declared that they were new levies from Lhassa, but that if they had been familiar with the village it would never have been taken. Three thousand Thibetans defend the fort. All the defenders at Palla were killed or wounded except forty surrenderors and fifty men who escaped. The British are now able to cut the Thibetans' direct communication between Lhassa and Khan-gma. THE GYANG-TSE GARRISON. LONDON, May 31. The British garrison at Gyang-tse numbers 720, with four field guns and two Maxims. Nine companies of infantry are between Khan-gma and Tuna.