BRITAIN AND THIBET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 158, 8 July 1904, Page 3

BRITAIN AND THIBET.

THE JONG AT GYANG-TSE ATTACKED, LONDON, July (5. Ihe Times' correspondent at Gv-ang-tse reports three of Brigadie'rUeneral Macdonald's columns were operating before dawn to-day against a dense mass of houses at the foot of the eastern slope of the Jong, and that sovtn-potmders were usexl to clear a passage from house lo house. It was intended at daylight to utilise the guns stationed half-way to Palla and from the Ghurka post to clear the face of rock preparatory to an assault on the Jong. Twelve hundred troops will bo engaged. The enemy's position has been strengthened by the construction of fresh sangurs. A NOTICE DISREGARDED. (Received July 7, 10.32 p.m.) BOMBAY, July 7, Colonel Younghusfoand, at the close of the armistice, ordered the Thiljotan delegates to leave the fort and remove their women, but the notice was disrogaixled. PARTICULARS OF FIGHTING. MAGNIFICENT FEAT OF ARMS.

(Received July 7, 10.45 p.m.) BOMBAY, July 7. An explosion of gunpowder in tha Thibetan magazine at four o'clock, near the point of attack, helped the jperations at Gyang-tse, and must have killed many in the jong. A concentrated lire proved successful, .ind the wall crumbling to its fall the position was practically abandoned.

The Ghurkas, with reinforcements of Pioneers, climbad along a precipitous ascent to a breach, the Thinetaiis still frantically tiring volleys and throwing down torrents of /tones. One of these knocked Lieutenant Grant, who was leading the ith Ghurkas, off his feet, but ho luickly recovered himself, and was the first man over the ):|reach. The scaling of the slope, prior to that Incident, was accomplished under a magnificent covering lire from the iuns, which continued their work ■mtil the last possible moment over he heads of the troops. Then the ■ arious companies climbed the rocks :owly and forced their way over ihe breach. The task was a 'difficult one, even if it had been unopposed. THE STORMING OF THE CITADEL. (Recei/ed July 7, 11.11 p.m.) BOMBAY, July 7. Seven thousand Thibetans attempted a gallant defence of the Jong. Three columns of the British troops advanced in the darkness, occasional explosions announcing their progress ; but even the r o ofs were crowded with Thibetans, whose volleying impeded the attack. L eutenant Gordon, of the 35rd Pioneers, was killed while leading ~:s^'SrsTorr?i«ywrtjes. After establishing their 'pWlli.jns Lhe column fought from i,\ house, being stubbornly opposed, .hen possession of the southern fringe of houses had been gained an neffuctual attempt was made to arry the main gate of the jong, but t Was found too strongly defended, despite well-directed support from .he guns. The climax of the fighting occurred in the afternoon. A heavy fire was directed on a spot in the extreme .nst of the jong, 100 ft above the •,.lain. Then the ramparts Blowly crumbled under the terrific hail of .hells and bullets, the wind blowing .he fragments nway in a continual cloud.

A COUNTER ATTACK. (Received July 7, 11.54 p.m.) BOMBAY, July 7. At one moment the Thilietans de•.eloped a counter attack, ma.intainng a heavy bomliardment lasting! ninety minutes, against the British light flank. The British casualties were small, l'he clearing of the Jong is proceed'ng. (The Jong was a strongly fortified post protecting the approach to the town.)