INDIAN HILL FIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 148, 13 June 1908, Page 3

INDIAN HILL FIGHTING.

TOLD BY (JXE UK THE HIGHLAND LIGHT IXI'AXTKY. Some of the best blood of the arniv has lieen shed among the remote hill's and valleys which lie around the northwest corner of our Indian outpost: some of those line deeds which add to the lustre of our arms have been performed there, not to speak of fetus of endurance and a self-sacrifice inseparable from army movements in such wild country. The valleys are well-water, and verv often rivers have to be forded many times in one day's march. The hills are high, and, iu, a rule, snow-capped at this time of the year. The days are warm and the nights cold; the troops frequently sleep lying-on the ground with a thick frost settled white on their blankets. J n the light the tierce, warlike tribesmen do not give quarter' nor do they ask for it. Thev look up' on the white man with all"that contempt for the "infidel dog" which a believer in Mohammed can command. They employ retreat tactics before an advancing column, ami when the British begin to retire to camp they hang on the Hanks and rear like packs of hungr" jackals. Woe betide the poor young fellow who gets wounded and is'inad° vertently overlooked. There will be very little of his body that will not be slashed with tulwars and knives. The camps, too, are always in danger of night attacks. While in camp, and also white on march, "snipers,'' sharpshooters posted in the hills, fire eonlinu ally into the column.

I have vivid recollection* of punitive expeditions, carried out previously to these now in operation—(iilzit, 11)01: Wazereston, 100-t, where the tribesmen rushed the camp at night and the position was saved by the Glmrkas, who fought as only ttlmrkas can with their keen bent knives; C'hitral, ISA.), signalised by the capture of the Malaknnd and Chakilera nt the point of the bayonet; and then the frontier war of 18!)?!18, where the writer received his "baptism of fire." The trilies of the Afridis. Zakka Khels, Hwatis, finjouris. Renewals, Mahimuids, Mohniands ami Waziris all took part in the enga'genmets of this war. and they also had assistance 'from several small, black, mountain elans. The "Corps of fiuides" have done more hill fighting than any other troops in the service* To this magnificent regiment belonged the renowned liattye family, of which old Knglish stock seven brothers have been killed at various times as they led the men into action. Th.» headquarters of the "(iuides" are at Hito-Mardan, near Xowshcre. at tinfoot of the hills that lead to the .Mala kand Pass. It will thus be seen that they are very seldom oil' "active service." Even in times of pence, in such unsettled places, it is quite common to have a tribesman make off with a rille during the night, and he docs not scruple to take a life to achieve his purpose. They have Ih-cii known to enter the guard-room at Nowshere, llotiMardana, and Peshawar, and risk almost certain death in order to procure a rille. A sentry at these stations is never safe, as his life stands between the tribesmen and the coveted lilies. .Many a man has been found dead at his post minus his weapons. When the cry of "loose wallah" is raised, every man springs to his arms, and the cavalry on patrol gallop round ami thrust lances into the drains. In spitot all precautions rilles are obtained by the hillmen; cartridges and ammunition arc got by various devices practised throughout India-sometimes they are Iwnght at the big fairs held in all the laager cities. These are conveyed to the hills by trusted emissaries, and put to deadly' use against the llritish. The snipers are usually men who have served three years or more with the colours in some British I'unjatiuis regiment, and have afterwards returned to their homes among the hills. Their line marksmanship gains for them selection for the harassing of our troops. .No less trying than the discomforts of being sniped at are the hills to In.climbed during n march, which makes the day's work of a Tommy no mean feat of endurance. On the north-west frontier British cavalry can scarcely be used among the hills, and it is almost impossible to get field artillery from point to point. The brunt of the campaign has to lie borne 'by the infantry, with the aid of mule batteries. Headers may gather an idea of the difficulties encountered in a hill fight from a brief description of the taking of Tanga Pass in January, 18!)8, at which the writer was present. On the afternoon of the sixth day we camped at the entrance to the pass, and were sniped at all night long. Our pickets returned the fire, and accounted for several lienewals, whose country we were about to enter in order to punish them for their attack upon the Malakand camp some months lieforc. We. were served with til) extra rounds of ammunition, as it would be impossible

to distribute any while the men were scattered about the field of battle. . In the evening we saw the sanguis of the. enemy situated at all advantage- . ous points on the hill in front (sangars . are very solid trenches built of rock). These were at the top of the hill, which was some 2801) feet high, and overlooked the camp. We had before us the prospect of having to climb this hill on the morrow, burdened with a rifle, bayonet, HID rounds of ammunition, haversack, water-bottle, etc., with the knowledge that we ,houhl be "sniped at" all th.;

way ii|>. ami that some hundred- of tons yf rocks and stone would lie rolled down upon us to keep things lively. A -tart from camp was made at" S o'clock the following morning, and we began to .•limb a hill at which a goat would shy. The artillery, firing shells overhead into the sangars", covered the advance. \\ '■: were within 50 yards of their defences when the enemy' lied to our right, anil were bayoneted' by the 2!lth I'unjaubis. At this juncture our corps received the order to charge. The drummers tried to beat, the pipers tried to play, and we "rushed" (!) (heaven save the mark) flic position at 2 p.m., barely able to crawl after six hours of the hardest work 1 have ever done or ever I intend to do.

When we stood at the top of the pass, now wet with blood, and looked down into the Jlouer country, the panorama appeared a veritable land of promi-c. with well-watered plain.-, and undulating vallevs clothed with Hie crops of the peaceful agriculturist. That nightfound lis encamped ill one of the enemy's villages, into which '-snipers" fired'ill random, but unceasingly, until morning broke. fpoii rising, search had to be made for a breakfast, as the convoys had been unable to cross the pass 'we had traversed. A couple of da\s -p.-.l before regular rations were served, and then a start was made to explore the valley. The houses near Hie e.iuip uere burned and their coll | tents ,M roved as a punishment for -nipi,,- Hut 'Lai Ibe sound of our pine- -...v.. liraelv warning of our clo.-c ap;„,..i,|,. lie- M.id Mullah would ceifew dais afirvn.iid, the t ribesiuen surrendered, and ue returned 1.. bnn-H;-. toenjov the .lining indescribable lii Miry of a roof over our heads, a bed under our bodies, and a sleep unbroken by Hie ' report of the .■■niper'.s rille.—Sydney | * Smidav Times.