TO SUCCEED "K. OF K."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 104, 29 May 1909, Page 3

TO SUCCEED "K. OF K."

SOME STORIES OF INDIA'S NEW CO M MAN DER- IN-CHIEF. (leueral Sir O'Mooro Creagh has just received one of the handsomest birthday presents on record. On the sixtyftecond anniversary of his birth lie was presented with the post of Commander-in-Chief in India, in succession to Lord Kitchener.

I In all India lie will have only one man above him, the Viceroy; and his ipost will involve the control of upwards of 3H7.000 troops, British and native, scattered over 2,0(10,(1(10 square miles, and the maintenance; Of the security 01 ■some 31)0,000,000 people. And evc'.y year he will receive the odd but comfortable income of .£OOOO. '; WEARS THE VICTORIA CROSS.

, Like many of his famous predecessors in liiii new post—to .mention only Lord (Roberts iiiiil Lord Kitchener—the new t'oniniandcr-in-Oliief is an Irislniuvn. His 'father was a Navy man, hut young Crcngli went to Sandhurst, nrhd a few years lnivr lie was given a lientcnamy on the Indian Stall' Corps. Seven year's latin- lie got his company, and almost immediately the Afghan War broue unit:. He was sent to tin- front and joined tin- Khylier column, and it was hvhilv on service with it tlint 'he won Unit most coveted decoration—the Victoria Cross.

The outpost to which he wae attache was stationed at Dakka, on the Kabul lltiver, which meanders through the Khybvr ['ass. Late one afternoon a native spy came into Dakka and informed the otlieer hi command that the Moiiiuiijls—<iii(. of the most warlike of the tribes—were gathering from tlie surrounding villages with the object of cutting the British line of communication.

Tiling looked very serious.' and (ho 'Commander decided tliat a 'dcspcrato effort must lie niiide to drive off the -Monnrads. He sent Tor Captain Creagli ta'ho was in command of a native battalion ealled Merwarns, and ordered liiin to take two companies (about a bundled and fifty men) and march to the village of Kam Dakka, n few miles uff. He was, the officer said, to hold the place ami keep the line of communication open at all costs'.

In u short time 'Creagh and his little force were ready. The sun was near the horizon as they swung out of the camp, and soon tlicir movements were cloaked in th<s darkness. This was verv lucky, for it enabled them to approach 'hum Jtakku and occupy it before the Villagers liail time to make any resistance; indeed, the night was beginnhg to lift before the natives discovered how things s'tood.

After a few minutes of surprise they became indignant and even thrcaluniii" lint the young eaplain stood fast and refused to budge. J-'indiug him immovable, the villagers gathered up their belongings and lied, taking with them most of the women and children. Soon the day broke and showed a large force of 'Momiuuls-at least ten to one against the handful of Britishready to attack the village. Captain Creagli hastily reconnoitred his position, and saw that it was impossible to hold 110 village with any chance of success, ■lie decided to withdraw to a cemutcrv Unit lay near and had the advantage of being .surrounded by a low wall. Towards this the men eroj,t in twos and threes until the village was evacuated. Jliey gathered all the stones they ooiild (tint and tried to improve their defences by heightening the wall. Capam Ireagh made tlicm a little speech, '« Unci, he. explained how much dc ! !"•""" "" ""■'»■ «'«1 them to be

| Very soon the Monmnds discovered what had -happened, and they advanced ••lu'ering to attack the cemetery. y oi once or twice, hut many times the Moimr.iils' assaulted the heroic li'ttle hand uiul during the whole time Captain Ceagl, was at the wall i„ the thick , I each encounter. The | lls , „ ttack j «. s delivered at three o'clock in the ' ' ..n0... and just after that had been used by mronet, relief arrived from I Uakka. and the iioniunds retired I In """•••■ssive Afghan Wars he eontinned (o play a notable part, -ear„in<steady promotion. During the llov.-i Udicllion in China he commanded the hw..id llri» 1( |c of the Uritish force, but Lo was bitterly disappointed when 0 iters can,,, that he was to remain with 1 is brigade at Shanghai in case trouble slio d „,.ak out ,„ thai neighborhood. Mit though l,e saw no actual fighti™ he was' mentioned i„ despatches for hU forward dash which saved a hi,, vain Piiign and relieved the situation. For '%'"' , ; ,,, ' ,, . l "''l ""' ollieial thanks of lie Seendanes of State for Foreign \(. nils and ior !,„,,'„. „„,, .„„, „, the b.siag Snn from the Emperor of •ln|ian. Pearson's Weekly. '