BRILLIANT BRITISH MARCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 12, 2 June 1914, Page 7

BRILLIANT BRITISH MARCH.

INDIAN" FRONTIER EXPLOIT. VICTORY WITHOUT LOSS.

j News has been received from India ol a brilliant exploit 011 the part of a ' British expedition which was despatched a few weeks ago against raiding tribes on the north-west frontier. Planned with the utmost secrecy, ami carried out { the moment ollicial sanction was re- ! ceived, it proved completely successful, ' and should have a tranquilising effect on j the border. News reached the. Government of India that another raid on the part of the , Bunanvals -had been committed. Early one morning a band of raiders descended on the village of China, in Britis'li territory, and murdered eight Hindoos, under circumstances of great brutality. After killing their victims, who were ftt the ; time asleep in their houses, the tribesmen looted the village and lied. It was ascertained that the raiders belonged to i a village called Nowa, Kila, and owing Ij to the increased frequency of these i frontier raids immediate action was decided upon, i Orders were given for the Malakand i movable column, consisting of one British and three Indian battalions, with • six mountain gnns, to advance without [ delay against the raiders. It was hoped that a perfectly secret and rapid movement would surprise the tribes, and , would not necessitate much fighting; .- but, at the same time, every precaution ■- had to be taken. It was known that s the village to which the murderers had I' fled could put at least 2000 men into I- Win field, and that, by the beating of '1 drums along the mountain, probably >f 10.000 tribesmen could be police Id'. !) The first step taken was to surround e every village in British territory where tribal spies were known to be. The '■ chief means of communication being thus cut of!, orders were given on the r afternoon of Sunday, February 22, for (he force to advance and exact repa.ra(l tion. The movable column, under the j command of Major-General BannatineI All'son, C.B.a was 48 miles distant from 1C the scene of operations, and had to cross f, most difficult mountain country, induding the 11-alandri Pass. On Sunday 0 evening the force moved out in drenchis ing rain, and inarched all night, seizing the Malandri Pass at eight next morning. after some slight opposition. The pass having been occupied, and it being clear that the British strategy was successful, and that no news of the movement had reached tne tribes, steps j,' were taken to attack the villages which, | some few miles ahead, were occupied by j the tribesmen. Nothing was known by the latter until Ilie troops and gun? were in position. Taken unawares, the raiders lied. Mo«t of the tribesmen bo'tol, lint in the lighting that ocenrrci fix were killed and a nmnli T of prisonerwere taken. All their cattle, were seized, and. the villages having been destroyed f,hic troops (turned their faces homeward and. coiitinuina' tli.-Or forced march, egaii reached British territory, without halting, before darkness set in on Kobruar} 2li. There were no casualties, lint tin ninrch was an oxceodinglv lr.rd in' am highly tested the endurance of thf troop.-. The return was made Ihrougl dense fog and rain. ,