FRONTIER WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1919, Page 5

FRONTIER WAR.

FIERCE FIGHTING,

OTHER CAMPAIGNS OVERSHADOWED. HEAVY CASUALTIES, By Teleeraph.—-Press Assn.—Copyright, Received Dec. 28, 5.5 p.m. Allahabad, Dbc. 22. A message from Mandannakunch, dated December 22nd., states# that the last three days have witnessed the fiercest fighting ever known on the frontier.

The Mahsuds displayed the utmost determination in opposing picket operations, and resisted in a most stubborn manner all efforts to advance.

The Derajat column remains eacamped on the Palosina Plain, but the enemy has now tasted the bitter fruit of his mad resistance, and spent the day burying his dead. Our casualties were heavier indeed than during the whole Tirah campaign, but the tribesmen suffered as never before. Probably for the first time in history the Pathan has left over fifty dead on the hill-tops.—Reuter Service.

REPORTS OF "MUDDLING." ARMY BADLY EQUIPPED.: Received Dec. 2S, 5.5 p.m. * London, Dec. 24. Another war muddle has been revealed and a aeries of disclosures in the Times ia causing angry comment. It appears that the reverse on the Indian frontier cabled on Deecmber 23rd followed on commissariat and other bungling, which affected the troops. The Viceroy's cablegram to London remarks that the retirement of December 18th was due to the unsteadiness of two units, which suffered heavily and lost numbers of officers. This is further explained in London by the fact that tho bulk of the troops were quite new and untrained to mountain warfare, their time lately having been devoted to preparations for open country operations. An eye-witness of the Afghan campaign writes scathingly in the Times. He says that tho British had 100,000 troops on the frontier, but not enough transport to move them, and barely enough food to feed them. The result was that a huge, immovable force sat down for months. The correspondent adds that the frontier ia in a turmoil. It has been recently suggested that General Sit H. C. Rawlinson should take over the frontier operations as a prelude to his accession to the Indian command.—United Service. MAHSUDS ACCEPT TERMS. Received Dec. 29, 1,5 a.m. Delhi, Dee. 27. The Mahsuds have accepted the terms. —Reuter Service.