ARMS FOR AFGHANS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3150, 30 March 1909, Page 5

ARMS FOR AFGHANS.

CABLE NEWS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

KECEUDESCENCE OP GUN-RUNNING, BRITISH GUNBOAT ORDERED TO PERSIAN GULP. Received March 29, 11.35 p.m. CALCUTTA, March 29. The British gunboat Lapwing and the special service vessel Sphinx have hastily sailed from Bombay for the Persian Gulf owing to the recrudescence of gun-running.

A cablegram published in the Age on July 31st last stated that the smuggling of arms into Afghanistan was being carried on extensively, and that the Simlla correspondent of the London "Times" had emphasised; the statement that the smuggling of breech-loaders into Afghanistan would ultimately mean a formidable increase in the Afghans' offensive strength, and was thus.' an encouragement to tribal insurrection. Bluejackets of H.M.S. Proserpine had an exciting fight on the beach at Jask, on the Persian Gulf on April 19th last, with a gang of gunrunners, described as Afghans. Letters received m Portsmouth stated that the Proserpine had captured a dhow containing 1,650 rifles, and about a million rounds of ammunition. The dhow's crew were armed, but they were evidently surprised and overawed. Next morning the cruiser Hyacinth, flagship of the East Indies squadron, joined the Proserpine, and remained in conse quence of the Afghan threats to "wipe out" the British reservation at Jask. Marines armed with Maxims were landed. As several suspicious craft were sighted, a steamboat, cutter and whaler were sent, under Lieutenant Baillie"Hamilton, to examine them. Two of the boats grounded in shallow water, and as the crews were wading ashore fire was opened on them from the beach. From the shelter of sandhill and palm trees came a hail of bullets. The men were ordered to return to the boats, and the way back one of them was hit, but was dragged to the whaler.

The cutter and steamboat returned the enemy's fire, but the Maxim jammed after firing 25 rounds. The Proserpine, from which the proceedings had been watched, now opened with her 4in guns, and three-pound-ers. The shells could be seen bursting on the beach and among the trees. Some rifle shots from the shore actually reached the ship, over a mile away, doing slight damage, but causing uo casualties. The boat parties were still in peril, Coxswain King, cf the whaler's crew being hit when getting on board while a bullet grazed ttie lieutenant's arm. Coxswain King's wound was through uoth lungs and was caused by ajarge bullet. He died about an hour later. Another man was hit in the back, ctrid on April 21st, the day the letter was despatched, his case was deemed hopeless. The Proserpine remained at Jask s.itcr the fight, and landed all her maiines, together with some from the Haycinth, which afterwards left for Bushire.