The Waikato Argus GEOREGE EDCECUMBE, Proprictor THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 243, 3 February 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEOREGE EDCECUMBE, Proprictor THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1898.

Okcß more intellegence reaches us that tLe British force has met with a reverse on the Indian frontier, and several officers and men are reported as killed, wounded or missing. The force which met with the disaster was in a gorge at Shinikamar,- engaged dislodging tho enemy from

caves. There appears to have been mismanagement, as we are told that the damage was mainly done _ by tribesmen who occupied a position which had been just previously abandoned by a body of Sikh troops, which in all probability had been stationed there as a covering party for the main body. This is not the first disaster which has befallen General Westmacott's command. On tho previous occasion the tribesmen occupied tho spurs in thoßara Valley in force immediately the British flanking parlies were withdrawn, and harassed the troops in their retreat, and a loss of fifty men and officers is recorded. The task which the British forces' have to fulfil isf a most difficult one, and checks and losses must be anticipated before tho brave tribesmen will be brought into subjection. It is almost impossible to conceive opera tions more trying to the courage and endurance of soldiers than those in which our forco is engaged. The enemy they have to contend with have been described by Sir W. Lockhart as tho finest guerilla troops in the world, and the climate and thorough knowledge of the country is in their favour, and the experience they gained in the earlier stages of the campaign have been cleverly taken advantage of. They are armed with the most, modern weapous—Lee-Metford and Martini rifles—for which they appear to have an abundant supply of ammunition. How they got the ammunition is a mystery, but their possession of it implies treachery among the native officials. It has been established that there are traitors engaged in the arsenals ; some of them have been caught, but there are evidently more who havo not yet, been detected. The Afridis have proved very formidable opponents,but their final subjugation is a necessity both in order to fulfil pledges to the Ameer of Afghanistan, and for the establishment of peace on the Indian frontier. There is only one redeeming feature, and that is that our troops have full} maintained their prestige for dash and courage, although their leaders appear to have committed errors in judgment which havo caused unnecessary loss. It is easy, however, to criticiso after the fact, and we should be very chary in casting blame upon the men who have to bear the gravo responsibility of conducting a campaign.