The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-12-12
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THE LION AND BEAR.
AN Engagement Which Indicates
a British Russian War.
fRIBBsMEN ROUTED BY BRIToNs.

AS tho Former Were Under Russian
Protection 1t Is Asserted in Lon.
don Clubs That n Conflict Between
the British Lion and Russian Bear
Is Now Inevitable.
LONDON, Dec. 11.-Official dispatches
Received here from Calcutta state there
has been fighting between the British
forces and the tribesmen in the vicinity
Of Gilgit, near the Pamir frontier, and
cently claimed by Russia. In short, the
British troops are now face to face with
frontier tribesmen in arms, who are
claimed to be under Russian protection,
and most serious events may result from
this clash of arms.
At Gilgit there Is British agency
karrisoned by some Kashmires and In
nian Ghoorkhas and battery of artil-
hery. According to the latest advices re-
ceiyed from the front, the tribesmen of
Hunza end Magyar, two towns on the
river Indus, and almost opposite to each
other, have for some time been threaten
ing the Chalt Fort. held by detach-
ment of Kashmires. This caused Col
onel Durand, the British agent at Gilgit,
TO make an advance upon the Chalt
Fort for the purpose Of relieving the
garrison. On Nov 28 Colonel Durand
wired the commander in chief that he
bhould move upon the enemy on Dec. 2
unless he was previously attacked by the
tribesmen, who were reported to be as
sembling in large numbers and to have
been instigated in their action by Russian
agents. Colonel Durand telegraphed
that he found that serions conflict was
Inevitable, although he had done every
thing possible to prevent it.
British Officers Woundeds
Other dispatches just received here
from Calcutta announce that Fort Chalt
hTas CAPTURED on Dec. 2, and that seven
eepoys were killed and twenty-six
wounded. Colonel Durand, the dispatch
adds, and Captain Aylmer and Lieuten-
lant Babcock were seriously wounded.
Several other officers, including Lieu
henant Gordon and others, were slightly
wounded.
Captain AyImer and Lieutenants Bois-
eragon and Babcoclt, continues the dis
batch, displayed extraordinary gallantry.
captain Aylmer most gallantly led a
btorming party, carrying n gun cotton
petard, and in the face of shower of
bullets dashed up to the iron bound gate
Eof the fort, affixed the petard to it, lit
Mo fuse, retreated a short distance and
khen had the pleasure Of hearing deaf
lening report, The next moment the
gallant captain saw that the petard had
blown the gate of the fort to pieces.
Captain Aylmer and Lieutenants Bois-
Hagon and Babcock, followed by hand
ful of Sepoys, then made a dash into the
Mort, and, after some desperate fighting
kaptured a field gun, which had been
used effectively against the attacking
party. The British officers and Sepoys
also capturad nine prisoners, the re
hmainder of the rebel tribesmen fleeing
heaving number of dead inside and
outside the fort.
The news of this engagement on thu
Ramir frontier is not quite clear on one
boint, that Of what became Of the origi
nal Kashmire garrison of the fort 1t ii
presumed, however, that the rebel tribes
men captured the fort previous to the
tarrival of the British troops, and that il
haas now been retaken.
War Declared Inevitable.
Reports of conflict on the Pami
frontier reached this city In time TO
them to spread to the clubs and thea
hers. The result was q feeling OF con
siderable excitement, and there Wer
hnany old Indian officers who gravel
shook their heads upon hearing tn
news, saying that it was the most seriou
khat had come from India for many
day. The younger officers naturall
gwere elated, and were loud In their ex
pressions of hope that the long expecte
fwar with Russia was to come at lasi
And that the British lion and the Rus
sian bear were to engage In the long al
ficipated struggle for supremacy in tn
least and for the possession Of India, til
Hichest prize in the east. The excite
lnent increased rapidly and the genert
Iopinion is about the clubs and sue
places that war with Russia is now il
byitable
A constant exchange OF dispatches
going on between high government ol
kieials here. Some Of the officials Of th
India office, who passed the night i
khat building, refuse to furnish an
sother information to inquirers than tha
Already given above. One officer G
high rank, who has recently returne
from India, was more communicative
and frankly said there could now be n
doubt that affairs on the frontier of tn
Ramir district had reached o most del
cate and dangerous stage. The claim
gnade by Russia, he said, must be great
Rnodified before even basis for negoti,
hone can be established between III
three nations concerned-Russia, Chin
and Great Britain.
L
Another Gloucester Victim.