The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-15
THE CH|TRAL EXPEDITION
Colonel Battye's Forces Cut Off
From the Main
MADE A GALLANT RETREAT
The Natives Displayed Some Good
GeneraIship
British Soldiers Did Some Splendid Maneuver-
ing--The Brave Officer Shot While
Near to Succor
MADE A GALLANT RETREAT

SIMLA, April 14.-The guides and in
fantry belonging to the brigade of Cen
eral Waterfield, part of the force operating
against Umra Kahn of Jendol, were de-
tached from the brigade and sent across
the Pung Jkora river to reconnoiter and
to chastise some villagers who had been
firing on the British camp. The British
met strong force of the enemy and were
compelled to retreat covered by an artil-
lery fire. Colonel Battye was killed and
several of the British force were wounded.
The natives showed great determination
and are still in force on the Pung Jkora
river. The Third brigade has Joined the
First and Second brigades at Sadi. "
The natives kept up a fire on the Brit
ish while the latter were engaged in con-
structing raft bridge over the river.
The bridge was finally finished, and
the guides crossed over safely with Or
ders to form camp in the morning and
destroy the native villages.
Z The enemy, finding that their fire had
not prevented the completion of the
bridge, decided to destroy it, and during
the night they threw immense logs into
the river above the bridge. These were
down with great force against the frail
bridge, smashing it to pieces. With the
destruction of the bridge Colonel Battye
and his party were cut off from the main
body of the British forces. Colonel Battye
however proceeded into the hills to pun
lsh the natives. So he signaled across
the river to General Waterteld. who sig
naled back orders for Colonel Battye to re-
treat.
General WatertielG said his forces would
cover the retreat with their mountain bat
terry and Maxim guns. which were moved
to the bank of the river for this pu pose.
Colonel Batiye executed the retreat in a
masterful manner. When hotly pressed
by the enemy halt would be made and
a whitening fire poured into the pursuers,
whose confusion would enable the British
forces to retire. This practice succeeded
until the British reached wide place
when, through the fear OF hitting their
men, General Waterfield' forces were told
to cease firing, leaving Colonel Battye to
depend upon his own resources. The
natives tried to cut off the retreat to the
river and the aspect of affairs looked very
serions,,. The retreat, however, continued
in an orderly manner. One section would
halt and fire to cover the retreat OF the
others. and would return to their COM
rades before the natives would again start
in pursuit of them. These tactics were
followed until the enemy was Wltnil
thirty yards Of the river.
Colonel Battye was killed by bullet
Just as the British got within hailikg dis
lance of General Waterhed' s camp. The
enemy lost heavily. 1t is now reported
they have disappeared Materials are
being hurried forward for the COL struction
of suspension bridge across the river.
A dispatch to the Times from .'unikora
says that besides Colonel Battye three
sepoys were killed. Captain Peoples was
severely and twenty men were slightly
wounded,