The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-15
THE TABLES TURNED
COLONEL BATTYE AND OTHER BRIT.
ISH SOLDIERS KILLED.
Started Out to Chastfse Some of Umra
khan's Followers, but Were Sc
vereIy Punished Themselves.

SIMLA, April 1.-THE guides and infantry
belonging to the brigade of General Water
field, part of the force operating against
Umra Khan of Jandol were detached from
the brigade and sent across the Punjkora
river to reconnoiter and to chastise some
villagers who had been firing on the Brit
ish camp. The British met a strong force
of the enemy and were compelled to re-
treat. covered by an artillery fire from the
camp. Colonel Battye was killed and sew
eral others of the British force were
wounded. The natives showed great deter
mination and are still in force on the
Punjkora river. The third brigade has
Joined the first and second brigade at Sado
Later advices say the natives kept up a
dropping fire on the British while the latter
were engaged in constructing a raft bridge
over the river. The bridge was finally fin
ished and Colonel Battye, who was in COM
mand of the guides, crossed over safely
with orders TO form camp in the morning
and destroy the native villages. The enemy,
finding their fire had not prevented the
completion of the bridge, decided to destroy
it. During the night they threw immense
logs into the river above the bridge These
were caught in the rapid current and car
ried down with great force on 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 punish
the natives. So he signaled across the river
to General Waterfield that two hostile
bodies were approaching. General Water
field signaled back orders for Colonel Battye
to retreat. General Waterield's force COW
cred the retreat with it's mountain battery
and Maxim guns which were moved to the
bank of the river for this purpose. Colonel
Battye executed the retreat in a mastery
manner. When hotly pressed by the enemy
a halt would be made and whitening fire
poured into the pursuers,s whose confusion
would enable the British force to retire.
These plans succeeded until the British
reached wide place, when, through fear of
hitting their own men, General Waterfields
party were told to cease firing, leaving
Colonel Battye to depend on his own re-
sources. The natives tried to cut off the
retreat to the river, and the aspect of
affairs looked very serious. 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 comrades before the natives would
again start in pursuit OF them. These
tactics were followed until the enemy was
within thirty yards of the river. Colonel
Battye was killed By a bullet just as the
British got within hailing distance of Gen.
eral Waterfield's camp. The enemy lost
heavily. 1t is now reported that they have
dispersed. Materials are being hurried for
ward for the construction of a suspension
bridge across the river.
A dispatch to the Times from Punjkora
says that besides Colonel Battye, three
Sepoys were killed. Captain PEBBLES was
severely and twenty men slightly wounded.
England Has Her Hands Full.
From number of foreign newspapers the
following remarks on England's latest lit
tie war; have been compiled and condensed:
being mobilized at Peshawur. with view
to bringing to order Umra Khan. the
raj a territory to which he has no right
whatever will have to take. the field, in
which case they. will probably find Them
selves involved in a war of some magri-
viii viii. easily be able to subdue Umra and his
4og e tans Dpl paee ae the Brts
1900 men WIN be none too large. II Umra
x Khan e able to enlist nj t in his s. cause the
able TO raise no less than 1900 swords
full: indeed, it is questionable whether hiJ
force will be large enough for the work it
oncs, Eena nS9e Te swas are said to hsye
pressed their willingness to aid in at
tscking Umra Khan. but. as the whole dis
not to be relied upon. 1t can bat be hoped
that the proclamation issued to the tribes
the s q spe q Is VII shis
comes about the expedition to Chitral will
not prove such very =. ssr,oas es,, business
grateful to turn against them, for his do
ms f nsse 81 rnss Win en 1
] eye. He ha3 becu ono q the betee ncirp o.