The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-24
AFRIDIS ON THE WAR PATH.
Nearly All the Natives of Northern
Indin Now in Revolt.

LONDON. Aug. 23.-An official dispatch
from Peshawur announces that the Afrids
attacked Ali-Musjed this morning. and adds
that they we're attacking Fort Maud at
1890 a. m. to-day. The enemy's line is a
mile and half long. Another body of At
ridis the dispatch continues, is moving to-
ward Kadam All the Afrids are said to
have Joined in the uprising. The news con-
tanned in this official dispatch is most inn
portant, probably meaning a protracted
campaign and desperate fighting. A gen
eral revolt of the Afridis was what the In
dian government feared the most. and it
seems now to have come.
A dispatch from Simla says a large force
of Afrids has just been reported to be adj
vancing down the Khyber pass and the So
called Mad Mullah, fanatcal priest, who
is melting the natives of that territory
against the British, is said to have collect
ed the Mohammedans for an attack upon
Michni and Shabadakr. The Royal Irish
Regiment and a representative native in
fantry, with a battery of mountain artil-
lery, have been ordered to Kohat
There were persistent rumors at Simla
tonight that Fort Ali-Musjid and Fort
Maude, which were attacked this morning
by the Afridis, have fallen into the hands of
the enemy, but there is no official confrma-
ton of these reports.
The Indian government has received a
written communication from the Ameer of
Afghanistan in which he denies all respon-
sibility for the riSingS of the Mullahs or ia
natical priests of the different tribes. An
official communique was issued at Simla
tonight. 1t reads: THE Ameer has
promptly replied to the letter In which the
Indian government called his attention to
information received by it to the effect that
Afghan subjects had joined Haddah Mullah.
f1Xr ha tr11fh of
the report that Afghan regulars have joined
the Mullah. He engages sofemnly and per-
sOnally on behalf of General Gholam-H Hal
dar and the regular army that no such act
of hostility will ever be committed by them.
He alleges that if tribesmen have Joined at
all, they must have joined secretly for
they would not have dared to do so openly
because of fear of him. He attributes the
disturbances 10 the action of the Mullahss
especially Haddah Mullah who in former
years have excited his own people to rise
against him in Afghanlstap, and he denoun-
ces their conduct"
This IS most important announcement
and II published broadcast on the frontier
may have great effect upon the lribeSmen
General Files will endeavor to induce the
Afridis to leave the hIlls and venture into
the open, but it is feared they will cling to
the various spurs running out towards jam
rud and Peshawur. This may delay their
dispersal and they NAV become troublesome
by demonstrations against the Kuki-khel
villagers living near the hills.
a special dispatch from Simla says the
in the official COmmunique has suppressed
a. portion of the Ameer's reply owing to a
difference of opinion between Lord Elgin,
the viceroy, and the military authorities.
Lord Elgin desires to act cautiously and
avoid an open ruptue with the Ameer. The
military authorities, on the other hand are
convinced that the Ameer is acting n bad
faith, and they urge Lord Elgn to act
quickly, before the Ameer is able to make
formidable military preparations. The gen.
orally Well-informed correspondent of the
Times at Simla says nothing about this
suspicion, which is probably borne Of the
feeling that the Amer although he dis
owns, does not disapprOVe of the dOings of
the tribesmen, while there is the further
possibility of Russian intrigue in the back
ground. Curiously enough, the Paris Me
mortal DiplOmatque, which is supposed TO
have connections with Russian diplomacy,
announced in it's Sunday issue that the
Ameer was pre- pairing for the eventuality of
war in any case.
The Afridis have always displayed a
keener readiness for plumber than for fight
ing, and the fact that they have advanced
to the attack of fortified posts for the pro-
while under the pay of the Indian govern
ment indicates that some strong motive
animates them. not unlikely result of
the rising will be that the British force
will occupy Ttrah plateau, the summer
headquarters of the Afridis and the Orak-
zais from which point they could be kept
under better control. The Afridis number
about 10000 first-class hill fighters. An
anxious feature of the situation is that the
.AnglO-I Indian army is largely recruited from
the Afridis.