The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-13
DISASTER IN INDIA.
Three British Officers Killed by
Hostile Natives.

Bombay, June IA dispatch received
here from Simla, the residence of the In
dian government officials during the
heated periods of the year, announces Sc.
ricus trouble on the northern frontier
and tue massacre of number of British
officers and native soldiers in the govern
ment employ.
Colonel Bunny, commander of The BRIT.
ish force engaged, Capt Browne, of the
First Sikhs, son of the late Sir James
Browne, AMI Crookshank, of the royal ar
tillry, were killed and Surgeon Higgin-
son, Lieutenant Higginson, of the First
Sikhs, and Lieutenant Seaton Browne, of
the Puniab infantry, were wounded.
Twenty five pIiyates were killed and
twenty-five wounded.
Mr.. Gee, n political officer, was visiting
Shirani, in the Trohi valley, with an es-
cort of 800 troops belonging to the first
regiment of Sikhs and to the first Punab
infantry. The party was attacked ut
Mtazza by vastly superior forces of hostile
natives. The British troops were COM
PEELED to retreat. and were followed for
several miles by overwhe lining numbers
Of the enemy. The fighting was desper-
ate. All the British officers were severely
wounded.
Trochi Valley lies north of Cumal and
on the road to Ghuzni and Waziristan.
1t has been controlled by the British since
the delimitatioD of the Indo afghan from
tier, but the tribes there have always
been turbulent, and anxiety is felt lest
the other tribes rise against the British.
The mul'ah of Powindah is we'll known
to the British Indian authorities. He is
notorious fapatical priest and has al
ways been hostile to British influence.
Owing to an attempt which the mullnh
recently made to stir ND rebellion he
was expelled from British territory. This
caused him to be deserted by his own
people, and he has since lived in Afghan
istan and Is understood to have been ac-
lively plotting against the British He
took part in the attack upon thu British
camp at Wano In November, 1894, when
the British lost twenty men.
London, June 12.-Ihe Times CORE.
spondent at Silla says: "Mr. Gee was
sent to fix the site of new outpost at
Sherani and to recover the fine imposed
on local Jribesmen for past misconduct.
1.-The troops after the attack retired to-
wards Dattakhel, sustaining running
tight for four miles AS the Waziris were
In such strength it was impossible to do
more than act on the defensive.
Two companies of native infantry
sent from Dattakhel reinforced the party,
"hicn brought IN It's guns In safety. No
reason is yet given for this sudden out
break, but the garrison in the Trochi
valley will he reinforced pending decis-
ion rs to punitive operations.
"The present garrison consists Of two
regiments of native infantry, one mount.
ed battery and a squadron of cavalry
The Bombay correspondence the Daily
Mail says GA punitive expedition will
be fitted out from Rawalpindi. 1t is eX-
pected that severe fighting will follow
and that another Chitral will he enacted.
Unfortunately, the great frontier gene.
raj, Sir William Lockrat, is now on leave
In Germany. while Sir Power Palmer,
the general commanding the British
forces on the Afghan frontier, is on leave
in England"