The herald., 1897-10-21
TRIBESMEN DEFEATED
BUT ENGLISH FORCES SUFFER
SEVERELY
The Storming of the Dargai Ridge
Proves the Desperate Courage Of
the Revolters

SIMLA, Oct. 2O-According to advices
from Fort Lockheart. the tribe smen hav-
ing occupied Dargai ridge, which
commanded Chagru, General Yeaton
Biggs sent the second division this
morning to dislodge them. The posi-
ton was avery strong one, on the sum-
NIT of a precipitous hill, reached only by
single path along which the attack
ing force, consisting of the Guerka reg
ulars, the Dorsetshire regiment was OBJ
liged to climb in Indian file, three bat
teries meanwhile shelling the Sangers.
The British suffered a temporary
check when they cached the open space,
and were exposed to an accurate fire.
After a prolonged artillery fire the
Guerkas were reinforced by the Gordon
Highlanders. Then followed a mag
nificent rush across the open space in
the face of murderous fire. The en-
emy stood their ground until the Brit
ish reached the rocks below, down which
the tribesmen could not see to fire, and
then they fled pell nell. The losses of
the Guerkas and the Gordon Highland
|ers were severe.
According to later advices, General
Biggs' division advanced at daybreak by
way of Chgru Kotal, with Brigadier-
General Kempater's brigade leading. 1t
was nearly 10 o'clock when the enemy
began a long-range fight. Three noun
tain batteries massed on Chargru Ko-
tai, replied, while the Gordon High
landers pushed through to support the
first line, firing volleys at long range.
The tribesmen reserved their fire un-
til the Guerkas reached the zigzag path
under the cliff where Major Jennings
Bromley was killed on Monday Three
British companies crossed the zone off
here at rush, sustaining heavy losses.
while the remainder deployed to the left
to intercept flank attack threatened by
some 1000 of the enemy from that direc-
tion. The Dorsetshire regiment at
tempted to support the Guerkas, but
were kept back by the enemy, who re-
mained cool and reserved their fire un-
til the British were well exposed.
At 1 p. m. matters looked serious, as
the gun fire, though aided by mountain
battery from Fort Gulistan, had failed
to dislodge the enemy. General Kemp
ster thereupon went forward in person,
moving up the Gordon Highlanders and
the Third Sikh regiment into the fight
ing line. A systematic assault was then
organized ard 1000 men with fixed bayo-
nets stood waiting for the order to ad-
vance.
Three minutes before the word Of COM
mand was given General Kempster tele-
graphed back instruction to the company
to concentrate their fire. The eighteen
pieces of artillery responded, and, under
cover of this fire, the leading company
Of the Highlanders, amid perfect si-
lence, rushed into the fire zone.
Half the men dropped, but the re-
mainder pushed gallantly on until they
reached the cover where the Guerkas
lay The rest of the force stream af-
ter them, and the tribesmen, seeing that
most of the troops had passed the fire
zone, fled up the hill and collected un-
der cover of the cliffs. The Highland
ers and mixed regiments, after pausing
a moment to take breath, again ad-
vanced to the assault, and twenty min
utes later the position was won.
The ridge was stormed at o'clock.
From noon until that hour the tribes
men, sheltered in the sangers, stood a
heavy bombardment, beating their
drums, waving their standards, shout
ing defiance, and maintaining hot fire
on the advancing infantry.
General Biggs will continue the ad-
vance so as to hold the Frontal hills, and
then push on to Kharappa, where he
will be Joined by Sir William Lockhart.