The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-21
STORMING THE HILLS.
BRITISH FORCES TAKE THE FRoS-
TIER FORTS WITH A RUSH.
They Charge Tn PERCEPTIONS Heights
Before n Murderous Fusiiiade and
Drive the Trsbesmen TO the shell
ter of the High Cliffs Above.

sTNT.A. Oct. m-According 10 adviees
from Fort Lcckhart. the tr4oeSfnen nav
ing occupied the Dargai ridge which COM
manded Chagru on the SANTANA ranse,
Gen. Yeaton Biggs sent the second cl-
vision this morning 70 disaoase Naeih-
The position was very stfohk one on
the summit OF a precipitous hill reach
ed only by single path along which the
attacking force, consisting OF the Goorh-
ha regulars and the porsetshire regiment
was obliged 10 climb in Indian lie. three
batteries meanwhile Smelling the rangers
The British suffered temporary check
when they reached the open space, ard
were exposed 10 an accurate ire. After
a prolonged artillery FIRE, the Goorkhas
were reinforced by the Gordon High
landers. Then followed a magnificent
rush across the open space in the face OF
a mur6erous fusillade The enemy stood
their ground until the British reached the
rocks below, down which the frfoesmen
could not see 10 fire. and then they ned
pen nell. The losses of the Goorkhas
and the Hlghlan6srs were severe.
According 10 later advices Gen. Biggs
advanced at daybrsak by way Of Chagru
Kotal with Brig. Gen. Kemster's brigade
leading. II was nearly l O'Clock when the
enemy began a iong-range nght- Inc
three mountain batteries massed on Cha-
CRU Kotai replied. while the Gordon High
first line. firing volIeys az long range. The
tribesmen reserved their fire until the
CToorkhas reached the zigZag path under
the perpendicular cliff. where MAJ. Jen-
niugs Bromley was killed on Monday in
the fighting between the Biggs brigade
and the insurgent tribesmen from Chsgru
on the SANTANA range. Three British
companies crossed the zone Of fire at a
rush sustaining heavy losses. while the
remainder deployed 10 the left to inter
cept a flank attack threatened by some
1000 of the enemy from that direction.
The Dorsetshire regiment attempted TO
support three companies Of Goorkhas but
were kept back by the enemy, who re-
NAMED cool and reserved their fire until
the British We're well exposed At p. m.
matters looked serious as the gun fire.
though aided by mountain battery from
Fort Gulistan. had failed to dislodse the
enemy.
Gen. Kemster thereupon went forward
in person, moving up the Gordon High
landers and the Third Sikh regiment into
the fighting line. A systematic assault
was then organized and 1000 men with
fixed bayonets stood waiting for the order
to advance. Three minutes before the
word of command was given. Gen. Kern
ster telegFaphed back instructions TO the
company TO concentrate their forces.
Eighteen pieces of artillery responded
and. under cover of this fire. the leading
company of the Highlanders amid perfect
silence. rushed into the fire zone. Half OF
the men dropped but the remainder push
cd calamity on until they reached the
cover where the Goorkhas lay. The rest OF
the force streamed after them. and the
tribeSmen, seeing that most of the troops
had passed the fire zone, fled up the hill
and collected under cover of the cliffs. The
Highlanders and mixed regiments, after
pausing a moment to take breath. again
advanced 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 sangars. stood a
heaving bomba rdment, beating their
drums. waving their standards. shouting
defiance and maintaining a hot fire on the
advancing soldiers.
Gen. Biggs will continue the advance so
as TO hold the front at Hills and then push
on TO khsrappa. where he will be Joined
by Sir William Lockhart Throughout
yesterday the tribesmen continued their
work OF building breastworks upon the
summit