The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-21
TRIBESNDN REPULSED.
Another Victory for the British I'm
der Sir Yeatman Biggs.
CHARGING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
Brave HlghlaAders and Gurkhas Adj
vance Through a Narrow Pathway
in tho Face Of " Tremendous Fire,
Suffering Severe LOSSES.


vance Through Narrow Pathway
in tho Face of " Tremendous Fire,
Suffering severe LOSSES.
Simla, Oct. 21.--According to advices
from Fort Lockhart the tribesmen hav-
ting occupied Dargai Ridge, which COM
manded Chegru, on the SANTANA range,
General Sir Yeatman Biggs sent the Sec
pnd division yesterday to disludge them.
The position was very strong one. on
the summit of a precipitous hill, reach
ed only by single path, along which
the attacking force, consisting of the
Gurkha regiment and the Dorsetshire
regiment, was obliged to climb in In
dian file, three batteries meanwhile
shelling the Sangars.
The British suffered a temporary
check when they reached the open
space and we're exposed to an accurate
fire. After a prolonged artillery fire
the Gurkhas were reinforced by the
Gordon Highlanders. Then followed
q magnificent rush across the open
space in the teeth Of murderous fusl-
lade. The enemy stood their ground
till the British reached the rocks be-
low, down which the tribesmen could
not see to fire, and then they fled pell
nell. The losses Of the Gurkhas and
the Gordon Highlanders were severe.
According to later advices General
Biggs' division advanced at daybreak
by way of Chagru-Kotal, with Briga-
dier General Kempster's brigade lead
ing. 1t was nearly 10 o'clock when the
enemy began long range fire. The
three mountain batteries, massed on
Chagru-K -Kotal, replied, while the Cor
don Highlanders pushed through to
support the first line, firing volleys at
long range.
The tribesmen reserved their fire till
the Gurghas reached the zigzag path
under the perpendicular cliff, where
Major Jennings Bromley was killed on
Monday In the fighting between the
Biggs brigade and the insurgent tribes
men from Chagru, on the SANTANA
range.
The British companies crossed the
zone of fire 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 direction. The Dorsetshire
regiment attempted to support three
companies Of Gurkhas. but was kept
back by the enemy, who remained cool
and reserved their fire until the Brit
1sh were well exposed.
At 1880 p. m. matters looked serious
as the British gun fire, though aided by
a mountain battery from Fort Gullstan,
had failed to dislodge the enemy.
General Kcmpster thereupon went for
ward in person, moving up the Gordon
Highlanders and the Third Sikh regi-
ment into, the fighting line. A sys-
tematic 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 General Kempster
photographed back instructions to thes
battery to concentrate their fire. The
1S 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 the men dropped, but the re-
nainder pushed gallantly on till they
reached the cover where the Gurghas
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 col
lected under cover of the cliffs. The
Highlanders and mixed regiments,
after pausing a moment to take breath,
again advanced to the assault, and 20
minutes later the position was won.
The ridge was stormed at o'clock.
rrom noon until that hour the tribes
mon, sheltered in the Sangars, stood
a heavy bombardment, beating their
drums, waving their standards shout
ing defiance and maintaining hot fire
on the advancing infantry.
GENERAL Sir Yeatman Biggs will con-
tlnue the advance, so as to hold the
hills and then push on to Kharappa,
where he will be joined by Sir William
f.ockhart