The record-union., 1897-10-21
British Have a Desperate Battle
With TribeSmen.
Attack the Latier's Position and Rout the
Enemy.
Two Thousand Men Advance I'm
der Heavy Fire on the Hights of
Dargi, Half of Them Being
Moved Down Before the Vic
tory Was Won.

SIMLA, Oct. 2O.-Oficial advices from
Fort I,ockhart say that the lighting on
Monday last between the British troops
under General Sir Yeatman Biggs and
the insurgent tribesmen from Chagru,
on the Samana range the British force
returned to Ahinwari, and the tribes
men greatly reinforced in force the
nights west of Chagru The Third Bri-
gade of the punitive expedition, which
advanced to-day to Kharappa, expects
to have a lively time in clearing the
nights.
I,ater-According to advices from
Fort I.ockhart, the tribesmen, having
occupied Dargai ridge, which COM
manded Chagru, General Yeatman
Riggs sent the second division this
morning to dislodge them. The posi-
tion was a very strong one on the sum
nit of a. precipitous hill, reached only by
a single path, along which the attack
ing force, consisting of the Ghurka reg
uIars. the Dorsetshire regiment, was
Obliged to climb in Indian file, three
batteries meanwhile shelling the San
gars.
The British suffered a temporary
check when they reached the open
space, and were exposed to an accurate
fire. After a prolonged artillery hre,
the Ghurkas were reinforced by the
Gordon Highianders. Then followed
magnificent rush across the open space
I'm the face of a murderous fire. The
enemy stood their ground untl tue
British reached the rocks below, down
which the tribesmen could not see 70
fire. and then they fed pellmen. The
losses of the Ghurkas and the Gorooh
Highlanders were severe
According to later adV1ces Generai
Biggs' division advanced at daypreak
by way of Chagru Kotal, with BT1ga7
dier-General KempSterr's brigade Iedu-
ing. 1t was nearly 10 o'clock Wnen the
enemy began a iong-range tight Inree
mountain batteries masked on Chaeru
Kotal replied, while the Gordon high
landers pushed through to support the
first line, firing volleys at long range.
The tribeSmen reserved thelr nTe Until
the Ghurkas reached the zlg-zag pain
under the cliff, where Major BromIey
was killed on Monday. Three Brltlsh
companies crossed the zone on mere az
a. rush, sustaining heavy losses, Whue
the remainder deployed TO the leIt 10
intercept a flank attack threatened pS
some 1000 of the enemy from tnat ol-
rection. The Dorsetshires attempted 70
support the Ghurkas, but were kept
back by the enemy, who remained cool
and reserved their fire until the BRUSH
were we'll exposed.
At / p. m. matters loked serious aS
the gun fire, though aided by noun
tain battery from Fort Gullstan, had
failed to dislodge the enemy. Genera1
Kempster 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 Z,Ooo
men with fixed bayonets stood waiting
for the order to advance
Three minutes before the WORD OIL
command was given, General Kempster
telegraphed back instructions TO the
company to concentrate their FIRE. Ihe
eighteen pieces of artillery responded,
and. under cover of this fire, the lead
ing company of the Highlanders, amid
perfect silence, rushed into the nre
zone Half the men dropped, but the
remainder pushed gallantly on until
they reached the cover where the Ghur-
kas lay The rest of the force stream
ed after them, and the tribesmen, see
ing that most of the troops had passed
the fire zone, fed UP the hill and col
lected under cover of the cliffs. The
Highlanders and mixed regiments af-
ter pausing a moment to take breath,
again advanced to the assault, and
twenty minutes later the position was
won.
The ridge was stormed at 3 o'clock.
From noon until that hour the tribes
men, sheltered in the Sangars, stood a
heavy bombardment, beating their
drums, waving their standards, shout
ing defiance and maintaining a 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 Lock-
hart.
French Garrison Attacked.