The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-12-31
CUNNING AFRlpIs.
Methods Employed by the Crafty Savage
Tribcsmen In Battle.

Tribcsmen In Battle.
In any account of the ways the
Afridis fight it Is necessary to in
olude in the description tho military
characteristics of the frontier na-
tives without regard to differences
of tribe.
Their style of fighting is specially
adapted to the geographical oondi-
tons Of the country. Both at Fort
Saraghari and at Fort Cavagnari /
had an opportunity, with other Off
GERS, of learning the peculiar fight
ing ways of the Afridis. Every race,
of course, has it's own method of
combat, and the Afridis conduct
their operations against an enemy
in manner altogether their own.
1t is as shifty as it is effective. Few
civilians can realize how deadly IL
may become.
1t is bad enough when an enemy,
creeping slowly up hillside, lodges
itself in sections behind huge bowl
ders, and, under cover of these,
pours volloy after volley at the hu
man targets, rs those engaged liz
the task of guarding the summit be-
come. Watching the advancement
of foe is not at any time an inspir-
iting occupation 1t is worse to sec
the half naked Afridis creeping
slowly and slowly from howlder to
bowlder This is what takes place
in broad daylight, but even then the
cunning AfIidi can circumvent ma
ture. Take, as an illustration Of
this, the way in which Fort Sara
ghari fell 1t occurred in broad day
light and within sight of the neigh.
boring fort of Cavagnari, whore the
stealthy operations of tho tribesmen
were observed by the imperial
troops. Attempts were made by
means of {; nals to warn the de
tenders of g. British flag of their
danger, but to no avail.
Although considered impregna-
BILE, Fort Saraghari, built of square
stone with two hastions at opposite
angles, was fatally defective in 6e-
sign. 1t had dead" point under.
meath each bastiOn-that is, point
from which an enemy could be nei-
ther seen nor hit by the defenders.
The result was that while the con-
tending forces were firing against
each other r-the defenders in the
forts and the assailants behind stone
breastworks and within ten yards
of each other-a few native born
engineers among the Afridis who
had crept up to the dead point
were mining breach in one Of tho
bastions. Before this was made suf
ficiently large to admit tho savage
tribesmen to make their deadly rush
into the fort the unG- uin Dg op-
erations were seen by tho small
force holding Fort Cavagnari. These
signaled to their brothers in as'r.s
the danger awaiting them, but the
latter were too bpsily employed in
repelling the onslaughts of the enc
my to benefit by the telescopir ob-
servations of their comrades, ard
SO every ono Cf the 21 Hkhs guard
ing Saraghari died at his post.
II the Afridi wero crafty in day
light, his cunning at night became
superhuman. Many sentry has
fallen silently and mystsriouSlg In
the Indian night. A naked toyrA,
moving stealthily in the dark AZ tie
sentry PAGES backward and forward,
getting almost motionless as tks
sentry draws nigh; a sudden bound,
followed by a. dagger thrust this
is the end Of many an Indian sol
der and the secret Of many tribal
victory. .--''Au Officer" in London
Telegraph.