The San Francisco call., 1897-09-18
REVERSE OF
THE BRITISH
MOhmOndS Force Back
Sir RindOn Floods
Division.
Only the Superior Bravery of
the Indian Soldiers Pre-
vent Disaster.
Home Journals Comment on the
"Mishap'' and Call for a New
Comma mander.

Sept. IL, P. NJ Severe lighting has taken
place between the second brigade of Gen.
eraI Sir Rindon Blood's division and the
Mohmonds. The British loss was 140
killed and wounded. The brigade has
moved out to attack the Mohmonds in the
valley north of the camp, 10 punish them
for the assault upon the force OF General
Jeffreys at the foot of Pawat Pass. The
Bengal lancers found the enemy in
trenched on the hills about eight les
distant.
The Thirty fifth Sikhs was ordered to
make the attack. The regiment was sup
ported by four guns of mountain battery
and by six companies of Bluffs. The Sikhs
drove the enemy into the hills, but event
ually fell back upon the Bluffs b fore SUI
perior numbers. The enemy then ad-
vanced against the left flank and drove
back the cavalry and surrounded a COM
pany of Sikhs. The cavalry charged bril-
liantly, and relieved the Sikhs and the
guides and, coming up, swept the enemy
back The force halted for some time,
destroying the enemy's towers and then
retired.
A company of Sikhs on the hills to the
right was hard pressed and was running
short of ammunition when the general Of
ficer commanding moved the guides for
ward 20 their relief which was galiantly
accom- plished. The guides carried the
Wodnded Slkhs back and executed the
withdrawal in good order, though the
enemy pressed them hard.
Darkness came on before the force
reached the camp. and the guides, with
General Jeffreys and his escort OF Baffs,
became separated from the column, which
passed them in the gloom. General JEFF
freys remained with the guns and took up
a position in the village. Meanwhile the
enemy occupied part of the village and
the force not being strong enough to expeI
them they bad inflicted considerable loss
on the little party before Major Wortlidge,
with two companies, each composed OF
Sikhs ana guides, came up and compelled
them to retire.
large body of cavalry and the Thirty
eighth Degras left the camp and brought
in the whole detachment Lieutenant
Hughes and Lieutenant Crawford were
killed, Lieutenant Watson, Lieutenant
Cunning and Lieutenant Winter were
severely wounded, and General Jeffreys,
Lieutenant Cassells and Captain Birch
slightly wounded.
The Bluffs lost one killed and seven
wounded, the Sikhs twenty killed nd
foTJy-two wounded, the guides TWO killed
and ten wounded, the gunners seven killed
and twenty one wounded and The sappers
thvee killed and sixteen wounded. Two
B ngal lancers were wounded. Many
horses and mules were killed.
LONDON, ENG, Sept. IS. - All the
morning papers comment upon the
British reverse north of Camp Ayata.
The Daily telegraph calls it "disas-
,rous," and says: whether it was due to
raShness or to some new unexplained
cause it will be matter OF unfeigned sor-
row. When we read of the loss of so
many valuable lives we can only deplore
a casualty which, though IL will doIhi-
less speedily be avenged, casts a gloom
upon the happier intelligence received
from Fort Gullstan."
The Standard says: 1.-The interruption
of the advance is in every way deplorable.
Ii is absolutely necessary TO retrieve the
reverse, and, meanwhile, he enemy, who
are SAID to be disheartened and disin-
clined to fight, will be encouraged to
organize determined resstanc'. Posi-
bly, the Third Brigade, which has reached
Nawagai, will retrace its steps in order TO
support General Jeffreys.
ut is i'm ossibi to offer an explains alton
of the mishap. We must remem Der, how
ever, that it occurred in country never
traversed by European troops and very
little was kno an of the country or of the
Mahmonds. But there is reason TO fear
once again that lack OF complete intelli-
gence as 10 the disposition OF the enemy's
strength has led our commanders to take
an operation that cannot be pushed
through. Further details are awaited with
anxiety. 1t must be hoped thar the In
dian Government will give Sir William
Locknart a perfectly free hand to choose
his own men. He must not be bound by
red-tape regulations. Much is to be done
be ore peace will be restored"
The Daily News says: 1t is very seri-
Gus news and gives the greatest impor-
lance TO the appointment of Sir William
Lockhart to succeed Sir George White on
the atter's retirement, which has just
been officially announced. There is little
doubt that his name will be heard with
dread by the insurgent tribasmen.
IN II