The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-01
Heaps Of Dead Are Left
on the Field, OOer 100
Failing in Too Engage
ments eOlth COL Young
husband ndlan Troops
List of Dead Includes the
Commanding General
and tie. LvecoHciIabIe
EnVoy of tie Golden
Monastery at Lhasse
British Loss Shght--Rus-
sian Rifles and Ammu-
nrtton Are Found on
Fallen TMbetan Officers
An Aacyn/ Slaughter

TUNA. British India, March Sl.-News has
been received OF severe lighting. the Thibet-
ans having attacked the British mission
under Colonel Younghusband. There were
two engagements and the Thibetans were
repulsed with heavy loss. the estimate being
400 including the commanding general and
other high officers. Heaps of dead were
left on the field. The British captured the
Tibetan camp at Guru. Rifles bearing the
Russian imperial stamp and Russian am
muniton were found on the wounded
Thibetans
While the British advance had PRACTICAL
ly been unopposed the expedition suffered
great hardships from the intense cold and
it was sometimes found impossible TO use
the Maxim guns and rifles owing to the
congealing of the OIL The country is very
bleak, without a sign of vegetation. and
the expedition was compelled to face pierre
ing winds and clouds of dust, while there
was heavy fall of snow last night.
At O'clock this morning a flying coli
umn started to reconnoiter the Thibetan
camp at Guru, whereupon a general from
Lhassa with a quaint retinue came to
terview Colonel Younghusband. The gen.
eral asked the colonel to retire with his
mission to Yalung for the purpose of car
rying on negotiations. threatening an at
tack If The mission proceeded. Colon
Younghusband replied that negotiations
had been proceeding fruitessly for fifteen
years and that retirement was now i'm
possible.
THE FIRST FIGHT.
The Thibetan general withdrew and Col.
Younghusband ordered his troops to en-
deavor to disperse the Thibetans blocking
the road without firing upon them. For a
time the tactics of the British were success
full. but after a while the attitude of the
Thibetan officers convinced Colonel Mac
Donald of the necessity of dsarming them.
The Thibetans numbered about 1,5o0 and
their resistance of the effort to disarm them
led to a smart engagement The situation
for few moments was critical. Colonel
Macdonald and Colonel Younghusband be-
ing only few yards from the advancing
Thibetans. Revolvers and bayonets were
used and then a rife fire was resorted to.
at which the Thibetans fed, but not before
several casualties resulted in the British
ranks.
The correspondent of the Daily Mail with
the mission was severely wounded.
The Thibetans lost heavily. owing to the
inferiority Of their weapons. which were
match-lock rifles. but they displayed the
greatest courage many of them coming on
after they had been seriously wounded
SLAUGHTER.
While the attacking forces were face to
face the opposite sides of a wall which
the Thibetans had built across the high
way TO oppose the advance. the Indian
troops quietly deployed their fianks and ef-
fectively inclosed 1900 Thibetans in cir
Gle. like herding sheep.
The members of the mission, the press
correspondents and the general staff rode
up to inspect the capture and were laugh
ing and talking. They were unaware Of
the impending tragedy. being evidently
needless OF the sullen demeanor of the
Thibetans
The latter presently began to hustle some
Sikhs, who replied with the butt ends OF
their rifles. Then the Thbetans fired
pistol, wounding a Sikh. and this was the
signal for all the Thibetans to draw their
swords and rush at their captors. who
opened a fire on the surging mob. The
officers emptied their revolvers.
The Thibetans found themselves unable
TO climb the wall which they themselves
had built. Finally about half OF them were
able TO break away 10 the rear. where
they came under the fire of the artillery.
OF the entire Thibetan force only about
half escaped being either killed or
wounded
HEAPS OF DEAD.
After the action there were heaps of dead.
and long trail of dead and wounded ex-
tended TO the rear
After short halt the advance continued.
Nearing the phibetan camp at Guru sec
ond action took place. in which the artillery
played the largest part.
Finally the Thibetans retreated over the
hills, with the exception Of about sixty.
who obstinately held the village. which was
finally taken by a mounted bayonet charge
Among the Thibetans killed were tho
Lhassa general, the military commandant
OF Phari and Lata, and the representative
Of the Golden Monastery. TO whose infu-
ence and violent hostility the existing diff
fculties were largely due.
The Thibetan losses are believed 10 be
over 400. while the British casualties are
about a dozen.
The British force returned 20 Tuna this
evening and stated that rifles bearing the
Russian imperial stamp and Russian am
munition were found the wounded