The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-02
TIBETANS ASSEMBLE
FOR BATTLE DESPITE
A HAIL OF BULLETS
Silence Is Maintained in st,
Petersburg Regarding
British Invasion.

LONDON, April 2.-The Indian Of
flee has issued long dispatches sent by
Colonel Younghusband, commanding
the British mission to Tibet, through
Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India. which
confirm the statement concerning the
engagement between the British and
Tibetans near Guru yesterday. The dis
patches add that it was the Lassa
general who fired the first shot there
by melting the Tibetans to attack, and
show that but for the fact that the
Tibetans were so hemmed in that they
could not use their weapons the British
loss might have been much more. Sc
rious.
Later dispatches show that so little
was the onset expected that the British
officers were eating sandwiches and
adjusting cameYas. Mr.. Gambler, the
unfortunate correspondent. of the Mail
was sitting Ilnarn1ed writing. He had
narrow escape from death, receiving
twelve wounds. Colonel Younghusband
and his staff were not far distant, and
also wholly unarmed. and it is evident
that but for the. personal courage and
presence of mind of Colonel Macdonald
and his officers a terrible disaster
might have occurred. The Tibetans
displayed dogged feariessness.
The whole affair occupied only ten
minutes, and even in the retreat the
Tibetans disdafnef to scatter apd run,
and marched !solemnIy in line under a
hail of fire.
st: PETERaeI!RG, April !: 1..-Al-
! though no official expression. regarding
| the victory of fine British expedition to
Tibet is obtainable to-night;. it is GER
tain that. the matter win not attract
the attention which it would have done
| Before the outbreak: of the war with
Japan, when Russian interest in the
results of the expedition was very keen.
The. real purposes of the expedition
were then viewed with the gravest sus-
picion, it being feared. that a definite
settlement OF British influence oyer the
fsGrand Lama of Lassa, which was
regarded as Great Britairts object.
would be regarded as a. severe blow TO
!. Russian prestige. both in Tibet and in
| China
The situation is now changed. be-
cause: Rnssia's hands are at present too
T
f.disposed, and secondly-perhaps of
even more .irnportance-because there
are NOW increasing indications that bet:
ter. relations: between Great BRITAIN and
Russia are. In sight. or at least, there
| is an increasing desire for such. reia-
/ tIons by both Countries. =. :"
l. Several leading newspapers here have
turned complete somersault, notably
the Novoe Vremya. Only this morning
the :Novesti calmly. discussed Great
Britain,s standing desire TO obtain
a. protectprate over. Tibet. as being in
a. fair way to. succeed; declaring. that
] neither Russia nor China would OBJ
/ ject, while a special dispatch from tbs
Paris. correspondent: of the Novoe
Nrenaya said that ain entente between
Russia and. Great Britain: would be
/ effected on the basis. of a Russian free
j hand in Manchtiria and a, British free
hand in Tibet. :. -. :.
In best Informed circles: however; "a
definite rapprochement. is regarded as
1 premature at the present time, and in:
deed Impossible white Great Britain
ally is at war with. Russia. Neverthe;
!. less. the Associated. Press is: In posses.
/ sion of information that King Edward
i is looking forward to and: clearing tho
way for an entente, which will. settle
the differences between the two. coun.
tries. once war has been cleared from
1 the horizon. :.
| One Of. the best informed diplomats
/ is bold enough TO. predict that the basis
] Of settlement will include. giving. Rus
STA, If victorious. what she. wants. ir
j.Manchurja,. the. opening or neqtralizai
! ton of the Dardepelles and an outiet
to- the Persian Gulf III return for ar
absolute guarantee of Great Britain's
Indian frontier and Observation-Disclosures
) Influence IN: Tibet. -. :.