The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-01
NATIVES SUFFER HEAVILY
Their Losses Believed to be
 over 400.
From Dead and wounded onicers, Arms and Ammunition Bearing
 the Imperial Mark of Rus sia are Taken.

Tuna. British India March M.--Ncws has been received of severe fighting. the Thibetans having attacked the British mission under Colonel Younghusband. There were two engagements and the Thi- betans were repulsed with heavy losx- The British captured the Thibstans's camp at Curu.
 ticaliy been unopposed. the expedition suffered great hardship from the intense cold and it was sometimes found impos- sible to use the Msxim guns and rifles owing to the congealing of the oil. Tho country is of the bleakest. without a sign of vegetation. and the expedition had to face piercing winds and clouds Of dust. while there was heavy fall of snow last night ssa Threatened an Attack.
 At o'clock this morning d 1lying col- umn started to reconnoiter the Thibetan camp at Crru. whereupon a general from Lhassa, with a quaint retinue, came to interview Colonel Younghusband. The General asked the Colonel to retire with his mission to Yatung for the purpose of carrying on negotiations, threatening an attack If the mission proceeded.
 Colonel Younghusband replied that ne- gotiations had been proceeding fruitlessly for fifteen years, and that retirement was now impossible. The Thibetan General withdrew and Colonel Younghusband or dered his troops to endeavor to disperse the Thibetans, blocking the road with out firing upon them.
 For time the tactics of the British were successful. but after a while the at titude of the Thibetan leader convinced Colonel Macdonald of the necessity oe disarning them. The Thibetans number ed i.500. and their resistance of the eff fort to disarm them led to a smart en- gagement.
 Critical for Few Moments. The situation for few moments was critical, Colonel Macdonald and Colonel Young husband being only few yards from the advancing ThebetAus. Revolvers and bayonets were used and then rife fire was resorted to, at which the Thibetans fled. but not before several casualties resulted in the British ranks. The correspondent of The Daily Mall with the mission was severely wour Jed. The rhibetans lost heavily. owinm'tb the inferiority of their weapons aavhSsi,a were rmatchlock rifles, but they displayed the greatest courage. many of them coming on after they had been seriously wounded, After the action there were heaps Q& dead, and a long trail of dead anS wounded extended to the rear.
 Artillery is Used.
 After a short halt. the advance
 tinued. Nearing the Thibetan camp q Curu. second action took place.
 which the artillery played the 1argeASs part Finally the Thibetans retreated over the hills with the exception of about sixty who obstinateiy held the village. which was finally taken by . mounted bayonet charge.
 Among the Thibetans killed were the Lhassa general. the military commandsnt of Phari and Lata, and the representive of the Golden Monastery. to whose in- fiuence and violent hostility the existin 6 difficulties were largely due. The Thibets- an losses are believed to- be over 40la. while the British casualties are about e dozen. -
 The British force returned to Tuna this evening" and stated that rife1s 'bear- Ing the Russian imperial stamp and Rus sian ammunition were found ion the wounded Thihetan officers.