The Washington herald., 1908-05-04
ONE FIGHT NEAR SIMLA
Invaders RepulSed in Attack on
Block House.
Body of Soldiers, from 10000 to
10000 Strong, ON Rampage Through
English Asiatfc PrOVfnce-Gen.
wiIIocks to Take Charge of Opera
tiOns-EuIeF Said 10 BE Angered
Over AngIO-Russian Agreement.

of the news from the northwest frontier
of India points to the likelihood Of Sc
rious complications with the Ameer of
Afghanistan
A dispatch from simla, the summer
capital of India, announces that a body
of Afghans. between 1900 and 10000
strong, crossed the border into India Fri
day night and divided into two parties
The larger and better armed party went
to Landi Kotal, which guards the Afghan
end of the Khyber Pass. and the other,
under command of Suf sahib, went to
the Upper 'Bamian Valley.
Saturday evening they delivered their
main attack upon the Michnikanda
! Church blockhouse. which is held by a
detachment Of thesKhyber Rifles The
Afghans made determined efforts TO cap
ture the bloekhouse. and heavy firing
continued until o'clock this morning.
The attack failed. the garrison innieting
some loss upon the Afghans. The gar
rison was also able TO defeat the Af-
ghans' repeated attempts to capture the
earavanserai near the blockhouse. The
enemy withdrew to the southward, at
tacking the Loargai shinwaris. who re-
pelled them.
General Leads Troops.
Dispatches from other points state that
Mai, Cen. Sir James Willcocks. who
commands the expedition sent in the
Baru Valley TO punish the Zakka Khels.
an Afridi tribe, directly he received news
Of the impending attack, made swift dis
position to meet the new emergency. The
British forces, which were concentrating
FOR the purpose of advancing against the
Mohmands. who became troublesome
after the Zakka Khels we're suhdued
have now been diverted to other direc-
tions. Gen. WillCocks. who is himself
taking charge Of the operations, has al
ready arrived at Landi Kotal with a
brigade of infantry squadron of cavalry.
and eight guns A few Of the enemy
were seen in the hills during the march
and a few shots were fred. Another
brigade was due to arrive at Alimasjid
this evening
Cannot Get Assistance,
It is gathered from the foregoing dis
patches that the Afghans' attempts 10
secure the cooperation OF the Mohmands
have failed. despite the activity of the
Afghan Mollahs, many of whom were re-
Gently in the Ameers employ.
For weeks past, thousands of the
Ameer's border people have been swarm
ing into British territory supplies of arms
and ammunition and trains Of provisions,
led by Mollahs. They moved forward,
raising the Fiery Cross among the rest
i've Mohmands. who however remain
ed Quieseent and turned a deaf ear to
the fanatical appeals made TO them.
1t would seem that the AfEhans. fall
ing to secure the help Of either the At
ridis or Mohmands. entered upon a cam
paign Of their own.
Their raid points to one Of two things
Either the Ameer is evilly disposed TO-
ward Great Britain. or he is powerless
TO keep his levies in order II Is i'm
possible that he should be ignorant Of
the raid, tnasmuch as 1t was carried out
by regularly recruited and armed sol
diers.
Brother After Ameer's job.
During the Ameer's recent visit to India
his absence gave his brother an oppor-
tunity for undermining his authority. On
his return, the Ameer was charged with
abandoning the true faith, Summit Moham-
medism. A wish to rehabilitate himself
in the eyes Of his subjects is suggested
as a possible explanation of his attitude
but more likely answer is found in
his irritation over the recently signed
Anglo-Russian convention. 1t is known
that he refused pointblank 30 give his
assent to the Afghanistsn clauses con-
tained therein. and the convention was
ratified without his consent.
Ameer should Explain.
The Daily Mail says: The Ameer per
mitted an army of his subjects to enter
British territory. His conduct became
graver swhen we reflect that the Shin
warts, who made the inroad, are Afghan
soldiers. No power. however pacific, could
allow such behavior to pass without the
fullest explanation and satisfaction, and
Il Is unfortunately uncertain whether the
Ameer is In a mood TO give either ex-
plantations or satisfaction. His failure to
sign the Anglo Russian agreement, which
was forwarded to him some weeks ago,
had already provoked comment, and when
his failure is studied in the light of this
frontier outrage, it becomes Of sinister
aspect. The Indian government cannot
| permit him to play fast and loose with lis
Engagements. and if he will not compel
his people to show respect for British
territory. coercion will have TO be applied
to him, however much we may depIore
the nossihility OF a fourth Afghan war;