Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-01-21

PE0EA WAN, NUN IL w Ed r1NC+N-
TIER PROVINCE, India, Jan. 20
British army officers and Tommies in
this northwestern section of British
India who often turn their thoughts
longingly towards the activities in the
great theatres of war, solace them
selves with the fact that they are hold
ing. 1.-THE eastern end of the front, ,
ANYWAY. Under the direction of Sir
George -Keppel, Chief Commits
sioner for the North West Frontier
Province, they are keeping open the
Peiwar Kotal and Khyber Passes. the
gateways into Afghanistan, and are
preventing the tribesmen of the inter-
vening territory from carrying into
British India a warfare which might
have a strong bearing on the situation
as a whole.
When the war broke out there was
considerable uneasiness among Brit
ish officials regarding the thousands OF
independent tribesmen, who are ever
ready to make trouble, and who, if they
should succeed in burying their tribal
feuds and unite would present SER
iuus menace. Numbers of German and
Turkish emissaries had made their way
into this independent region and had
been busy trying to stir up the noun
taineers to war, playing on the relig-
ious fantasticism of the latter. To
certain extent they were successful, for
they created more or less unrest and
aroused hopes of conquest which held
dangerous personalities.
Situation Well in Hand.
At this critical juncture Sir George
Ross-Keppel, who was then on pro-
tracted leave of absence in England,
returned to take charge of his prov
ince. which forms the buffer between
the tribesmen and the rest of British
India. AS the result of the measures
which he instituted the situation is
said to have been got thoroughly in
hand. and while the habitual fighting
still continues there is no longer any
fear of serious trouble.
The handling of the tribesmen is
largely matter of personal influence
and Sir George is credited in official
circles with being extraordinarily sue
cessful. One thing that undoubtedly
has contributed to his success is the
fact that he is a typical leader OF men I;
tall. broad shouldered, keen-eyed, quick
of mind and with particularly strong
personality-the type the tribesman
respects. The Chief Commissioner
deals with the chiefs as man to man,
employing their Cwn open handed
form of diplomacy He has established
a reputation among the tribes of never
trying to bluff, a fact which is said to
have bridged many a difficulty.
The Afridi, the most warlike and
powerful of the tribesmen, have been
remaining strictly neutral ever since
the arrival of the Chief Commissioner,
although they were restless when he
left England. Here the personal infiu-
ence Of Sir George came into play, for
ho had worked among the Afridi for
nine years and is known and respected
by the people The fact that the Afridi
are friendly is most important. as it
prevents the tribes on either side of
them from joining hands against the
British
The Mohmands, whose territory lies
near Peshawar, have been giving con-
siderable trouble, as have also the
Mahsuda. far to the southwest. but it
is not depredations by individual tribes
that is feared. as only a concerted &C
tion by all of them would give cause
for particular worry. The Mohma;